So This Is Christmas....

 Each Christmas, for me...I have so many special memories of my childhood. Although the above quote is a bit wrong...as I can remember some of my favorite gifts received. But there are so many other memories I have that are so dear and special to me.

 I can remember the excitement, the anticipation,  the thrill....like it was yesterday. I now experience those same emotions but in a different way. I'm seeing it through my daughter and it is much better. I get the excitement and thrill from seeing her emotions and awe. I hope that I can make special memories for her to carry through life and into her children's lives like I have. Thanks mainly to my mom and dad but my sisters and aunts, uncles and grandparents as well.

The memories....I appreciate how special they are more and more each year. Sneaking downstairs to see if we could "catch" Santa, video taping Santa...mom & dad went to such extreme for this one...playing our new games afterwards while listening to the record player of Alvin & The Chipmunks, taking us sledding at Mendon Elementary, starring at the tree in amazement, the ornaments, being sooo nervous every time I would see Santa, getting our hair done & getting dressed up to go to church, Christmas programs, going shopping at the Mendon Congregational Church for our family gifts---dad always got a coaster, sitting on the steps and singing Christmas carols, opening up a few gifts and peeking inside and then wrapping them back up(hee..hee..) going to Grandma Barry's....there are too many to list but with each year more and more are added...I now have new memories as an adult not only with Mallory but with Mick and my niece and nephews as well as mom & dad.

As I was putting up the tree this year...which is ALOT of work....I was beginning to get a bit irritated....until....I cam across some of these......

 Mick & I's first Christmas ornament as a married couple....

 Mallory's 1st Christmas Ornament

 I LOVE this one...it has Mick's grandpa, my two grandpa's and my nephew's on it....they are our guardian angels and this was wrapped around my wedding bouquet on our wedding day and now its on our tree....just a simple reminder of how our family started with these great people and how quickly life can change. We need to add Grandma Selby to this ornament....it's just a bitter-sweet memory.

 Or this one...I can not tell you how long I've had this ornament...probably since the picture was taken when I was about 5 years old I think. I just love remembering looking at this ornament as a child and brings back all those sweet memories.....Mallory was given something similar last year and hopefully she too will have these same memories with her ornaments.

 Another special ornament given to us when Mallory was born....

 We get a new ornament each year (Lord knows our tree can hold alot...lol) This is the one we got this year at Disneyworld....again such great memories that we can share for years to come.

And....the infamous tree...it looks so small in this picture but only because I have to stand on the other end of the room to get the full picture in it....

 This was a little crazy....Mallory is on Mick's neck and Mick is standing on almost the top of the ladder...and we still couldn't reach! It was fun to watch (a bit nervous) but Mallory's giggle made it worth it!

Mallory says, "Ta-Da!!"

Hope you all make many, many special memories this year!!

Merry Christmas!