My maiden name is Noel and my first name is Mary, so it only makes sense that I was born to love Christmas. Christmas music, holiday celebrations and presents are always standouts to the season, but one of the things I look forward to the most is decorating the Christmas tree.
I’m a self proclaimed softie and emotional lady, so unpacking Christmas ornaments makes me extremely nostalgic. There are boxes upon boxes of memories. Some hold beautiful ornaments from department stores, whereas others are now worn so thin from being displayed over the years since the 80s.
As I’m opening the boxes of keepsakes with my three sons, I can’t wait to see what ornament will be in the box. While they don’t know the significance of each one yet, I love being able to share the stories of each special contribution to the tree.
My sons especially like the ornaments my husband and I unpack from our childhood. The picture of my husband in a tree shaped ornament in 2nd grade always make my boys giggle. The adorable kindergarten picture of me in my school uniform bedazzled out in glitter is a classic. And the personalized ornament my godmother (who is sadly no longer with us) gave me as a child from her cruise always makes me teary eyed every year since she has passed.
My children are still too young to see their ornaments as memories, but as I unpack them and see the Baby’s First Christmas ornaments, my eyes fill up with tears. I think back to those years with them as tiny babies and wish for a second that I could go back in time. Those preschool trinkets throughout the tree warm my heart, and the ornaments we personalize on every Disney trip with whatever characters they are currently into brings me back to those vacations and I relive the memories.
While I know time can’t stand still, I love staring at my tree late at night while the rest of the house is asleep. These few seconds are mine as I glance over the tree and see each ornament that has a story behind it.
Our ornaments may not be the prettiest, but they sure are special to our family.
