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A Holiday Tradition

For years now my mom, sister and I have been exchanging Christmas ornaments. We love to shop or create throughout the year and then we always exchange them on Thanksgiving day. This year was no exception. After everyone had slept off their turkey-induced comas out came the Christmas ornaments!!

The kiddos made these (with a little help) for Nana, Papi and Aunt Kari:

We bought the craft glass balls and acrylic paint tubes at Hobby Lobby. Then we took the tops off the balls, squirted in the paint and swirled it all around. It was a lot of fun, even if it did require a little more muscle than the kiddos had to get all that paint swirled around (that's where I came in). You just let them sit without the tops on for a few days until they are dry and ready to go! Very fun!

Next are the ornaments that I gave my mom and sister:

I got those little brown paper houses that Hobby Lobby sells and painted them with tempera paints. Then I spread glue (Elmer's) on the roof, chimney top and base and sprinkled on sparkly white glitter for snow. Finally, I got a package of mini wreaths in the dollhouse section of Hobby Lobby (can you tell where I love to shop?) and glued them on the fronts. I think they're just too cute!! I had so much fun painting them (and I am quite a novice painter, so don't feel like you couldn't do it, too). Last year I painted a whole little village of these for The Princess in pastels. I'll have to show them to you soon.

Here are the ornaments that my sister, Kari, gave Vince & Me:

They are Old World ornaments, which I adore!! Mine is the Silent Night Chapel and Vince's is the pretzel. Aren't they so pretty?!

My mom really surprised me this year. Sometimes she gets a Christmas decoration instead of a tree ornament and this year she got Vince and me a set of Byers' Choice Carolers.


I used to work at a shop where we sold these and they are amazing, handcrafted carolers! But they were always out of my budget, even with my discount:) Earlier this year though that shop was closing and Mom hit the closing sale and picked up these little treasures for us! I can't wait to decorate with them!

The kiddos always seem to get more ornaments than any of us now! I love that though, because by the time they're grown they'll have a lovely collection of their own.

The Princess got a schoolhouse (to commemorate her first year in school), a bunny rabbit, a glass ball filled with beach toys and shells in honor of summer's our beach trip and a whole box of Old World mini bells. She loved them!
Mr. B got a dinosaur (one of his current passions), a baseball, a glass ball of beach memorabilia as well and also a box of Old World mini bells (I told you Mom hit the clearance sale at that wonderful store!).

The t-rex had to be rescued from almost-certain death more than once!

Do you like to exchange ornaments with your family and friends? I'd love to hear about it!
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