Oh Christmas Tree ... Oh Christmas Tree ...

I would like to start off by saying that my Christmas Tree has ALWAYS been my pride and joy. Each year I lovingly decorate it with our special ornaments and handmade dolls and finish it off with colorful glass balls for fillers.

This year ... not so much ...

Reality sets in pretty quickly when you have a 22-month old that likes to touch, feel and pull on everything. This year ... our Christmas Tree is about letting Griffin do just that. I've put SOME of our ornaments and SOME of our dolls on it ... but pretty much, it's a blank canvas this year. No shiny glass balls nestle within the branches to add color and sparkle. But it's decorated ... and here it is ...


This is a picture of the top half of the tree ... it really is pretty all lit up ... here it just looks like ornaments placed about ... well, I guess that's pretty much what it really is ... but it will do for this year.


Okay ... so this is the REALITY I was telling you about. There were ornaments on the bottom half of the tree. But Griffin has re-decorated for me. They are pushed into the branches, on the tree skirt, in his hands ...


And this folks ... this is PROOF of why our tree is semi-decorated this year ...

I did put a few of my favorite Christmas ornaments on the tree this year, hoping they will not be broken or damaged. I thought I would share just a few of my favorites ... I have many, many more favorites that I chose not to put out this year ... maybe next year when little hands aren't so touchy.


This is a Ty Bear that I've had for years ... it reminds me so much of my husband


Last year my mother-in-law gave us this ornament ... my how things change in a year


I have a yearly collection of this particular ornament. When I lived in Florida they have an event called "Mistletoe Marketplace" each year in Eagle Lake. I would always go and buy this ornament from the same lady every year. Of course each year is customized with the year that I purchased it. I love these ornaments.


One of my many handmade Raggedy Annie dolls I put on my tree every year.


This is a picture of many of my favorite ornaments all together ... but the focus is on the angel bunny. I bought her several years ago and she only graces our house during the holiday season. I just love her grungy, sweet country look.


And this one ... has to be my all time favorite!! This is last years picture of Griffin with Santa Claus. His first Christmas!! I haven't framed this years picture yet ... but I will soon!

And that my dear friends ... is my decorating so far. I do have my mantle finished, a wreath on the front door and our nativity out on the entry way table. I didn't really "decorate up" this year ... just a few simple touches to get us in the holiday spirit.