We’re a two-tree-household. As soon as the last of the turkey is gobbled up, the kids start asking about the tree. This is tree #1.

This is the fake tree that we put up in the family room. This one is for the kids. It’s the messy tree, but it’s the favorite tree to decorate. Every year the kids each get to pick out a new ornament. The goal is to have a good collection started, when they are ready to move out and decorate their own tree someday. This tree is filled with the ornaments I receive as teacher gifts, the paper handprints the kids made in preschool, and a few family favorites. I let the kids choose everything about this tree. This tree is all about the memories.

I love listening to the kids’ stories as they carefully unpack each ornament.

There are two favorite ornaments, the Santa and the Mickey Mouse ball. The kids have worked out a system where they trade off years for whose turn it is to choose the spot for the favorites. (This year, Mickey had a little mishap and is in need of some superglue.)

Most ornaments hold a memory for my kids. Some are just pretty. Some are not so pretty, but always seem to make it onto the tree anyway. It’s ok. This tree is their tree.

This tree hold the magic of Christmas.

I believe.