Tree Traditions...

...it all started in that first year of marriage bliss....
Josh and I were living in an apartment one block away from our college. It was 425 loaded square feet. Two rooms total that housed 1 bedroom, kitchen, living room/front door, bathroom, closet/laundry room - and that was it. We payed $1 per square foot a month for that place if I remember correctly.
Anyway, without much space to live (breath) we decided that OUR CHRISTMAS TRADITION would be to only get one Christmas Tree ornament each year. That way we wouldn't have loads of Christmas decor to stuff away, break, and keep track of.
The rules were this: only one ornament a year, we had to be doing something special or fun when we got the ornament, and we had to be together when we picked the ornament out.

So, here's what we've collected so far in our 8 full years of marriage...

2001: The Star. Pretty simple, start at the top first.

2002: Roseland, LA - not sure if that's an official town, but it is an official place. Just outside of Shreveport, LA is a huge "park" where they put on a plethora Christmas light displays. We had lots of fun walking with Josh's brother and his wife, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying all the lights. Found this ornament at the gift shop. It's a porcelain heart and on the back it says: A Heart to Love you all the more...

2003: I guess we weren't very much in love that year. And that's o.k., such is life. We don't have an ornament. I remember that we didn't do anything ornament worthy that year, and I also remember not being very happy about it... but in the grand scheme of things, it's a nice memory that love is stronger than just the "good times." Turn the page, tomorrow is another year...


2004: Cracker Barrel, Nashville, TN. We left a Christmas Party to meet a friend of mine from the Army on her way THROUGH Nashville... really just to have dinner with her, but she was (and still is) worth any two hour drive, even for a 30 minute meal. A blizzard came so my friend was three hours late! ANYWAY... Josh and I snuggled up to a bar across the street from the Cracker Barrel, had a few drinks, and laughed the hours away discussing our DREAM HOME! (Just a three story mansion, 4 car garage, fire places on all levels, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, rec room/ basement, designer kitchen, craft room, three seasons porch, loft above the garage... dream, dream, dream...) Our fun memory was spending another hour or so looking around the gift shop at the Cracker Barrel... if it hadn't been freezing outside we would've rocked on the porch! ~ p.s. we actually drew out the DH on a napkin that I still have!!

2005: Anna Blum Sisson. Being a December baby, she was the star attraction that year. That year we took her (just three weeks old) to the the Opryland Hotel in Nashville to walk in the warmth of the Hotel to look at lights. She got her first picture with Santa (that I adore) and we picked this little silvery gem up at a gift shop there. Sigh.

2006: Shreveport, LA. You guessed it... back to the Cracker Barrel! This year we were living up in Washington. What one place has another is lacking... such is true for Ft. Lewis. The nearest Cracker Barrel was like an eight hour drive away (or something like that.) So, when we visited Josh's family that year, a meal out to Cracker Barrel for pancakes was a must. None of the ornaments in the store seemed to fit our personality, so what a better idea than to use the famous Maple Syrup bottle!

2007: IRAQ. This was the one exception to the "being together" rule. And for obvious reasons. Josh had sent a bunch of "pogs" (money for the soldiers to use at the store) home for the kids to play with. So, I framed one.

2008: Natchitoches, LA. This is one of my favorite stories so far...

We headed to Natchitoches last year to see the "Festival of Lights." On our way there I asked Josh if he believed in Santa. GASP! He about ran off the road when I asked such a question. In all seriousness he asked me in return, "You don't believe in Santa!?" I am so sorry people, but I started to laugh... (I am in so much trouble I know...) Josh's eyes were about the size of silver dollars with mouth wide open. I really thought he was joking, but learned quickly that he is still convinced that Santa exists. I didn't know what to say. "C'mon, Josh... you think that for real?" To which he replied, "Yeah! But, he only helps those that REALLY believe! Don't you believe? Heidi! You don't believe in the Spirit of Christmas! You think people just give things for no good reason? You don't think that it has anything to do with Santa?" Then he told the kids, (who were napping) that "Mommy is sorry for saying that kids." I honestly didn't know what to say.

A couple hours later, we were in one of the boutiques looking for "the ornament." I came across a stand of bows and asked Anna if she liked any of them, not for an ornament... for her hair. She picked out the purple one with polka dots. When I proceeded to pay, the lady said that they were only for display and not for sale. I told Anna "sorry" and we headed out the store. At that point, Anna started crying hysterically!! I mean, LOUD CYRING!! Loud enough for a few people to help us open the door to get out of the store quickly.

So, I'm explaining to Josh what happened, the streets are crowded, Anna is screaming, people are staring, and out of the blue... "Ma'am!... here she can have the bow, it broke our hearts to hear her cry like that..." to which of course Josh points a finger at me and says, "Ha! Santa Clause!" Guess I learned my lesson huh...