My Tree and Gift wrapping

Every year we set up our hypo-allergenic artificial tree and haul down our big boxes full of ornaments. This year we added a tinsel star on top of the tree.

Cody's family has bought an ornament for him every year of his life. His 5th Christmas he got Papa Smurf because he was into the Smurfs. His 16th year he got his first car so they gave him a polar bear swinging on a tire. There are the wonderful old, mechanical Hallmark ornaments---a Christmas football game, Santa's elves working in the shop, skiing elves, a mouse "popping" popcorn, etc. They are even still in the original boxes.

It's a fun tradition that the kids and I get to participate in now, too. My ornament this year is an over sized, sparkly, hot pink Barbie shoe. Chloe chose the Muppet's French Chef and she also received a reindeer on a cell phone. Mason chose the next Hot Wheels ornament, and he has only one more year to complete the "Cool Decades" ornaments he's been collecting since the year he was born. Cody was given a Spiderman comic book ornament. (Maybe we should have looked harder for a kidney shaped ornament or maybe a giant white truck?)

Also, have to say I love my gift wrapping this year. I picked up the glossy white paper, and zebra paper and tulle at the Junior League Holiday Galleria back in October. I maybe paid $34 bucks for all of the high quality paper and it wrapped everything plus I have quite a bit of the paper left. Initially I just had just the red tulle; it was Chloe's idea to add the lime green in, too. I plan on braving the huge crowds (something I'm no good at unless it involves an instrument or two) again next year if just for the wrapping paper.

I hope you enjoy your day/days off and spend them doing exactly what you want/need to do to end your year perfectly right!