For Monday Listicles this week, we are listing holiday-style: we are telling the story about 10 ornaments on our tree. This week’s topic was suggested by Kelly Duran from Writing Down the Bones.
We are missing something from our Christmas tree this year. We said goodbye to our beloved cat on Saturday, leaving his favourite spot under the tree conspicuously vacant. For the past 10 years, he would climb over gifts and somehow manage to find a spot to relax, concealed beneath the branches.
The tree is always full of memories for me. When we were first married, my husband and I started a tradition of exchanging ornaments every year; these have always been some of my favourites.
Here are the stories of
1. First Christmas – a pewter Victorian couple with ‘Our First Christmas’ commemorating our first Christmas together. (While it was more than a few years ago now, it was not during Victoria’s reign.)
2. The lights – I gave my husband this ornament featuring Santa and a reindeer tangled in Christmas lights. This is because Co-Pilot Dad is a very easy-going fellow… until you ask him to string lights on the tree. I have rarely seen him as happy as when we got a pre-lit tree a few years ago.
3.The mouse – A couple of years after we were married, we discovered that we shared a house with mice. My husband gave me several mouse-themed ornaments that year.
4. Frosty – Before we had Captain Alpha, we collected and watched the classic Holiday specials. We loved Frosty and the belly whopper scene.
5. The wishing star – An ornament from the year we were trying to conceive.
6. New Home – We celebrated buying our house in 2008.
7. The key – Last year, we went shopping for new decorations with the boys. We decided we needed a key to Christmas.
8. Bells – The boys also thought we needed some bells for our tree. They have a lovely tinkling sound, like the bell from The Polar Express. I also liked them because of the reference to ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ (Even though I have never seen that movie all the way through – shocking, I know.)
9. More stars – Captain Bravo counts the stars on our tree. (Just so you know, there are 7.)
10. The Red Section – This was the first year that Captain Bravo has really wanted to participate in all the Holiday celebrations. He was eager to decorate the tree. He preferred the red ornaments and focused all his effort on one section of branches.
Like every year, memories abound this Christmas; most sweet, yet some are more of the bittersweet variety. Next year, I already have an idea for our new ornament. I will pay tribute to the member of our family, now absent, who always especially enjoyed our Christmas tree.
I wish you and yours a very happy holiday with many memories to cherish.
Linking up with Monday Listicles today.
Your tree is GORGEOUS!
I love all the special ones you have…I especially love your last one, because I can’t get over how much that looks like our special cat who died last year. What a great idea.
thedoseofreality recently posted..Hey Neighbor, Thanks For Making My Kid Cry Over Santa
He was a pretty special guy. Just looking at the tree makes me think of him, so I want to do something in remembrance of his love of the Christmas tree.
That mouse ornament is so darling! And, is that a mouse ornament for your new home, too? lol.
I think the new home one is a squirrel in an acorn. (And I hope not to find any non-ornament mice in this house!)
I’m so sorry about your cat. It’s hard to lose a pet at anytime, but especially right before Christmas.
Your “red section” made me smile. Ellen
Thank you, Ellen. His passing did cast a bit of a shadow over the holidays – the house feels empty with out him. And the ‘red section’ makes me smile when I look at it, too. He was so proud to help!
So sorry for your loss my friend! Love the tale your tree tells. Wonder what was added this year?
Happy New Year to you and yours xo
Stasha recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
Thank you, Stasha. Happy New Year to you and your family, too!