I’m not much of a stuff person. Even at Christmastime, there are very few things I need. Three of my top Christmas priorities, though, are:
- Attending Christmas Eve Mass.
- Waking up in our own beds to the joy of Christmas morning.
- Receiving Grandma’s Christmas ornament.
Tucked away in their own special box are the ornaments that my grandma has lovingly made for each of her grandchildren for over 30 years.
Each of these ornaments is what my grandma is to me: a beautiful gift.
Thirty-four grandchildren, thirty-four ornaments made every year.
Everything from santas, to reindeer, to beautiful angels.
Fancy, simple, elegant. She’s done it all.
There is nothing I treasure more at Christmas than my grandma’s handmade ornaments. Although we’ve tried to tell her, grandma has no idea what these ornaments mean to her grandkids. And that’s what makes her so special.
What is your greatest Christmas tradition or treasure?
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What a beautiful gift she has given each of you!
My mom kept a special box with just a few of her grandmother’s ornaments. I was always in awe of those ornaments as we placed them on the tree every year.
Oh what a lovely tradition.
That is very sweet. The homey, handmade ornaments always mean the most to me, too. Although my Grandmas was not the homey, handmade type!! But I have all the ornaments my two girls have made over the years. They get a little embarassed when I insist on putting those on the tree. But they are my favorite!
Xo
Heidi – Heart and Home
How wonderful to have those gifts! When I am at my parents for Christmas, we always have subs on Christmas Eve and then we go to my grandmothers.
This year we will be home! Christmas always looks a little “different” when we are home, but we are working on creating some family traditions!
We go to a special Christmas store every year and buy each child a new ornament, in their “category.” One has bears, one has mice. It’s a special trip we always look forward to. Then, when they move away, they will have a large number of ornaments for their own tree, each of which reflects something they loved at that age. We’ve done it since they were born.
What a beautiful tribute to your grandmother and the lovely tradition she has given you!
My grandma used to do the same thing. They are special. I have a little tree on our breezeway on wnich I put all of the ornaments she made for me over the years. I have tried to carry on her tradition by making ornaments most years.
My husbands grandpa made each of his grandchildren wooden ornaments every year. He’s passed away now, but those ornaments are so special…like little reminders of his love.
That is a great tradition!
Four years ago, my mother-in-law started the tradition of writing personalized year-in-review letters for each of her 5 grandchildren. She tucks the letters inside kid-friendly ornaments, then puts the packages in the kids’ stockings. My daughter, who was an infant when the tradition began, knows which are “her” ornaments and loves to pull out the letters and have us read them to her over and over again.
My Grandma crocheted snowflakes, and I hang them all over the tree. I also have a Mt.St. Helens ornament (I lived in Washington when Mt. St. Helens erupted) and some Swedish St. Lucia ornaments. They’re all special to me.
What a beautiful tradition and something to always treasure!
My grandma made each of us grandchildren (3, not 34!
) a cast ceramic ornament each year. Each is hand-painted and dated and I always smile as I pull out that 1979 snowbaby…:)
What a wonderful tradition and definitely ornaments that will be treasured for many years!
Our favorite tradition is the kids’ putting on their own CHRISTmas production for us at home each year which includes the reading of the CHRISTmas story from Luke 2, songs, etc. 
What a blessing! My favorite ornament on my tree belonged to my grandmother when she was a little girl!
The ornaments are beautiful!!! Merry Christmas!
Your ornaments are just beautiful. May many wonderful Christmas memories be made within your home. Our home is having an old fashioned handmade Christmas this year. I hope you will stop by.
What a charming tradition!
What a treasure! I have a ceramic Christmas tree my great-grandmother made for me. It use to sit in my room as a little girl on my bedside table, and it still does as a young adult.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
What a sweet grandmother you have, I know you cherish her.
Thank you for sharing.
Sue
What a treasure your Grandmother is giving you!
Thanks for showing us around.
Merry Christmas!
what a sweet tradition, the Santa in the plane is adorable
Awww… grandma’s ornaments are the BEST kind!
Merry Christmas!
Red and white and Homemade. It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that.
What a beautiful gift.
Merry Christmas!!!
What a wonderful gift to receive each year. It’s so special and easy to see why you treasure them so. Thanks for sharing them with us today.
Wow, what a treasure you have in these ornaments. I can only imagine the memories that come with them. You are very lucky.
How very sweet. What a treasure to have!! Thank you for sharing your special ornaments with us.
Ruth
oh… i used to LOVE to make ornaments. i’d imagine someone like you, thinking of me, each when he or she hung their ornament. alas, time has conquered me…
we usually buy our teachers ornaments {hint:buy them the day after xmas for the following year}… in hopes of the same. that they will think of my kiddos when they hang them.
merry xmas!
{ps: here from nester’s tour!}
Darling!!!
Merry Christmas,
cristin
That flying Santa is awsome! Carols on Christmas and New Year’s eve are our favorite Christmas tradition. Merry Christmas to you!
They are all red and white, too. What a nice thing to look forward to.
What a sweet tradition! Merry Christmas!
I don’t have a grandmother making my kids ornaments every year, but I do have kids that make ornaments every year. I absolutely treasure and love each one of those ornaments. They are one of my favorite parts about Christmas. I love opening the box that has all the handmade kid ornaments. I love remembering who made what and when. We have lost a few over the years, but the ones we have sure are special. I can’t wait to make new ornaments with the kids each year.
I just want to hold them and hear the story that goes with why she picked to do each one. What treasured memories each one is. GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.
That is so very special. I love it! I am stopping in from Nester’s Place. To see my tour click on the ‘Christmas 2009′ Tag on in the left sidebar!
Wow, that is so fantastic! What a treasure!
Gosh, That’s so beautiful. What a treasure chest you have! Growing up, my parents weren’t really into Christmas. I never even knew it was Christmas morning until a small unwrapped gift was kinda tossed to me with some mumbling from my dad. Anyways.. now that I’m married with a dear wonderful man, my favorite Christmas gift is the simple joy of love that surrounds me. It’s still brand new and amazing and I hold it so close to my heart every year.
My treasure would be my family!