<p>One of my favorites is an ornament my D made in 1st grade wth popsicle sticks ribbon and her picture.</p>
<p>Most all of them. And my Santa collection. Love them all.</p>
<p>Great question!</p>
<p>From the early 90’s when both kids were still small. The Star Trek shuttle-craft Christmas tree ordainment, powered by plugging into a light socket. When pressed it lights up and the real voice of Spock says:</p>
<p>“Spock here! Happy Holidays. Live long and prosper.”</p>
<p>Still works and we love it.</p>
<p>But both kids want it. What to do?</p>
<p>I’m following along, but I have nothing to add. I just asked H if he had a sentimental ornament, and he quickly said “no”. When I commented on how quickly he answered, he said " some things you just know". </p>
<p>Both our kids were born in December. A little hectic. March was always nice.</p>
<p>I love this thread.</p>
<p>Oh, so many of them. I haven’t even gotten them out yet since we wait until a few days before Christmas to put up the tree.
My grandma used to do all kinds of sewing, knitting, crocheting, and other crafts. When she was in her 90’s with failing vision/dexterity, the only thing she could still do was make ornaments and refrigerator magnets out of plastic canvas, and she made thousands of them. We have more than a dozen. H thinks they are really tacky, but Grandma died in 2000 and they are a nice memory of her. Another special ornament is an acrylic angel holding a baby that a friend gave me–in memory of our S who died in 2006.
We have several very ugly ones that make the whole family laugh: S#1 (now 24) made this at a craft fair when he was 5–it is a very large Styrofoam egg that he squirted some glue on and then rolled in green glitter. It is mostly white with some very large globs of glitter all on one side. We also have a few similar ones that I made as a child–out of Styrofoam meat/vegetable trays cut out with cookie cutters, ribbon attached. S #3, when he was 6, made a very deformed stocking ornament. The foot is very large and fat, the leg is long and very narrow. Stuffed with cotton balls and sewn with crooked stitches.<br>
Prizewinner for weird: when kids were little we got together with neighbors to help kids make Xmas crafts. One mom brought a box full of old plastic eyeglass lenses in which she had drilled holes. (???) The kids were supposed to glue a picture cut from a magazine onto the lens and insert a hook through the hole. Still have a few of those. Also have some gold spray painted prickly “gum balls” (from sweetgum trees)–from the good old days when we didn’t have $ to buy ornaments.</p>
<p>I have a few ornaments that make me chuckle.</p>
<p>My all time favorite ornament is one made by my youngest son when he was in his kindergarden art class. </p>
<p>It’s a white felt snowman with an orange carrot shaped felt nose, googly plastic black eyes, a felt red/green winter hat and black felt legs and arms. Here’s the funny part. He glued a black felt beard on the snowman’s face. There’s a tacky gold pipe cleaner stuck through a hole in the hat that’s used to hang it on a branch. His explanation for the black beard: “You wouldn’t be able to see it if I put a white one on his face.” </p>
<p>Every year, he gets the honor of putting it on the tree. Years ago, he named it: Osama Bin Snowman. So, it’s not politically correct, but it makes me smile every time I glance over at it. Of course, son places it smack in the front of the tree.</p>
<p>I wish I had a “Like” button for this thread and all the entries! ^^Osama bin Snowman made me laugh!</p>
<p>My parents had a tradition of letting us kids pick out an ornament each year, beginning in early childhood. I now have a wonderful collection of memories. We continued that tradition with our children.</p>
<p>When S2 was small, he selected an ornament in the shape of a red pepper. Kind of strange but the kids were in charge so we didn’t comment. When he was 12 or so, we asked him if he remembered what prompted the selection of the red pepper. I’ll never forget the look of complete horror on his face. He had thought it was an APPLE, and had been under that misconception for all those years. </p>
<p>Of course, we now lovingly refer to it as his “apple”. It is his favorite, and always is prominently displayed on the tree.</p>
<p>^hahaha! That’s right up there with Osama Bin Snowman :)</p>
<p>We have a dated (mostly Hallmark) ornament for every year that we’ve been married(30 years). They are the first to go on the tree. We hang them in chronological order. It’s fun to remember what was going on in our lives when each ornament was purchased. </p>
<p>The first year we were married (I was still in college),we were on a tight budget. We bought a small artificial tree and lights but couldn’t really afford a lot of ornaments. We saw a cheap make-it yourself ornament kit in the mall and bought it. We stayed up late at night pouring the plaster into molds and then carefully painting them when they hardened. We were so proud of our handiwork. Every year after that we referred to them as “the Originals”.
Over the years, many were broken (one year the tree fell twice crushing quite a few).</p>
<p>Now 30 years later only three of “the Originals” remain. They are faded and cracked but every year when we pull them out of the box, they take us back to that first Christmas sitting at our card table(which was also our dining room table) in a cold basement apt. heated only by a kerosene stove, painting those ornaments that were the stars of our first tree together. </p>
<p>The kids “First Christmas” picture ornaments always make me smile.
I got a big lump in my throat when we hung them on the tree last weekend. S1 (U.S. Navy/Special Operations officer) deployed to the Middle East on 11/27. It will be our first Christmas without him.</p>
<p>Pack mom, are you my secret twin? Isn’t it fun to look back at those first ornaments?</p>
<p>@sseamom, your story about the baby angel from your mom, gave me chills! What a wonderful gift to cherish forever from your mom!!</p>