This week we pulled out the Christmas ornaments and decorated the tree. At this point I am pretty much a spectator in the festivities. The kids love decorating the tree all by themselves and I let them. Here and there I might be called upon to put an ornament somewhere that the littler kids can’t reach, but for the most part I just sit back and take photos.

One of the traditions that we started was buying each of the kids their own ornament every Christmas. I know many people do this. I love the idea of them taking the ornaments with them one day when they have a family. I hope that they will remember the stories that surround certain ornaments.

That my oldest was completely and totally obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine when he was 3 years old. That my daughter was obsessed with the Disney princesses. Another son who loves to bake. And another who was in love with that dreaded big purple dinosaur. Yes, I have Barney ornament on my tree. I just remind myself every year that it isn’t all about me.

Then put it more towards the back of the tree.

When all the stress of the holidays begins to get to me, the shopping, the gimmees, the obligations and expectations, I remind myself that the real Christmas is nothing about those things. In the end my children aren’t going to remember what Christmas parties they went to or even really what most of the things under the tree were from any given year. They will, however, remember the traditions that we built as a family.