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our christmas tree {2010}

The day after Thanksgiving we went to pick out our Christmas tree. When Joel and I first got married I had to beg him to get a real tree. He always had an artificial one growing up. I had grown up cutting down a real tree every year. It was just part of Christmas to me. I’ll have to tell you sometime about our first trip to the Christmas tree farm as a married couple. Let’s just say it didn’t end very well. And ever since then we have settled for buying a tree from the local Boy Scouts. It works for us. Maybe someday we will attempt cutting down our own tree again.
This year Levi helped us pick out our tree.
Last year we were too sad to even put up a tree,
so it was fun doing this as a family again…this time with Levi.
Joel and I have different tree picking philosophies.
I always like to take my time and find the “perfect” tree.
Joel likes to pick a tree fast…
the faster you find it the more perfect it is.
But it was late and cold, so we went with Joel’s tree picking method this year.
I only changed my mind once (in case you don’t know me…that is a miracle).
When we got home and put it up it turned out to be the perfect tree too.
We were both happy. 🙂
 I think a whole week went by before we actually decorated our tree. 
And for some reason Levi wasn’t loving decorating the tree with us.
I thought he would love the lights,
but he was very upset with us for standing on a chair without him.
He didn’t like to be left on the floor alone.
Silly boy.
We managed to get all the lights on and then decided that I would put the ornaments on by myself when Levi was sleeping. I have always liked to have a “pretty” tree. In the past I have always come up with different color schemes and themes for our tree. I don’t always put up all of our ornaments even. But for some reason this year I decided I wanted to keep it simple and use all of our ornaments that we had collected or had been given to us. I am so glad I did. As I dug through the ornament containers I was so surprised to find some ornaments that belonged to Cora. I forgot that we even had them.
This year our tree is full of ornaments that have significance and meaning.
In a way it tells a story of our family.
I love it.
I think this is my favorite Christmas tree ever.
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  • Selina - It’s beautiful Jess.ReplyCancel

  • The Moffats - I love the tree, Jess. So special to have the ornaments that were Cora’s. Just seeing that sled is bittersweet. It’s all so beautiful…and little Levi is his darling self…even if he was a tad bit grumpy 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Lauren - Your tree is just precious!!! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I love it, it’s beautiful! Cora’s ornaments brought a tear to my eye. I agree, your tree is perfect! I like your big M ornament!

    Praying extra for you this holiday season 😉

    Krista
    aka babykatesmomReplyCancel

  • bridge - I started reading your blog last month and I love your posts. Even the ones from way back. Levi’s pictures are a bonus.

    I’m from the Philippines so we don’t have real pine trees here. From what I read, the real Christmas trees smell really good. Anyway, it’s a beautiful tree. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas, Jess!ReplyCancel

  • Wanting What I Have - What a beautiful tree and what a beautiful life! You constantly point me to Jesus. Thank you. Praying for you during this season!ReplyCancel

  • Amanda - it’s beautiful Jess – I love that you just decided to put them all up! That sled make me so sad. But I can’t wait to see Levi on it.

    And I’m proud of you for picking a tree fast! We got one from the boy scouts too – it’s pretty good. But then I saw Dave’s parents tree that they got at Walmart without even looking much – and it is WAY better and cheaper. Darn.ReplyCancel

  • Megan - The tree is beautiful! When we first got married we each got an ornament special to us and one for where we lived (Army family)and bought a ton of cheap colored balls for filler. Now 7 years and 2 kids later our tree is filled with tons of non matching but all totally special in their own way ornaments and I love it!

    and I love Levi’s left out of standing on the chair fit. My Timmy is the SAME way.ReplyCancel

  • Rach - Perfect! I love how much meaning is in this tree. Happy Holidays!ReplyCancel

  • Tami - Jess – I’ve been a momma for 14 Christmases this year and I’ve had fancy trees and color coordinated trees. The past two years, our trees are filled full of only special ornaments of the kids and from when Chris and I were first married. They have been my favorite trees ever. Now I get my fill of fancy trees from the pages of “Country Living” and “House Beautiful”. It’s cheaper that way 😉ReplyCancel

  • Annie-Staten - It’s so beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes!ReplyCancel

  • k and c's mom - I am so happy for you. You have come a long journey to get to this Christmas. The tree is beautiful, but so is your spirit and your faith.ReplyCancel

  • Amanda @ DAES of Our Lives - I love your tree! I also love the shelving next to it – are they built ins? Or did y’all buy them somewhere?

    Happy Christmas!ReplyCancel

  • Carrie - It is a beautiful tree!! I love trees full of family memories – they are the best!!ReplyCancel

  • Taylor - I think ornaments are a perfect way to remember her each year at christmas time- you could make her baby shoes into an ornament or pieces from her mobile and when you get them out each year it will be so fun! love it!ReplyCancel

  • Carisa - GREAT tree. I’m ready to stop cutting our own and get one like yours. And really, CUTE hat on the little guy 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Lindsay - Oh! We always cut down a tree too. I grew up in Kansas and my favorite thing was going to Weston Red Barn Farm and the apple tree in the fall and then to the christmas tree farm at Christmastime.

    I also decorated our tree with all our special ornaments this year. IT is not matchy matchy, but it means so much to me.

    I love your tree!ReplyCancel

  • Erin Tagle - Ahhhh!!!!!

    1.) I love, love, love that sweet lil’ boy of yours.

    2.) my tree is done the same way, decorated with special ornaments that were from travels, given to us, made, etc. I absolutely love putting them all on the tree, for all the same reasons …

    3.) I love that you have a tree this year and that this holiday season is much happier than the last.

    4.) have yourself a merry little Christmas. 🙂

    Erin
    http://www.erintagledesign.comReplyCancel

  • Jane's In The Jungle - That’s the best way to do it! We have 3 trees now, one with all the older ornaments including some of mine when I was single, and then the kids have always gotten one special ornament each year and they are all jumbled together, it’s great!!ReplyCancel

  • Jody - Very nice tree! I love that you included Cora’s ornaments. I have ornaments to honor & remember my dad (I can’t believe we buried him 11 years ago today…how time flies!). I love it when trees represent their families.

    And I can’t believe how much Levi has changed in just the last couple months. He’s going to be so much fun on Christmas Day! My niece is 16 months tomorrow so it will be exciting with her, too!ReplyCancel

  • kati - it’s beautiful. sentiment always wins over theme for me! and it took us a week to get decorations on our tree, too. having a one-year-old around a tree is a little rowdy 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Stef - I love it! And I love that you put Cora’s decorations up! What a special thing.
    Also, you decorate amazing. I love the decor and the shelves and curtains and everything! You have good taste 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Kristi REDISKE - I love it-I am not really a fan of a perfect tree with all the same type of ornament-yours is the best. Loved the Christmas tree story-I have a fake tree and wish I could get a real one-maybe next year. Levi is just adorable-great pics of him. I also love it that you put the ornaments Cora had-what a blessing that you have those as part of your memory! God Bless you all and Merry Christmas.ReplyCancel

  • Mindy M. Harris - your house looks like pottery barn! awesome!ReplyCancel

  • Stephanie - Your tree is beautiful! I love trees that have ornaments that mean something special. I love that you put up Cora’s too. We hung Ella’s special ornaments this year and though it makes me sad that she’s not here, she’s always going to be a part of our family. Merry Christmas to you and your family!ReplyCancel

  • Olivia - Oh, Cora’s sled is so sweet by your tree. I remember how happy she was when she sat in it at her first Christmas. It adds a wonderful story to your Christmas tree and decor!ReplyCancel

  • ashley - I love your tree! I too always think about doing a theme, but then I would miss some of my special ornaments that my kids love that mean a lot to my family. I think it is best to put them all on. You are so right, it tells story or your family that way.

    By the way, I am really impressed that you are able to keep wrapped presents under the tree and that Levi hasn’t torn them apart! My son is a little older, 19 months, but we tried putting one present under the tree that arrived in the mail and in about five minutes he was already tearing it apart. I think he just wanted to shred paper, he wasn’t actually interested in the present. Levi must be such a well behaved little boy 🙂

    Praying for you extra hard this time of year.ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - I too pray extra hard this time of the year. The tree is such a terrific way to honor Cora AND LeviReplyCancel

  • Courtney - 1) Love your pretty tree!
    2) Love how you are honoring and remembering your sweet baby girl with her adorable ornaments.
    3)LOVE YOUR HEART FOR THE LORD!
    4) Would someday love to see a little photo tour of your house (even if it is not all picked up!) as I need some style inspiration and love yours!ReplyCancel

  • Julie B. - I like taking my time, walking around for a while to pick the “perfect” tree too. My husband always tells me that whatever tree we get, when put in our living room, will BE the perfect tree. And, he’s always right! 😉

    Levi is just so precious I can’t stand it. And I am now deeply coveting your built in’s -so very Pottery Barn-esque!! Gives me warm fuzzies:)ReplyCancel

  • Anonymous - Your tree is beautiful. I like that each ornament has meaning and memories, too. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday and a New Year filled with joy, happiness, loving memories and make new wonderful memories. Mary from SLC Utah.ReplyCancel

  • Nan - I love your tree. It’s beautiful. I’m like you (back before we got a fake tree). I love trees that have family ornaments on them. That’s how I have always liked it. The kids look forward to pulling out their ornaments from each year and remembering what year they got it and where we lived at the time, etc. We give them a new one each year. It’s always a mish-mash of ornaments from my whole childhood (not my husband’s because his family didn’t have that tradition but just did fancy trees) and now my kids’ ornaments and I love it.ReplyCancel