My Favorite Tree

This year's tree might just be my favorite.  Every year's tree might be my favorite, but this one is going in the record books.  Seriously, the smell alone might have nominated it (it fills the whole floor).  But it is perfectly imperfect, it has gaps in all the wrong places, and I love it.

Even more, I love what is on it.  I talk about these every year, but Dante's Grandma has been making us ornaments every year, and that's what fills up these scraggly branches.  Sweet, handmade ornaments, like this bride one that I got when Dante & I were engaged.

And this one, the hand-beaded tree, which I believe was the first one I was given.

These ornaments are precious to me.  I mean, I value the ornaments that are paper that I taped to the first year's tree, but these ones are just something more.  

The other thing I love about this tree is the way it looks at night.  PURE MAGIC.

I've been finding time each night to just sit here next to the magical tree, breathe in the scent, and think, "It's Christmas Time".  *sigh*  My favorite way to "take in the tree" is to lay underneath the tree and look at the ornaments up through the branches.  It's a little more difficult this year, what with the whole 32-week baby belly in the way.  But I did it.  And I loved it.  When I was a wee kiddo, we had multi-colored lights that blinked with different patterns.  THAT was amazing.

I'm not sure how long Handsome will let me keep this tree up after Christmas, but I'm going to make it last as long as possible.  That way it'll feel like Christmas, even after the date has passed :)  I'm guessing I'll only make it until Jan 3, but still, it's something.

What's your favorite ornament?

<3 M