LIFE IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!

The Christmas Ornament Tradition

11/28/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
The holidays come with some of our favorite traditions. One of those favorite traditions is the giving of our yearly Christmas ornaments. It started with those very first ornaments, Baby's First Christmas. Each kid started with one. And every Christmas since, we've added to their growing collection.
​
The tradition is a simple one, a new Christmas ornament the tells part of their story. That means that with each year, as they grow, we look for ornaments that represent their year. It might be a sport, a hobby, an instrument, an accomplishment, or some other success or milestone. Whatever it is, we try to find an ornament that best represents that activity and their year. It's a special memento to mark their year and celebrate experience throughout that year.
Picture
Amy's Ornament from the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.
Picture
Jay's new Chicken Pail to represent his flock of Chickens.
Each Christmas we take a walk down memory lane reliving memories, telling stories, and remembering. This tradition allows us the opportunity to share and re-share special times and moments from our family story. It's often a sweet time of being together. Even sweeter, as Amy and I (Jay) look at the tree we remember what led to that ornament and the moments we shared as a family. 
This year Breya had to opportunity to try something new. After years of watching the brothers play their sports, Breya was able to take her first dance class. Over the summer, Breya was able to sample the possibilities when she attended a week of classes that introduced a different style of dance each evening. At the end of the week, she chose to take a ballet class. So this fall she started taking a weekly class to help her learn ballet. So far she has loved every minute of the class.
Picture
Ballet Slippers to celebrate Breya's year in Ballet.

Order Your Christmas Tees Today!


Picture
Asher's little red tractor for cutting grass.
Living on 2-acres of land means there is a lot of grass to be cut. For the first summer we cut the property with a walk behind push mower. The second summer we upgraded to a set-propelled walk behind. This past summer, we were blessed with a mowing tractor. Asher loves to drive around the property cutting grass. He's always more than willing to get behind the wheel and do a little grass cutting! So this year, Asher's ornament is a red tractor to signify the first summer of Asher's tractor "driving".
Aiden joined the track team this past spring. He participated in a number of running and jumping events. It was his first season, and he had a lot to learn. But he practice hard and gave it his all. We think he enjoyed it, but even more, we believe he enjoyed spending that additional time with his older brother, Nate. Either way, it was fun watching Aiden competing is something new. He plans to rejoin the track team in the spring and we're okay with that.
Picture
Aiden gives track and field a shot as a freshman.
Picture
Nate's painters palette to celebrate his first commissioned work.
This was an exciting year for Nate. He did well in football, basketball, track, and he graduated from high school. Anyone of these accomplishments warrant a new ornament or two. But this year ornament celebrated something new and exciting. This past summer, Nate was hired out to paint a massive mural on the wall of a local dance studio. It was his first official commissioned piece with he completed with a friend from school. So a painters palette represents his year
Logan took another big step towards independence and adulthood with the purchase of his first car. He did all the research, visiting of dealers, reading of consumer guides, and consideration of fuel economy. After a number of test drives he settled on a Ford Focus. It's sporty little car that fits his needs perfectly. So, to celebrate his first car, a Ford Ornament now graces the Christmas tree. 
Picture
It's fun to take a minute or two to look back and think about the things that helped to shape the year, and to consider how life is shaping your children. It's equally as fun to hunt for an ornament that speaks to the year. 2018 was a great year. But what happens to the ornaments when the kids move out? Well, the ornaments go with them! That's part of the fun of this tradition, we get to watch their collection grow then the collection goes with them. They get to keep their treasures and memories to use on their Christmas trees as adults.

We shared in a number of adventures that made the year sweet. We also crossed a number of important milestones along the way. As we think about this Christmas season, the reality that our kids are quickly becoming adults is more real than ever. It's causing us to slow down, to think a little more intentionally, and to take advantage of the time that we do have with them. We often say that we want our kids to WANT to come home for the holiday's, to get excited about seeing each other, and to look forward to spending time with each others families. I (Jay) dream of the day when all five kids and the families are gathering in our living room opening gifts, laughing, and sharing in the season of Christmas. It will be a sweet time together.

​Merry Christmas!

Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Thanks for taking the time to read The Higham Family Blog. Each week we try to share new content about something we are learning, something we love, or something to offer encouragement to the family. We love to hear from our readers, so please share your thought in the comment section of each post.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    DISCLOSURE
Copyright
The content, pictures, and graphics, unless otherwise noted, are the sole property of LifeintheHighamHouse.com. You are free to use a graphic as long as it links back to the original post. You may not edit, crop, in anyway modify or change, remove watermarks or logos, without written permission from LifeintheHighamHouse.com.  Materials that are offered as free resources are made available for you to download for personal use only. Please see to the specific requirements of the individual item. 
DISCLOSURE
LifeintheHighamHouse.com
Copyright © 2013-2022
All rights Reserved.
  • FAMILY HOME
    • MEET THE FAMILY >
      • About Jay
      • About Amy
    • About this Blog
    • Contact us
    • Link Tree
  • THE BLOG
    • Kids Talk
    • FAMILY >
      • FOR YOUR MARRIAGE >
        • Books We Love
      • FOR PARENTS
      • FOR THE KIDS
      • Christmas >
        • The Christmas Door Challenge
        • 12 Days Till Christmas 2015
        • Advent Time >
          • LEGO Friends Advent Calendar 2021
        • Vlogmas 2018
        • Vlogmas 2020
    • HOME >
      • HOME DECOR
      • DIY PROJECTS
      • GET ORGANIZED
    • KITCHEN
  • YOUTUBE
  • THE SHIRT SHOP
    • Life in the Higham House
    • In A Word
    • MORE THAN WORDS
    • SWEATHIRTS
    • Fall Tees
    • Halloween Tees
    • Thanksgiving Tees
    • Christmas
    • Easter Tees
    • Kids Tees
  • THE BOOK STORE
    • Christmas is the Best
    • Mommy, There's A Dragon in my Room!