My Christmas Tree {Ruckersville, Va. Photographer}
I actually have 6 and two really tiny ones but the family tree is the one I’m focusing on today. I’d love to show you a photo of it all, but I’m having a Jeff Foxworthy moment (i.e. “You might be a Redneck if the top half of your tree won’t light up and you put it up and decorate it anyway.”)!
But the bottom half still works … and I’ve come to the realization that this is the final year for this tree. It has served us well for nearly 10 years now and we have enjoyed filling it with our memories.
In college I had a tree and several boxes of plain bulbs. It was then that I decided I wanted a Christmas tree that had no plain bulbs–instead I wanted one full of memories. Each year when I go on vacation (even mini-ones like the trip to James Madison’s Montpelier) I purchase a Christmas ornament.

The one on the left used to have lifesaver rolls as hands--after 40 years they've gone who knows where!
I have pictures of the kids and ornaments I made as a child, as well as some from my husband’s childhood. Putting up the family Christmas tree, for me, is a time to reflect on where I visited this past year–and even 10 years ago.
The one below I picked up at 1,000 Islands when we visited Boldt Castle in June.
For me, my tree is like a scrapbook in ornament form.