Traditions

My coworker and friend Jolene says I'm crazy. Not that this is probably news to my kids. This year, after threatening to do so for many years I finally broke down and bought another Christmas tree. Not to replace the big tree in the living room. No, I bought a smaller tree intending to put it in my bedroom (it still wouldn't fit) which ended up in the dining room/kitchen. Because my big tree was getting overwhelmed with ornaments. So the kitchen tree is now rechristened "The Dog Tree" because it contains all of my collected dog ornaments and it is the right height to actually be a Christmas tree for my dog (not intentional, I assure you.) The girls have a small tree of their own for their room, so once they finally put it up, we will be the house of three trees. And we have a very small house. But collecting ornaments has been a tradition in my family since I was little, one I hope the girls will continue. And every year it seems like they make something new for me in school. So I can't quite bring myself not to put up older ornaments that beloved family members gave or made me just to make room for something new. Someday my tree will be more bare because the girls will take the ornaments that I and my mom have bought for them. And that will be a bit bittersweet. What are some holiday traditions you hope your kids will continue?