Do You Know Dasher, and Dancer?

Tonight's the night our family gathered to put the ornaments on the tree. We bought it, as a family, this past weekend. A day or so, of resting in the stand, then I add the lights. Later, my wife adds the gold ribbon. Finally, the ornament day comes...

As opposed to me cooking, we usually order something out... saves my sanity. the kids then unpack the 4 boxes of ornaments, and lay them out on the couch, coffee table, and chairs, for us all to see...

As the ornaments are unwrapped form their sometimes Decades old tissue paper, Tiki, the little cat, enjoys her time, hunting thru the wilds!

Ado

...without further Ado, I, in my stocking cap... no, as the dad, I add the first ornament, to the tree!

For me, it's this 3 masted square rigged schooner. Next, we all commence. Some ornaments, doesn't matter who adds them. Some, are 1 of the 4 of us's personal ornament to be hung, with care.

My mom made this ornament for me, the winter after my wedding. My little brother, and I, at my wedding. I made the ornament, with kitten Tucker on it.

Above Over in what I call space corner, the Firefly class cargo ship Serenity, with R2D2, not seen, Darth Vader, Yoda, a Mandalorian, C3P0, and some stars.

Below In 3rd Grade, while in Cub Scouts, I made this Felt Santa. My mom was our Den Mother.

Above At our wedding, at the New England Aquarium, we gave our guests, these wood/bamboo crafted Fish ornaments.
below The Percula Clownfish, and the Picasso trigger from our wedding reception.

Looking at our tree, there's a story about each ornament. Usually, something from our childhood, our kids' childhood, or possibly from our early marriage. Most ornaments since the kids were born revolve around their lives... go figure.

But the tradition continues, same as when my little brother and I were growing up. Dinner, Christmas music, and decorating the tree. Ornaments that mean something, and not simply store bought glitz.

The carolers here, on my family's mantle, were my mom's.... from when dad and mom lived here, and I grew up as a kid. They belong here at Christmas, and will 'til the day we move away.