Monday, December 13, 2010

A Christmas Village in the Tree and other Tree Traditions



Growing up, my absolute FAVORITE Christmas tradition was my bedroom tree. My parents let my brother and I get our own trees each holiday season. I have memories cutting trees in the great big forests. We would cut our family tree, then my brother and I would be on a search for the our own perfect baby trees. Three trees tied up, ready to take home. Year after year, that was my FAVORITE tradition! My brother had fake popcorn garland for his tree and I had fake candy garland. In fact, I still use my candy garland for my kitchen decor. You may have seen it in previous photos. My brother and I also had our own fake little trees for the years we didn't cut fresh trees. Our trees were always about 3 feet high and full of colored lights. I remember lying in my room on December nights with only my tree lights on. I would sit and just stare at my tree, full of true wonder and magic of the Christmas season. Having my own tree provided me excitement for Christmas that has forever stayed with me.

When I had my own kids, we started to follow the same tradition. We had a couple fresh little trees until last year and my Dad showed up in our entryway with three fake trees as tall as the kids for each of the boys!

My Dad surprising the boys with their own trees 2009


The boys were SO excited they started fluffing their trees before they made it to their rooms...

last year 2009, after the boys received their own bedroom trees.

Kotah makes me smile. He is so artistic and creative. Almost minutes after putting up his tree, he made paper ornaments, paper garland, and a paper angel for his tree....completely unassisted! He used the same paper ornaments this year too.

We also give our boys a Hallmark ornament every Thanksgiving to add to their little trees. My grandparents always gave my brother and me Hallmark ornaments each Thanksgiving for our trees and it was a start to both an enduring collection and timeless tradition.


Another decorating tradition we do is display snapshots of our trees from Christmases past. It's always fun to remember those years and see how the tree changes.



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Onto the MAIN tree...

A Glittery Christmas Village in the Tree


Our family spends Christmas at my parents house. We stay the night on Christmas Eve and we stay through the holiday. Because of this, we consider their tree our official holiday tree. My mom hosted a family tree trimming party a few weeks ago. Everyone participated in decorating the tree...yes, even the guys! We spent a Sunday with chicken, cookies, carols, and tree decorating.

The guys really are helping! I caught them both deep in thought.
They did an excellent job too while my Mom supervised.


Last year her tree was filled with sleds, mittens, bells, and Roses. This year it was made over with glitter, whimsy, and a holiday village.



The little house...

The schoolhouse...

The cottage...

The church...

The glittery details..whimsical white trees throughout...

And fuzzy snowflakes...

Icy icicles...

Glitter Birds...


My favorite...the ribbon pinecones!


Under the tree are the BIG village buildings...
the BIG schoolhouse...

The big church and cottages...


A winter wonderland tree for our Merry Little Christmas. Thank you Mom for always creating a place of beauty for our magic.


Be sure to see last year's tree with
Sleds, Mittens, Bells, and Roses. I'm CURIOUS what tree you prefer. We are divided at our house on which is better. {wink}





Christmas Tree Contest

This post is linked to: No Minimalist Here, Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, DIY Showoff, Home for the Holidays, Deck the Halls, Southern Hospitality, DIY Showoff, The Lettered Cottage, Dare To, DIY Living, Seasonal Sundays, , Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings, Making the World Cuter, Motivate Me Mondays, Market Yourself Mondays, It's So Very Creative, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tuesdays at the Table, Topsy Turvy Tuesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, Get Your Craft On, We're Organized Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Show and Tell, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Tablescape Thursday, Spotlight Yourself, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Friday Favorites*, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday*, I'm Lovin It*, Funky Junk Interiors*, Fabulous Friday Finds*, Tickled Pink*, Be Different Act Normal, Weekend Wrap Up

46 comments:

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Your mom's tree is adorable!! Love the pine cones!

Judy@cutest-little-things

Leigh Ann said...

I love the christmas village tree, but can totally see why it is a toss up! Can you tell me where your Mom got all of the houses for her tree? Enjoy your Christmas Season!

Leanne said...

That tree is amazing. I love the guys deep in tree trimming thought. I love both the trees but I'm partial to all the little glittery houses. THey're beautiful. Our kids each have their own tree also. I love that tradition. Have a Merry CHristmas with you cute family.

Ronda Batchelor said...

I like the village tree!! Our kids also have small tree's in each of their rooms. My sister thinks we are Christmas freaks, but I love it and so do our kids. If I could I'd put a tree in every room!!
Ronda

Gina said...

Beautiful tree! I love the houses-so cute. Our kids have their own trees too, they love to decorate them with their special ornaments. Such a fun tradition!

Jaymee said...

I love your small Christmas tree tradition. We do not have kids yet, but this is something I am going to remember to do with them. I love it! Thank you so much for the great inspiration!
~Jaymee

http://craftyheartswarmhome.blogspot.com/

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

My kids would LOVE to have a tree in their own room - how awesome!

Debra Howard said...

Just happened upon your blog today and I love love love your Christmas House tree. I collect glitter houses and so it was a sight to behold for me. Great idea!
Debbie

Karen said...

what a unique idea to put the little village within the tree, love it!

Free Art Printables said...

We are doing are in our girls room too. they are so excited! I love your village tree!

Becca said...

Wow, her trees are always SO amazing! How special to open presents under a tree like that! :)

Unknown said...

all the houses are gorgeous!

NanaDiana said...

You know, I don't even know how I found you- I was hopping from blog to blog to blog. You remind me of my daughters in some ways..the same passion about living. And when I read you profile..I remember that I felt the same way at your age....love deeply..feel deeply...love beauty and life itself. And,the funny thing is..I still feel the same way today. So, being ONLY 28 (you wish you were younger;>) means you got a whole lotta years ahead of you to feel the same way you do now. I really enjoyed your blog and am signing up to follow....even though I told myself I wasn't gonna follow anymore blogs...because when I follow- I FOLLOW...so I will be here haunting you! Happy Holidays-Diana

mama hall said...

the ribbon pine cones are just precious. i love your family traditions. thanks for sharing :) merry Christmas!

Miller Racing Family said...

We have the same tradition in our house. In fact we have some sort of Christmas tree in each room. I love the photo of the boys getting their trees. The main tree is just wonderful, something you would see in a magazine.
Have a great day!

Taylor Renee said...

I love the village in the tree! I've never seen anyone do that. Definitely my fave although the bells were very pretty in last years'. Wish I could do such big, bold decor on my tree this year, but it's a scrawny Charlie Brown! Though it is the start of a new tradition ...

You can see it here:

www.trimmedandtaylored.blogspot.com

caveman said...

I prefer last years tree (since you asked). But this years tree seems more special because of the time we spent together putting it up. I am so excited for Christmas this year!

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

OMG!!! I LOVE the Christmas village tree!! It is absolutely stunning!!

Hugs,
Debbie @ A Debbie-Dabble Christmas

dec0r8or said...

What a great idea! I've never seen a tree with a village in it before! So clever!

Anonymous said...

Hands down....this is my favorite tree I have seen! :)

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Lisa, Your mom's tree of little houses is fabulous! What a unique and beautiful tree. Thanks for sharing this at my party.
Sherry

Dannyelle said...

I was just posting my new glitter house villiage at a link party, and noticed the picture of yours. What a fun tree, I love it. Check out the villiage I made at www.lifeisaparty.ca
Merry Christmas,
Dannyelle.

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

Hi Lisa, it's a tough call on which tree is better! :) I like the sleigh bells on the previous year, but I LOVE the houses this year! Did you guys make them?

Tammy @ tinselshop.com said...

Lisa,
I am in LOVE with the house tree. Last year I wanted to get those houses SO BAD!!! I have similar in one of my trees this year, my collection is small but growing... I do a tree for my little ones too, it helps them leave mine alone! What a great idea to post the pics of trees past, I am going to borrow that idea!

Best wishes,
Tammy

Something Special said...

This is seriously the neatest tree I have ever seen. I love it!

Nita Stacy said...

Both trees are excellent but I really love the village tree with all the houses. I have vintage houses on my own tree. Really love this one though...your Mom goes all out. I loved reading about your boys trees. I can imagine how wonderful it must be for them to lie and look at their trees in their rooms.

Nita Stacy said...

Actually, I can't believe the tree turned out this great with the guys helping. It looks like one person meticulously put it together. Your Mom must have been instructing them on large ornaments at the bottom...put this here...put that there....did she? Did she direct the production?

Cari Skuse said...

What a beautiful tree! Love those frosty snowflakes and the houses.

Blessed Serendipity said...

I love your Christmas tree with the houses. Just beautiful!

-Danielle

Jenny H. said...

Really enjoyed seeing the village in the tree. Something I wouldn't have ever imagined, yet I LOVE it! Also enjoyed last year's with the big red bells. Your mom's tree is really pretty, and has me thinking that maybe I need to add a flocked tree to our decorating scheme some year... :-)

Unknown said...

I can't believe what you have created here! Your village in a tree is fabulous, just love it!

Amanda Lee said...

Both trees are wonderful! On the one hand, I like the sweet white tree with the village, but on the other hand, the red and white tree with the oversized bells is so fun!
~Amanda

Life In The Thrifty Lane said...

The Christmas Village Tree is beautiful!

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

Lisa,

Your tree is incredible. And your village is just so cute!

xoxo
Jen

Cheryl ~ ZanyMayd said...

I Love a Christmas that is Filled with Love & Family Traditions.... Yours takes the cake! Your Own bedroom trees, that would have been an Amazing Treat.... thanks for sharing.

junkgarden said...

I am in love with the Christmas village tree. Fabulous!
Angie

Pamela said...

This is one of the neatest and most original ideas I have seen for a tree! I just love it!! Thanx for sharing.

TidyMom said...

Just beautiful Lisa! I linked your post up to Christmas I'm Lovin' It Round Up!! thanks again!! http://tidymom.net/2010/im-lovin-it-christmas-round-up/

Jenny said...

I love the this years tree best - hands down. It's beautiful. Last years' tree is very pretty too.

What do you do with all the old decorations from last year? Do you buy all new every year?!

The men at my house decorate too. We have a family tree trimming party & it's so much fun.

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

Love the traditions with the kids' trees and photos of previous years. While both trees are beautiful, I think I like this year's the best.

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

OMGoodness, the little village tree is definitely my favorite!!!! How adorable!!!! Did she make the little houses?? If she bought them, where??? I just love this! GREAT idea! XO, Pinky

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

I LOVE this tree!! I have the same question as many of the other gals: where did you find the houses???

Anonymous said...

all the trees are beautiful! i like this years more than last years.

Amanda said...

It's so gorgeous! I think it's my favorite tree I've seen this year! I just love the glittery houses...I have a small collection on my mantle but not nearly enough to fill a tree! Maybe someday! Thank you for the lovely inspiration!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Trisha @ The Sweet Survival said...

Houses in the tree? What a great idea! Your tree is simply amazing! What a great tradition for your boys - I think we might start something similar for my boys when they get a little older.

Savannah said...

I absolutely love this tree. Would love to accomplish it in my home. Can you please provide information on how you secured the village pieces to the tree? perhaps a tutorial? I so would love to surprise my family with us doing this. Thanks in advance for your assistance