Happy New Year! - {Tampa Bay Family Photographer}

This time of year is always so hectic and we, err...I, often get behind in doing things that I want to get done.  Our Christmas card was one of them.   Since it didn't get to go out until this past Saturday, it became more of a "Holiday/New Years" card.    We had fun making it and I wanted to share it with you all along with my wishes for a safe, happy and wonderful New Year!

This is a variation of the back of what the card looked like.  There were a few more items in the "To Do List," letting our friends and family know a few things that the upcoming year has in store for us with the last item being the most important.   :)

Macro Monday - {Tampa Bay Photographer}

It's been fun decorating for Christmas this year.  The new house required us to rethink our where our decorations should go, which, while taking a little longer than usual, was a nice change of pace.  Another nice change of pace was that we got a real tree this year.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm still a fan of artificial trees, but catching that faint pine scent as I walk by is kind of nice.  We got a real tree because our oldest and most vocal about getting a real tree each year, is a senior in high school.  She will be living away from us next year as a college freshman, so we decided to indulge her this year!

Our tree decorations are all over the place and definitely do not fit a theme, unless you consider "Memories" a theme.  That's what our tree is - a collection of ornaments that represent something special each year.  When decorating, we are reminded of that time, some verrrryyy long ago.

This would be an extremely long post if I share even half of the really important ones to us, but I wanted to share a few of the ornaments and a very up close look at our real tree!

When our oldest was born, a good friend of ours gave her a box of these Santa paper ornaments.  He inscribed the lid of the box and explained that it would be something that she would see each year on the tree and when she went out on her own, she would have her first set of ornaments to place on her own tree.  I couldn't think of a more special gift!

When our second was born, it was July and ornaments were not readily found.  We decided to get them ourselves that first Christmas.  In order to differentiate the collection, she received Angel ornaments, which are just as beautiful and special.   I think it's going to be hard to not have them on the tree when the girls are grown and on their own.  

We have a beautiful collection of sterling cross and snowflake ornaments gifted to my husband from his parents growing up and then to us after we were married.  They look beautiful in the tree! 

Tree skirt!

My husband is a huge "Nightmare Before Christmas" fan.   :)

You know, I feel a little guilty that I am not representing more ornaments here.  There are so many that are really extra special to me and I am thinking of them all as I type this.  I guess I'll have to do this again next Christmas and share those then!   Merry Christmas!