Photo Friday: Tree Decor

From Instagram feeds, to Facebook statuses and tweets, all we see this time of year are holiday decorations and trees. I have many traditions in my household – from collecting Santas to our own birth-year bobble and from unique ornaments to crazy Christmas hats. This year, I documented our process of tree decorating. Starting off right, we decided to pour our favourite beverages, and then we were off.

My family putting up the decorations.

Kate getting the felt fabric under the tree.

No tree decoration day is complete without our favourite drinks.

One of our most prominent family traditions includes buying an annual Santa ornament every year. Since 1994, we’ve been buying unique Santa Claus decos for our tree. Whether Santas from our cartoon movies, elegant rustic Saint Nicholases or funny cute Santas – this tradition has to be one of my favourites. This year, our original Santa ornament was “Kiss the Cook” baking Santa found in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Since my mom recently spent a week is Mexico, she picked up this cute bell Santa with Mexico engraved on the side, as well.

2014’s Santa Claus bought in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We definitely love collecting some crazy and silly Santas.

Usually we only get one per year, but since my mom went on a special trip to Mexico last month, she found this beautiful Santa and had to pick him up.

As I mentioned earlier, another special part of our Christmas tree is having our own special bobble from the year we were born. Both my sister and myself were lucky to receive ours at our first Christmas. My parents’ bobble honours the year of their first wedding anniversary.

Since my sister and I are only a year apart, when we were younger, family members would give us ornaments in pairs. To name a few, we’ve received angel twins, small reindeer and cute cartoons with our names on them.

Throughout the years, we have gotten many beautiful Christmas gifts from friends and family.

One of the boxes of decorations we have collected over the years.

Another box of our unique Christmas bobbles.

When decorating, not only do we crack open some bottles, but we also play Christmas music and wear crazy hats.

Did I mention we have some crazy Christmas hats?

I swear, we are not obsessed with hats..

No decoration day is complete without our Santa hats (and silly faces).

Okay, maybe we are obsessed with hats. But come on, she’s adorable!

Our tree shows character and really represents our family. I hope you enjoy these photos and have an amazing time decorating your tree – or celebrating the holidays in a way that is special to you!

Even though it may be the tiniest star, it has been in the family for too many years to count.

This was a Santa we took from my grandmother’s tree. Now, every year we are reminded that she is always with us.

We decorate with many different sized and coloured bobbles.

I’ve always loved the shiny sparkly bobbles.

The final product. Definitely love our tree this year.