How To Make a Family (Christmas) Tree

Some people want to string up their family during the holidays--I hang mine on the Christmas tree.

Their photos, that is. Old framed photographs of great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, and newly framed pics of my children, nieces and nephew, and close family friends tell a story in my music room. The tree presides over our presents and presence in our music room, the lights twinkling through the front window as well as through the french doors that lead into our den. We keep even far-away family close as we spend a month admiring their photos, or laughing at their expressions, or remembering family moments captured on film.

I begin by fighting the tree, subduing it and mastering its unwieldy branches. Then I string the lights (this year I'm short one strand, but I love these lights and can't remember where I got them. Next year I may have to buy new strands.) After the lights comes the beads, which is another battle--they tangle up and sometimes break, but I push through and get them on the tree, with snazzy swags and sloops.

Then I pull out the small tubs of framed photos. This began about 10 years ago when I was putting away old photos to make room around the house for more up-to-date ones. I hated that the older ones seemed to go into a netherworld, where no one appreciated them. So I grabbed some gold string, and began tying loops behind the frame stands. I don't care that the frames don't all match. In fact, I like the fact that this is truly a collection of years of loved ones, in various silver, gold, black and even ceramic frames.

After attaching string or ribbon (ribbon helps hold the heavier frames), I begin strategically placing them on the tree. A very few are 8x10s, and many are 5x7s, 4x5s, 4x6s, and 3x5s, as well as a good number of wallet-sized pics. I don't want the tree to look top heavy, so I place the largest and heaviest around so the tree won't lean! I fill in with smaller photos, and try to evenly represent both my family and my husband's, but most of the photos are of our children.

I add a few favorite colored balls and sit down to listen to my Christmas mix playing through my iPod. I'd like to say that I enjoyed a cup of joe after I finished decorating today, but it was actually some chocolate milk.

What is your favorite ornament on your tree?