Christmas Nostalgia

My Nanny had an ugly Santa in her attic.  I'm sure Santa wasn't ugly in his day, but let me explain.  This Santa was made out of construction paper, before the days of "acid free".  He was also made by my brother...I would guess when he was in about 2nd grade.  (So that puts Santa at about age 25 when I am remembering him.)    Every year, without fail, Nanny would hang Santa on her tree.  His red suit was rather pink, and his face a color I can't exactly explain.  Maybe you have seen it...the color white paper turns when it ages.  His belt was grey and his beard really tattered.  It is a wonder he didn't crumble to pieces, but Santa survived.  

I guess one day this will be my house, and my tree.  I have saved my favorite decorations that the kiddos made for me over the years.  I go a little overboard with Christmas decorations in the house, and many of them are home made.  Here is a sampling....

One Christmas wreath from each kid.  Scott's is already starting to look like that Santa, and has a drip of paint on it from one year when it was hanging and I was (guess what)  painting :-).

Two lovely creations from Hannah.  The manger scene was created
at a parents day out at Riverwood church, and the angels
in 2003 at Northport Baptist Preschool.

Two glittery candles made by Scott and James in
the first grade.  Yes...they had the same teacher
James' is the blue one with the 3D flame.

This wreath was made from James' tiny little hands in Kindergarten (I think)

Don't worry....only two more.  Just be glad I did not attempt to explain every ornament on the tree (which I can do for most of them)

Lots in this picture...two hand crafted angels,
a white nativity glazed by my grandmother, and
a lighted church recently given to me by  Barbara.
The church belonged to her aunt.

And not to be left out...Lowell collects guitar playing
Santas.  Something he thought he would never have many
of.  Oh, how wrong he was.  This is just a sampling.  They fill the tree and other areas of the living room as well.

      Did I say only two more?  Sorry about that.  Guess what?  I have an ugly Santa, too.  I won't divulge the crafter, though. As I breathe a heavy sigh because this will be the first Christmas I have not received anything homemade,  Merry Christmas 2012 from all of us!