…is not a very practical way to live with in a home with young children. Our prettys & what-nots are constantly at risk of being no more. And for a couple of sentimental old fools like Lovey & I, that can be heartbreaking. And glass breaking. Mercury glass to be specific. Now that The Quail and Zuzu are old enough to anticipate upcoming events, Christmas stirs their little energy pots to a full rolicking boil. The gathering of the tree, is a weekend-in-December event that we all look forward to. It tends to take us the weekend to gather the tree and begin the unpacking and remembering of the ornaments. The crocheted and starched snowflakes from my Grandma Carrie’s handiwork. The blown egg given to me from a friend when I hostessed in a Chinese restaurant in South Dakota during my college summers. The growing collection from a momma group ornament exchange that is so sweetly linked to our family’s individual and collective personalities. The lovingly handmade work of the children that becomes a bit more intricate and endearing with each passing year. The “our first home” and “our first married” and “baby’s first Christmas” talismen that tick off our family’s changes. The initialed collection that illustrates who our holiday was spent with. The delicate adornments to packages from Lovey’s family. The mercury glass balls that were handed down from my childhood. They are all so precious…

…and shiny and attractive to fast little hands that insist on “Me” and “my turn” and pitched voices exclaiming in a whirlwind of memories of “Where is the one from…” and “This one is my favorite, Momma!” and “I’ll put it up high by myself!”

It’s a delicate balance to find a way to enjoy our collection and share the memories of where and whom they came from and yet ensure they will be around for years to come. It’s become a tradition that slows down our merriment and brings us in together close to hang our history, tell our stories and be sure that even the littlest hands are included.

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or writerly in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine, Annabel