I love our family traditions, especially the ones around Christmas. We always look forward to Thanksgiving to see what Mom has made for our annual Christmas ornaments out of clay. As you scroll through the pictures, you can see this joy in our faces as we open our special ornaments - they make me smile. I can't imagine how much time it takes to make all of those since our family has grown since we first started this....she now has to bring them all down in a plastic tub! Thank you for making these for us, Mom. They are so wonderful and personal. I love how our Christmas trees are stories of our lives, and it's so much fun to relive those stories each year as we decorate our tree.
Reese was the first to open her gift. Mom made Reese a little girl who looked just like her with her pink cowboy boots, boa, purse, earrings, dress and hat. Looks like it was made especially for a little girl who loves to dress up!
Mom made Jackson a Buzz Lightyear ornament - of course! He loved playing with it. It was the first ornament he put on the tree this year (and it was directly eye level so that he can look at it every day). 
For Casey, she made him a Bronze Star. We're proud of you, Casey! She also made an ornament for Reese and Casey that was a little girl holding a Curious George book in front of a TV/Computer that had Casey on the screen. They would do Skype on the computer so that they could see and talk to each other while he was away, and he also recorded himself reading Curious George so that Reese could listen and read along while she watched him on the TV. What a great ornament idea, Mom!
Mom and I had the same idea (unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of Mom opening her ornament). I made her Elphaba, the Wicked Witch from "Wicked". The timing was perfect, because Jenna opened hers up next and found.....Elphaba! Great minds think alike. She also made Jenna a giraffe with a bandage wrapped around its throat. I really don't know how you come up with these, Mom. They are so clever and fitting! 
Mom made Tom two ornaments this year, too. The first was a black and white "Zo" in honor of Broken Arrow's marching band show this year. The 2nd ornament was Jackson (with his hat on backwards) holding his baby doll Charlie. Attached to the ornament was Jackson's comment "It's ok, Charlie. Daddy's here. You're safe." So sweet. Jackson has a wonderful role model - we know that's where he heard it! 
My first ornament was a snowman with her new camera - I really love taking pictures now, which is such a departure from before! So fitting for an ornament. My second one was hilarious in honor of my great mom moments as described in my previous blog posts. It was Jackson riding a tricycle (with a helmet) with open Easter Eggs in the back. Ha ha!! 
For Dad, she made him a replica of his retirement party table decorations as well as my Dad's new truck (complete with Jackson and Reese in the back playing together). Happy 1 Yr Retirement, Dad!
Here's a grouping of all of them together. Thank you so much, Mom. They are so special. We are so impressed by your many talents! 
