2nd Cup Christmas Tree Linky Party

Since we're in the U.S. for our daughter's wedding (which is next Friday!) but I still wanted to participate in Linda's party, I am sharing photos from last year.

We put the tree in the space between the dining and living rooms, and just off the kitchen so you can see it from just about anywhere in the main living area. We took a fake, pre-lit tree to Argentina with us because we knew pines would be scarce. I chose a really skinny one since I figured we wouldn't have a lot of space for a tree -- and I was right!

I have many special ornaments, most of them homemade. Like this adorable Wise Man that my friend Betty gave me many years ago.

We had a tradition of buying an ornament per kid each year, and I always tried to make it meaningful for that year (for example, Tina received a patriotic Santa the first year she could vote). I couldn't continue that tradition once we moved overseas but our first year in Argentina I did get me and Ivan special ornaments. After 27 years it was just the two of us again. So we picked a pair of pears :-) [Yes, the corny Hoyt humor and love for word play strikes again.] Can you guess who's green and who's blue?
I always threatened to do a "themed" tree when I had the chance, but you know, I discovered I am a traditionalist at heart and I couldn't bear to NOT put up our precious, memory-laden ornaments even if they don't match all that well. If I had space for more than one tree I'd probably do one designer-style tree (all blue and white and silver) but since I barely have space for the one tree, it's a mute point.

I'm not sure if our co-workers have decorated in our absence or not. We told them to feel free to get the tree and decorations down from storage and put them up if they wanted. Just not sure they've had time with all they've had going on. I guess we'll find out when we get home!