"How often has the Christmas tree, Afforded me the greatest glee!"

It was a Christmas build up of craft this year which we have all loved. Weve also made a few Lego gifts too which has been lots of fun. This year our friend Chris has really helped Mrs M out with some work related things. So to say an early thank you i decided to make Chris and Michelle a decoration for their tree. After making the one for our tree a few months back this one ended up being a lot easier as i had the first one to work from.

I had no idea what colour scheme their tree was so i decided to make the decoration using as many different colours as i could find. Chris and Michelle put their tree up a week or so in to December and opened the present the morning after.

Chis messaged me soon after to say he loved it and that it had taken pride of place on their tree. It's not the sort of gift everyone would appreciate but i knew these guys would. I'd like to see if i can get hold of transparent pieces next year as i think that would make a more delicate looking decoration. I'm sure i will start looking into that on the build up to next Christmas.

Chris being the gent that he is, kindly took a few pictures of the decoration for me to use on the post, it looked great on the tree. I think i left the post a bit late to write though as they have now taken their tree down. But at least when then get it out again next year they can think about us.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other”

Seth couldn't wait to get out of school today as he knew that tonight we were putting up the Christmas tree. In many houses I'm sure that families have very elegant tree's dressed to a specific colour scheme that matches other festive decorations in the house. Our tree is not one of those, imagine one of those 'old curiosity shops' but in tree form.

Mrs M has been collecting Christmas decorations for about 10 years so as you can imagine we have quite a collection and there is a bit of everything on our tree. Some brought, some homemade. There's memories from the start of our relationship and reminders of people that are no longer with us. As Mrs M pointed out earlier its not to everyone's taste but it means a lot to us and we love being able to get it out every year.

After an eventful year of Lego building with the boys we have added a couple of home made decorations to the tree. Myself and Seth made a Christmas bauble which if you have tried to do this yourself you will know is a nightmare trying to build a sphere from Lego bricks, If I'd have had hair i probably would have pulled it out. For my Birthday this year our friends Chris and Michelle brought me some Lego Head pepper and Salt shakers. We had some already which Mrs M had broken so we were very greatful of the replacements. I found a use for the broken one and made a bauble.

We love a good mustache in our house so Mrs M was very happy last year when we walked past the window of Urban Outfitters and she spotted this Mustache bauble which obviously was going to be coming home with us. Strangely we found a cracker tonight from last year in our decorations box, which we pulled and inside...... Was a Mustache which Opeie wore for about half an hour.

Being a HUGE Dick Bruna fan, Miffy does tend to pop up a few times on the tree too...

The Mug above was from a Hotel in Birmingham that we stayed at a few times over Christmas when we met. We still try and go there a couple of times a year as staying there is always lovely. It may seem strange having a mug hanging off the tree but these things as odd as they seem are really important to us.

When we started seeing each other we brought these little mice from Cath Kidston and although they are not actual decorations they have ended up on our lovely tree.

Every year we buy or make more decorations and every year Mrs M is adamant that they will all fit on the tree. To be fair i didn't think we were going to manage it this year but bless her she stuck to her guns and they are all on display. We will eventually have to buy a second tree but it is a lot of fun to watch her and the boys find branches that dont have a decoration on.

Last year we had a big wooden Miffy on top of the tree but we decided on a change this year, Mrs M thought that we should have something Batman but then she spotted Ben & Holly in Seth's room so we thought Princess Holly could make her Christmas tree debut.

Well another year of Christmas tree erection has gone, i do look forward to walking past it for the next month it always puts a smile on my face. Now to get on with decorating the rest of the house, i think were going to make Lego decorations for Seth's room which should be interested so dont forget to check in on us soon.