Holidays mean many things to me, but at the top of my list are giving, traditions and memories. Since my children were born, I have tried to tie all three together into making homemade Christmas ornaments for them every year.
One year everyone was given a mini quilt ornament to hang on the tree. My friend, Julie, helped me to sew them. Julie, who is a sewing teacher, helped me for months on those mini quilt ornaments. It was a great idea I had, but a bigger undertaking than I had anticipated. As I handed them out to my children as well as some friends and family, I mentioned, “I hope you love this mini quilt ornament because I will never be making another one ever again!” Then there was the year that I needle pointed the 12 days of Christmas into 12 ornaments. I started in the summer, when I was working at a day camp. The other ladies working with me couldn’t believe that I was starting my Christmas ornament presents that early. Thank goodness I did, because it took me into November to finish them all in time.
As my children grew up and left home, I made sure that they had their own box of Christmas ornaments to take with them. The ornaments that were handmade by me along with the ornaments my mom, their aunts and other friends and family gave them through the years went along with them carry the love of giving, the tradition of receiving one every year and the memories of Christmas pasts.
(And the tradition continues – My daughter, Marisa, makes everyone photo ornaments every year! Can’t wait to see this year’s ornament- Thanks Marisa!)
Somebody's Mom 
You guys are way too clever for me. I give a special ornament out to everyone each year which are selected with care and consideration for their interests, but only once did I make them in a craft class. Not my forte. Have a wonderful Christmas! My kids took their ornaments with them when they left the nest, too.
Beautiful family traditions!