The Chosen Ornament Is...

Christmases 1-5 my kids are given an ornament, typically Hallmark's Child Age Collection.

Once Aidan hit his 6th Christmas, it changed into him picking out an ornament for that year, to show for something he was interested in that year.

This year's ornament:

Tom & Jerry!
I personally love it. Love it.
The boys watch a lot of Tom & Jerry, it's classic, and I favored it as a kid, too.
I am happy with his choice. :)
Tonight it goes on the tree!

End of an Era, Beginning of a New One

I get into ornaments. Post on that to come.

Each year we I pick an ornament for each boy, then one for us as a family. I like the ornaments to reflect their life at that particular time.

With Aidan, we've reached the end of an ornament-era (if there is such a thing): He has outgrown the Child's Age Collection. Last year was his 5th Christmas, and this series covers 1st-5th Christmas.
I can't believe it.

So this year I took him to the store and told him he now got to choose any one ornament he wanted for 2009. (Brennan is still in the Child Age collection, so we got him the 3rd Christmas one)

Aidan really enjoyed this experience, and so did I. It was cute watching him decide the perfect ornament for him. I just can't get over how much he is growing up.

He chose this one:

It's an adorable, fun ornament. It really plays the song, and the elf really pops up. So cute.

It's also very fitting because Aidan has asked Santa for a jack-in-the-box. Ever since the letter "J" in school, when they did something with a jack-in-the-box, he has wanted one. I am fairly confident Santa will deliver. ;)

So sweet.

It's the end of the Child's Age Collection, but the beginning of something new for Aidan. My lil' big boy.