Let’s see what’s new this year.

We’ll kick it off with this Hurrying Downstairs bear (Hallmark, 1996) which is reminiscent of last year’s (er, all time?) favorite, “Fire Pole Dancer Santa.” This little bear strikes me as a bit more innocent — and not drunk. Or stripping. He has a front spot this year.

I bought a lot of six of these Faithful Fire Fighter (Hallmark, 1993) dalmatians. That’s right. Six. Mainly because I forgot I grabbed one just before Christmas last year, so now we have seven on the tree. They’re pretty darn cute, dotting the tree. I felt pretty awesome for finding a lot of six, no box, for the price of one regular Hallmark ornament though. Best price record!

I bought Donald the Firefighter at the Disney Store in Times Square when I went to NYC for BlogHer Writers ’11. I think that trip made a new shopping goal for trips we make: trying to find a firefighter themed ornament. It could be fun!

I kind of love this Firefighter Wreath (Hallmark, 2006) ornament. I’d kind of like to have a real sized one on our door. An old hose, a bell, a glove and an axe. Well, minus the axe. I think an axe on your door says, “Hey! Break me down!” Let’s not go that far.

These three small ornaments are nothing spectacular, but deserve to be featured as they are new to the Fire Tree. On the left we have North Pole 911 (Hallmark, 1995). It’s a mouse, and as such, it’s very cheesy. In the center we have Hallmark Miniature Series Ornament Fire Brigade #3, 2006. It is very small. I have another miniature on the tree somewhere — and have lost it. I may have to start a miniature tree for these specific “miniature” ones. I’ll consider it for next year. Last we have Firefighting Bear (Hallmark, 1994). The whole “Red Hot Holiday” is very Holiday Innuendo Guy.

This is the Snoopy I mentioned scoring right before Christmas last year. I love him lots. He’s hanging out right in FireDad’s eyesight when he’s relaxing in his recliner.

Of course we have the annual ornament from Robert’s Fire Catalog from 2010. I’m sure 2011 will join us this year, even though it’s blue.

And now? The best find of 2011. Sadly, it’s not as funny as last year. But it’s a hard find. And it’s mine.

Mmm-hmm. That’s a Santa’s Fire Engine, Here Comes Santa, from 1985. I won’t really get into the ages that FireDad and I were in that year, but know that FireDad already knew he wanted to be a firefighter. So it’s a welcome addition to our Christmas tree. There are about a dozen or so of these on eBay right now, ranging from $0.01 (overseas, beware) to $45.00! I think $12.00 — shipped — is a fine deal for an old ornament!

I realized this year that I need to start a spreadsheet (yes!) for all of our firefighter ornaments, specifically the Hallmark ones. While I enjoy having seven fire dalmatians on the tree, it wasn’t a purposeful purchase. Keeping track will help avoid wasted shipping. Then again, what’s the harm in more firefighter ornaments? I mean, I’m pretty sure Santa already has two more Hallmark ornaments in the plans for this year, as well as that stinkin’ blue one. I’d say that I’m banning myself from eBay until after Christmas is over, but we know that won’t happen. I have my eyes on a 2003 “Ruff and Tuff Hero,” which I haven’t been able to score as of yet. If you get it for me, I’ll love you forever!

I think I have to start another post as well for the other firefighter Christmas stuff we have around the house that can’t actively hang on the tree due to size. Look for that soon!

Fire Tree, 2011 is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

Remember how I mentioned that the post-Christmas sales on eBay for old Hallmark ornaments is spectacular? Well, I decided to just check for a few. I scored the 2009 firefighter Snoopy that I missed because it sold out quickly in our area. And then I saw it. Angels kind of sang. I squealed a bit.

A 1992 firefighter Santa. 1992! I have no idea what I asked for and received the Christmas of 1992, but I can tell you that I didn’t have enough foresight to know that I’d be living in Ohio and married to a professional firefighter eighteen years later. Needless to say, I didn’t have the 1992 Santa firefighter, who is misnamed.

Why is he misnamed? Well the official name is North Pole Fire Fighter. Which, by the way, is the least imaginative Hallmark Keepsake ornament name ever.

After I took him out of the box, I decided he should be named, “Santa, the Firefighter Pole Dancer from 1992.” I mean, take a look.

Classic.

I’ve currently banned myself from eBay. Er, well, I did. After I wrote that sentence. But not before I placed a bid on three firefighter ornaments from 2005, 1995 and 1994. I love me some hard to find classics. It also helps that the ones I just bid on don’t look like they belong in the pages of Santa’s Naughty List magazine. Ahem.

(Psst: There were a bunch more “North Pole Fire Fighter” ornaments just two weeks ago. There are only five left on eBay at this moment if you simply must add this “unique” firefighter ornament to your collection! I mean, you should, if only for the giggle factor.)

Santa, the Firefighter Pole Dancer from 1992 is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

We have a few new ornaments this year. Some were received as gifts last Christmas and I grabbed two off eBay in the post-Christmas ornament purge last year. (Tip: Seriously. Keep an eye on eBay for ornaments in the two weeks post-holidays. Great prices on new and classic ornaments of all styles!)

Here are our new fire ornaments.

This ornament makes me laugh. Over the past few months, the Munchkin and a twitter friend both asked if firefighters really rescue cats. Apparently this Santa firefighter does, with a candy cane ladder no less. FireDad raised an eyebrow at this particular ornament when I pointed it out this year. I just smiled. This was an eBay find after Christmas last year. He’s currently residing center, mid-tree. (Hallmark, 2004.)

This double ornament is a little gem of win, if I do say so myself. The Matchbox truck came inside the little matchbox box! How fun. Another eBay find. I hung this one near FireDad’s side of the tree, near another bigger Hallmark fire truck ornament. (Hallmark, 2002.)

The annual ornament from Robert’s Fire Catalog is a given. I don’t know why I wrap one every year for FireDad. It’s not as if he doesn’t know that he’s getting one. In fact, I think he’d be suspicious and/or worried if he didn’t receive our annual ornament. The 2009 fire truck ball ornament featured a ladder truck from Boston.

My favorite firefighter ornament remains our Fire Santa.

I figure we’ll get some new ornaments this year. I may or may not have found a Snoopy firefighter ornament on eBay already that is making its way here. (Snoopy! I couldn’t resist!) I’m pretty sure that my friendly local Hallmark ladies tracked down this year’s annual fire truck even though it was sold out of the store in October. (So grateful to them!) I’m sure friends and family will gift us with a few others as well. And, yes, I’ll be stalking eBay after Christmas for some good fire deals.

Fire Tree, 2010 is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

Over the years, we have collected a number of firefighter specific ornaments. When I say “a number,” I do mean “lots and lots,” of course. I started thinking about their coloring as I hopped from shop to shop after the Christmas decorations were put out in stores (which was before Halloween this year and while some may find that deplorable, it helped in my hunt). I fell in love with a mix of red, apple green and white ornaments at The Store That Has Everything from Ornaments to Soy Based Yogurt. It turns out that the mix was a popular one this year because I found accenting smaller ornaments at just about every store I went to over the few weeks it took me to make my decision. I purchased a huge bundle of them from the initial store (50 larger ornaments) and a bunch of teeny ornaments from various stores. The colors are gorgeous.

In fact, when I started to pull out our specialty ornaments, I realized that the new ones were perfectly complementary to the ornament that is always displayed front and center on our Christmas tree: Santa as a firefighter.

We have a few variations of snowmen as firefighters as well. The reds of their hats or whole bodies were also perfect for the new coloring of our Christmas tree.

Yes, that last one is actually a bell. And it does jingle. But don’t tell the boys. Please.

We have another Santa but I always put him off to the side now. He was a gift from the owners of Teach, Bank, Blog back in 2005, just a month after BigBrother was born. I love the ornament but I feel bad that it doesn’t have LittleBrother’s name on it. So he hangs off on the side that faces my computer now. I smile at him and he watches me to make sure I’m being nice, not naughty.

One ornament doesn’t really match the color theme but definitely fits the fire theme. A firefighter dalmatian, complete with axe. He may be in yellow and blue but he’s a welcome addition to our fire tree.

The funniest fire themed ornament on our tree is a firefighter… Pez dispenser ornament. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

We also have a special series of ornaments on our tree. Robert’s Fire Catalog releases an ornament every year with the date and a different fire truck. I have purchased one for FireDad every year since we have been married. While we were engaged on Christmas Eve 2003 and I’d like to have an ornament from that year as well, I can’t seem to get my hands on one from that year. Such is life. 2004 is my favorite. 2005 is kind of… pink. 2009 may or may not be opened on Christmas morning. Guess FireDad will just have to find out.

One of the gems of the tree is a Hallmark ornament that is a 1938 fire truck. Our batteries are dead so it doesn’t currently do anything except match our colors and look generally awesome. It sits close to FireDad’s recliner so that he can pretend he’s like Jay Leno and has an antique fire truck. Someday.

I hope to add another ornament or two, other than the one from Fire Catalog, this year. As such, if you’re ever stuck for a gift idea for our family or any firefighter, consider an ornament. They’re usually easy to find. Santa as a firefighter is a recurring theme year after year, likewise with the snowmen as a firefighter. Hallmark almost always has a fire truck ornament but I’m not always quick enough to get them before they’re sold out of our local Hallmark. (20 firefighters on our local department plus the surrounding volunteer departments mean that fire truck ornaments go pretty quickly around here. Ebay is always an option.)

In the end, I’m in love with our “new” Christmas tree. I even bought a new tree skirt. And, yes, that is a firefighter snowman sitting next to the tree. I am pleased that our new Christmas tree not only matches itself but reflects our family. Fire trucks, firefighters and the color green. I mean, it’s a win-win-win for us all!

Especially with a star on top.

Weekend Outtakes: Fire Tree is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

First and foremost, we always buy the annual ornament from Robert’s Fire Catalog. We have 2004 onwards. (Of note, you can buy some of the older ones on their site if you missed a year or two!) In fact, if you’re not familiar with Robert’s Fire Catalog, you should be. It’s a great one-stop-shop for all of your firefighter gifting needs and will be featured a few times throughout this week! (Another note: I am not showing you the picture of the 2008 Ornament so that FireDad doesn’t see it before Christmas morning!)

This ornament can be found on quite a few sites this year. The blown glass fire truck ornament is absolutely gorgeous. And, being glass, breakable. Keep that in mind when purchasing. We do have a few glass ornaments on our tree (such as a few of these blown ornaments and the above annual ornaments) but they are safely wire wrapped to the tree. Or so we hope! (All pictures can be found below.)

For the kid in you or living in your home go with a fire truck ride-on ornament. We have a ride-on in our house that is quite smilar to this ornament! This one is actually made by Hallmark and, as such, I should stop and say a few things about Hallmark. They have a fire truck ornament every year. We only have one as they are always sold out by the time I get to our local Hallmark to make my purchase. As Hallmark doesn’t have a main site that lets you order their offerings, I’m frequently just out of luck. They are, however, gorgeous ornaments. Get thee to a Hallmark, yesterday, and see if you can grab this year’s ornament. (It’s awesome looking!) (Of note: You can also google to find past Hallmark fire truck ornaments, like this ride-on from individual Hallmark stores. And always check ebay!) (One more note! They’re not glass! WOO!)

There are a billion and one firefighter snowmen ornaments on the market. We have three on our tree. This is a cute on that I just found. They can be found in all kinds of dress as well. As an example, one of ours is dressed in a yellow coat, one is dressed in a black coat and one is dressed in all red. You can, no doubt, find a snowman firefighter ornament that matches your firefighter’s turnout gear!

And, of course, there are an outrageous number of ornaments featuring Santa as a firefighter. I would like to point out, however, that Santa Claus, with his big belly, wouldn’t likely pass the physical agility test. Just saying. All the same, we have a blown glass Santa on our tree that looks similar to either of these except that he is dressed in red. You can find him with a hose, with a dog or climbing a ladder. In the non-glass variety, there are even more options like the Santa in this collection. All the same, these are actually some of my favorite firefighter ornaments. Something about the magic of Santa and the magic of firefighting really pulls it together for me!

Whether you’re purchasing a firefighter ornament for an adult firefighter or a child who just loves the noise and bright-shininess of a fire truck, there are many more options available to you this year. I suggest you browse the internet or actually get out and look at the stores around you. Don’t skip over those kiosks in the mall as I’ve found quite a few great firefighter related ornaments there and, to boot, they often have the option for personalization!

All this week Stop, Drop & Blog will be bringing you gift ideas for the firefighters or fire truck loving children in your lives! Tomorrow I’ll be hitting on fire truck ride-ons for your wanna-be firefighters! Be sure to tune in!

2008 Firefighter Related Gifts: Ornaments is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.