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.

FireMom: So, does it have to be a star?
FireDad: Not a bow. Not an angel. A flippin’ star.
FireMom: Well then.
FireDad: The dad doesn’t say, “No, that bow is crooked.” He doesn’t say, “No, that angel is crooked.” He says, “No, that star is crooked.”
FireMom: Right. A star then.

He was obviously referencing A Christmas Story because that’s what we do around here from now until next Christmas, rinse repeat. Anyway, our tree is decorated, complete with our new star which had to be wrestled onto its perch. We’ll show you the whole tree tomorrow along with the boys’ tree. For now, our new star, minus the audio snippets of FireDad cussing as he tried to get it to fit right.

Side note: the boys tree doesn’t have a star. Perhaps we should have them make one. Opinions?

Weekend Outtakes: Only a Star 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.

The theme, of course, was Toy Story.

I think, perhaps, I’ll write about the pros and cons of having a joint birthday party for your children tomorrow. As for tonight, I’m pleased with everything that happened, glad to have spent time with friends and family and thrilled that I have two healthy, happy boys that are fast asleep in their beds. I’m not far behind.

Birthday parites are exhausting.

Weekend Outtakes: The Boys’ Birthday Party! 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.

I went out to do some work today and a few people were taking advantage of the nice weather to decorate their homes. We would except that I have this internal clock that doesn’t allow for such goings-on until the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t judge others. I just can’t participate. All the same, I had to photograph an event on Friday evening that had everything to do with the holidays and decorating. I enjoyed myself thoroughly as I love, and I do mean love, Christmas and everything around it. I mean, our anniversary is exactly one week before Christmas. Who does that except for someone who loves the holiday season? Right.

I took one photo at the event that made me think of another blogger. Ever since I saw Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks take a picture of herself in a Christmas ornament a few years ago, I’ve wanted to do so. Slight problem though: our ornaments are not glass (little hands) and, as such, I’ve had no reflection going on in my own home. I remedied that on Friday night when I snapped this photo.

It always amuses me when people complain about how early the holiday season starts. Minus stocking stuffers and and a few small things, I’m done Christmas shopping. With the boys both having birthdays in the next week and all the other stuff of the season, I have to be organized. Being organized can sometimes be boring so I gladly welcome those who want to play Christmas music, decorate their homes or otherwise force me to put on a smile and get in the spirit. I love it. I love this time of year, even if it is unusually warm.

So, in short, if you’re tired of Christmas already, I might avoid my blog. I plan on doing some talking about gift ideas for two year old and four year old boys as each of them celebrate their birthdays and welcome new toys into our home. I even plan on having BigBrother review, via a vlog, his favorite toy, whatever that turns out to be. Over on the review blog this coming week I am also reviewing some great gifts for various people in your family. This is a no Scrooging zone.

Can’t you just feel the excitement hanging in the too-warm air? I’m ready for it this year. Let’s go!

Weekend Outtakes: It’s In the Air 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.

They can, apparently and however, pick our noses. Or at least FireDad’s nose.

This picture was quickly snapped yesterday evening (before I went to Mandy‘s Shutterfly House Party) as my three favorite men sat in the recliner watching the Penn State versus Ohio State game. And, no, we don’t want to talk about the final outcome, thankyouverymuch.

We hope that our readers are experiencing a similarly amusing weekend, sans football outcome woes.

Weekend Outtakes: Picking Your Parents(‘ Nose) 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.

This particular photo came about when I was trying to get the boys to look at me while I stood above them in our leaf pile. They never did. But I like this picture all the same.

We never seem to have a nice, dry fall in which the kids can romp in the leaves. Until this year. Today it is 60 degrees. The sun is shining. The leaves have been dry for quite a few days. And so, out we went. They squealed. They laughed. They threw leaves in the air. They jumped into leaves. They tripped on each other. They whined a little bit. They laughed some more.

And I just kept snapping the camera. And occasionally telling one not to sit on the others’ head. You know, the act of mothering in a pile of leaves. I’m still picking leaf parts out of my own hair. They’ll probably still be there when I run into the newspaper later today and, after that, onto a friend’s (Shutterfly House Party) party. Someone might see them, might point out the leaf pieces in my hair. I’ll smile and laugh and say, “Yes, I had a good day with my sons.”

Even when they sat on my head in the leaves.

Weekend Outtakes: A Moment in the Leaves 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.