My mom started a tradition that I absolutely love. She started when I was pregnant with my son (OMG he's gonna be 12!!!!!! ) Anyways, back to the topic.

She gets each member of our family a beautiful ornament for Christmas. When my ex and I started out, we had all of those crazy stringy wrapped ball ornaments? Well for the first time this last Christmas, I didn't put ONE on my tree! And I have such a beautiful, eclectic selection of ornaments, thanks to my wonderful mama.

Originally posted by angelface My mom started a tradition that I absolutely love. She started when I was pregnant with my son (OMG he's gonna be 12!!!!!! ) Anyways, back to the topic. She gets each member of our family a beautiful ornament for Christmas. When my ex and I started out, we had all of those crazy stringy wrapped ball ornaments? Well for the first time this last Christmas, I didn't put ONE on my tree! And I have such a beautiful, eclectic selection of ornaments, thanks to my wonderful mama.

I have given all my kids, and now my grandkids, an ornament every year since they were born. It gave them a base for when they get their own place the first time. (I must admit, though, that since I always buy "good" ornaments, sometimes I spend more for ornaments than Christmas dinner!!)

I buy my Son a Nice Pewter Ornament Every Year so that when the time comes that he moves out on his own and has his own tree that he will have some nice things to start out with.

This will be his 9th Christmas this year and With the New little person coming Then next year I will have to start buying TWO every year. (This tradition could get pricey)

If it were up to me I would have my tree up BY december first but we moved in July and it is being stored in a friends garage, I have no way to get it without convincing him to bring it to me so I likely won't get it up as soon as I want it.

My mother used to work at Birks & when my first child was born she started a tradition of buying each child a special ornament. We lost both my parents when my kids were very young, so I kept up the tradition to remind them of their grandparents and I have bought each one (and now the grandbaby) an ornament for many years - not, of course, as expensive as the one's Mum bought, so I search around, mostly online, to find something out of the ordinary for each one. My oldest boy is now 25 & I no longer buy for him, but my 19 year old daughter will have her own tree for the first time this year and is really looking forward to using her "special" ornaments!

I'd also like to know what people think of the LED lights.

From what I've heard, some people bought them, but ended up replacing them with the old fashion ones as the LEDs were just not bright enough, especially outside. I wonder if that's because of what they are (as LEDs can get very bright) or because these people are buying cheap ones.

We bought a couple of strings of outdoor LEDs last year and they are definitely bright. Closer to XMas if you drive around you can instantly spot LEDs on homes. The only thing I can complain about them is that the white LEDs are not a true white. They tend to have a blueish cast to them.

We intend to replace all our existing string lights with LEDs this year. Many hydro electric commissions are participating in a program with Canadian Tire. Basically you can trade in your old style lights for a discount on LEDs at CT. Info should be in your bill or phone your local provider.

We replaced our lights with LED's last year and I love them. I think brightness might be a factor of which color. The blue ones seem fairly dim but our red ones are fine.
When we bought them last year we calculated that they would pay for themselves in 3 years with the amount we save in electricity by using them.

Another question - why are the white (clear) ones much more expensive than the coloured ones?

this week i got a coupon in my hydro bill for $5 of a set of LED lights, so i called the hydro co to see if i could get more and they said they didn't have enough extras, to call in late dec. i didn't want to wait that long, so i started rumaging thru the recycle box at the post office (looked like a tool, but it worked!) i found five more coupons, went to can tire, and found that the 100 light strand of LED's is $16.99 and is 33 1/2 feet, so at that rate, even without the $5 discount, these are cheaper than icicle or swag lights. 2 sets does the front of my house, and i have 2 new sets for decorating the trees in front, along with the 2 sets i bought last year. i love getting great deals like that!

Originally posted by Fossil Another question - why are the white (clear) ones much more expensive than the coloured ones?

True white LEDs are harder to make (and newer). They’re still doing research on how to make a wider range of colors, and to also make them more efficient (brighter). If you see LEDs that seem dim, then they’re probably lower-priced ones.

The white LEDs that have a blue tint are actually modified blue LEDs, which are cheaper to make than true white LEDs. They add in yellow phosphors, and some scientific mumbo-jumbo stuff that I don’t understand, to create the fake white LEDs.

Great explanation RL! I really like white lights so I immediately noticed that the LED's we bought last year weren't truely white. I actually think the ones that change colors are kinda cool but we'll see what's out there when we buy this year.

Originally posted by Fossil I realize this is not the right thread - but it is Christmasy - did anyone change to LED lights last year & do they like them? Or do you still prefer the hangy down ice thingys?

Ya I switched to all LED lights, even for the tree they were on sale at the local hardware store and they supposedly use alot less Hydro so I figured what the heck. I was quite suprised at how bright they are, they look so small but they seem brighter then the regular lights!!

Originally posted by quiltnanny no, Fossil, you are not the only one!! I have always tried to put mine up later in the month, much to the dismay of my grandson. When my kids were growing up, we never did the tree until Christmas Eve. Some of my daughters' friends would come over, and we would have hot chocolate and stuff, and sort of have a party. I got the tree decorated, and all i had to do was sit on my butt and tell them where to put everything. (I always wanted it perfect, but it is easier to see the whole effect if your nose isn't in the tree). I used to have the kids come over and help me with the tree, but last year I did it by myself. Took two days, and just put stuff on till I decided it was done, a little at a time. I have a truckload of ornaments, but they didn't all make it to the tree. I ran out of inspiration before I ran out of ornaments. It still looked fine, and no-one even noticed!! So much for all those years of "perfect".

See mom we told ya all along!!! Christmas trees are magic they are alway perfect no matter how they get decorated!! Oh and Fossil I don't put my tree up early either but not because my mom didn't! but because My daughter has her Birthday on December 21st and she already get the ripoff birthday/christmas gifts so when she was little I was worried if I put the tree up and all that she would always remember her birthday as an extension of Christmas so it was no tree till after Cate's birthday no matter how much my son complained. Last year however it was also Cate begging to put it up so i relented and put it up a week before her birthday!!

Originally posted by netty this week i got a coupon in my hydro bill for $5 of a set of LED lights, so i called the hydro co to see if i could get more and they said they didn't have enough extras, to call in late dec. i didn't want to wait that long, so i started rumaging thru the recycle box at the post office (looked like a tool, but it worked!) i found five more coupons, went to can tire, and found that the 100 light strand of LED's is $16.99 and is 33 1/2 feet, so at that rate, even without the $5 discount, these are cheaper than icicle or swag lights. 2 sets does the front of my house, and i have 2 new sets for decorating the trees in front, along with the 2 sets i bought last year. i love getting great deals like that!

I live in the wrong province! The hydro coupon here is only $3.00 and the lights cost more

Originally posted by Fossil I live in the wrong province! The hydro coupon here is only $3.00 and the lights cost more

Don't feel bad, we didn't get one at all, just a deal that if you buy three strings or more you get a $10 gift certificate for CT mailed to you. Poop.