spt

i've told you about my wonderful collection of ornaments, my Christmas history. the special box (yes, i still keep them seperated from our *other* ornaments) is set out and waiting patiently for that day when we finally put up the tree (friday is the day. i promise.)

this year's search for family ornaments proved to be quite tricky. all of a sudden, with a fourth person in the family, i am realizing just how many ornaments come in varieties of "3's":

santa/snowman/angel
santa/snowman/gingerbread man
snowman with red hat/blue hat/green hat
santa with gift/bell/little tree
angel with holly/candle/praying hands
toy soldier with drum/bugle/flute

ok, i think you get the point. i must of passed up 42 options in World Market alone, looking for the elusive fourth ornament.

until i stumbled upon these little guys, who were just. too. cute. to pass up. (note the 2 and 2 breakdown on the sweater color.)



they are teeny tomtes, or jultomten. matty is of swedish heritage, and we have adopted the tomtes as a fun part of our Christmas celebration. For centuries, Swedes believed in the presence of the tomten, a mythic creature in the extended fairy and leprechaun family, who was thought to live under the floor of the house or barn, bringing good luck and mischief in equal measure. i would much rather include the jultomten than lutfisk!!

i had way, waaaay to much fun posing these little guys for the perfect portrait. i almost forgot about the self-portrait part of the challenge!




and here's what happens when you've been up way too late, and you get snap happy with the digital camera: jultomten take on a life of their own!!


what story do your ornaments tell?