::ornament 5::

Every year since Max was born I've made a little ornament with his picture in it. OK, so that's an exaggeration. I haven't MADE them every year. Usually I just end up buying a little frame type ornament and sticking his picture in. But I do assemble them. And I do always have plans to make one, it just doesn't usually work out.
But I did make the ones for 2004 & 2007:

The 2004 one was a little wood frame that I got at the craft store and painted. The one from last year I actually made this year (trying to play catch up--that's what happens when you paint yourself into the corner of a "tradition"). It's a bottle cap (It's from some Steven's orange soda that we had for Thanksgiving that year). I cut his little photo and stuck it in there, and then I poured a bunch of mod podge on top of it. It took days, but it ended up drying clear with a little shiny finish to it. I like it.

I've given the same ornament to each of Max's grandparent's every year too. They're always very grateful and it makes me happy. Give us a couple more years and the theme of our tree will just be Max.