2009 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments

We have added a lot of ornaments to our collection since that first Christmas. Ornaments were given to us as gifts by friends and family, ornaments I've made, my sons brought home several from school, and we continue to add at least one dated ornament every year.

When our first son was born, we continued to buy one ornament a year, but when the second one came along we started buying two. The ornaments may not be a hundred years old, but we consider them family heirlooms. My oldest son will be decorating his own Christmas tree this year. As a housewarming gift he will get one dated ornament for each year of his life. When our second son buys his first house, we will be doing the same for him.

I would like to say we limit it to just two ornaments a year, but my husband is nuts about trains. He sneaks an extra one in every time.

I can't say much. I add at least one angel to my collection every year as well.

When we first started collecting the Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, we bought them at the Hallmark Card Store or at the bookstore in the mall. We started checking them out right after Labor Day, but didn't make a decision until after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately when we went back to the store prepared to buy, the ones we wanted were often sold out.

For the 2009 Holiday Season Hallmark has 71 new, dated ornaments. I doubt that any one store carries them all.

Today we buy our ornaments online. We can check out all the ornaments before making our decision. It's convenient, and I never have to settle for my second or third choice.

We often used the ornaments to commemorate a phase in our children's lives. We have a surprisingly large number of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Ornaments. The boys laugh when they see them, and then we start talking...