The memory tree

Back in July 2001, the kids and I collected up all their little Kinder Surprise toys, the little things found in Christmas crackers, doll accessories, gumball machines toys and doll house furnishings to create this Memory Tree. The instructions were in an old Michaels magazine. It uses about 160 alphabet blocks. Some of these were actually from the kids, but I had to buy a few more to get all the letters we needed. We spelled out Christmas words, like Angels, Jesus,Candy Canes, Bells, Joy, Peace, Snow, and Merry Christmas.
The whole tree is built on a wooden plate. There is a foam cone in the centre for stability. You have the angle the blocks a bit to provide platforms upon which to glue the bits and bobs.
It was a lot of fun to do with the kids. We had more fun finding the little things to put on the tree. Their friends got involved and donated things from their collections. To this day, they can remember who gave them them what for the tree, and how special their contributions where. As we were building it, we each printed a little message and sealed them into the body of the tree.
It is displayed on a lazy susan that I found at Value Village, so that people can spin it around and see everything on it.
When we moved six years ago, the tree got smashed, so we had to redo the whole thing. No big deal, and we were able to add a little more to it -- and of course another note.
Now that the kids are older, they have begun discussions about which one of them will one day get the Memory Tree. I have suggested that they begin collecting more stuff to make their own trees. I might happen -- and then I will get to keep this most special of decorations even when the kids have moved on.