We have never claimed to be a "normal" family, and nothing illustrates that more than our tradition of placing the Christmas Fish on top of our Christmas tree.
When Brandi was very little, kindergarten or first grade, her class made decorations for their family's Christmas tree. I'm sure there were lots of angels and stars, perhaps a Santa or two, but my daughter decided she was going to make a fish to place atop our Christmas tree.
When Brandi walked into the house after school she was absolutely beaming with pride at the wonderful fish she'd made. It was bright orange (her favorite color at the time) and she proudly told me how she'd made it all by herself.
That night we decorated our Christmas tree and when I went to place the angel on top of the tree Brandi quickly told me to stop and ran from the room. She returned a moment later with her Christmas Fish and asked if we could place it on top of the tree instead of the angel. I looked into her big blue eyes and saw all the hope and excitement in them, so of course I told her "Yes".
Over the years the Christmas Fish has taken a few beatings. DJ decided to use it as target practice for his BB gun one year (hence all the holes in it) and a couple years ago the tail finally fell off...but every year without fail the Christmas Fish has sat proudly at the top of our tree, reminding me of my beautiful Brandi and the excitement in her young eyes.
This year Bella was old enough to hear the story of the Christmas Fish and she was excited to be chosen to put it at the top of the tree.
I imagine Bella one day telling her children the same story as she places the fish upon her family's Christmas Tree.
That is a wonderful tradition!
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