This year, this is my favorite ornament. One-hundred-percent employee ownership helps TSP carry forward a legacy that began in 1930. Full employee ownership means any TSP team member who has been with the firm for a year has a path to ownership without the need for an upfront personal investment. It reinforces that we’re all in this together and we move the needle together. It is a very exciting time at TSP!

These glass crystals are one of a few items I have from my late grandmother who taught me how to sew and knit. These crystals bring back the memories of her warm, loving kitchen and time spent laughing with family.

We have a ton of great ornaments that we hang on the tree each year, but a couple always seem to bring an extra smile to my face. This little blue house is one of them. It reminds me of getting started as a young married couple. Buying our first house, starting a family, and starting our own Christmas traditions. And it is remarkable how much it truly looks like our first house.

I couldn’t pick one. My grandmother had a tradition of making all her grandchildren an ornament each year. After her passing my mother and aunts took turns continuing the tradition. Some are transformed items, and others are craft store creations. Twine mouse, clothes pin toy soldier (or nutcracker guy?), beer can Santa, doily angel, walnut penguin, eggshell caroler, pasta angel, wood cane Santa, shotgun shell Santa, paint brush Santa.

My favorite Christmas ornament is not actually an ornament at all – it is simply too big to hang on our tree. But my favorite Christmas decoration is an old classic steel runner sled that has been painted with a wintery Christmas theme. It is special to me because I have numerous memories of riding this very sled as a kid. One of my favorite memories is of my dad pulling my brother and me behind his pickup around the neighborhood on our sleds and some of the wild wipeouts that occurred as we went around corners – we laughed about them for days. Probably lucky neither one of us got more than some bumps and bruises, but it was sure fun at the time! When this decoration comes out each year during the holidays, I immediately smile as I think of those simpler times.

This wooden ornament was made in Germany. We received it a few years ago. I appreciate both its rustic quality and the details in the manger scene.

I can’t just choose one favorite Christmas ornament because every year my mom would make us Christmas ornaments and it’s impossible to choose a favorite from them. My mom was very crafty and would make them out of wood or out of anything she could find around the family farm. Some of the highlights are angels made from noodles and thistle burrs, a milkweed poinsettia, a wood-burned Christmas scene, a star made from fencing wire, a snowman made from tree seeds and a painted Barney. I will always treasure these handmade ornaments from my mom, and I look forward to hanging them up on the Christmas tree every year!