Hi, I’m Kim Funk, Christmas Tree Manager.
But don’t call me controlling! 🙂
My mom was the Christmas Tree Manager when we were growing up and now I have that title at my house!
It’s a process that I learned from my mom and although mine is slightly different, here’s how it all goes down in our house!
(Please enjoy this reshare of our favorite Christmas 2019 post!)
Christmas lights in the morning make me smile…

I love going downstairs and plugging in the lights first thing in the morning. It’s a fun view as the daylight is just starting to come through the blinds.
My mom always plugged hers in first thing as well, so we could enjoy them as we woke up and walked down the hallway to start our day.
All-day long, I continue to smile every time I walk by. And… getting the tree ready for the season brings me joy!
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First, we test the lights and ask Ranger for approval.

Ranger is a super big help in making sure I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Are the lights all good? Check!
Then our sweet angel topper is placed on the tree so that she may supervise the process.

Before the lights go on, I have to put supervisor #2 (after Ranger is done) in her place. (Kind of like the Queen of the Castle I guess!).
We found her in 2001 at a store called Country Clutter at the Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, California.
We had just bought our new house, had a new baby (baby #2!), and she perfectly fit our style. She is always the first item I look for when it’s time for Christmas! I just love her!
Next, the lights are carefully placed on the tree.

From there it’s time for the lights! (Yay!) I love arranging them. I normally don’t worry about the back of the tree as we don’t open those blinds very often. I plug them in from the back, start at the bottom and scoot around as needed to make them pretty!
Although many use smaller “twinkle lights”, I still love the old fashion feel of colored bulbs like we had when we were growing up.
(Yes, I do have access to a ladder and when we have a taller tree, I use one but this year’s tree was the perfect height for my bar stool.. and yes, I was careful).
Normally, my angels go up first… but I changed the “guidelines” this year!
Dave’s new ornament Destiny’s new ornament Tyler’s new ornament
I had my family members add their new ornaments to the tree AND I left them where they placed them!
As I handed my family members their hand-picked 2019 ornaments, I told them to go put them on the tree.
But before I could stop him… TYLER put his ornament up in Angel Territory! (Gasp!) My family quickly said that it didn’t matter because I would move them anyway! Just to prove they were wrong, I left them exactly where they placed them (and they are in perfect spots).
- I chose a cute fox wearing a red sweater for Destiny because she used to work at the Fox Sports Store and because she loves animals.
- Tyler received the Buzz Lightyear ornament because, well… he loved Toy Story when he was little and because he will always be my little boy.
- And with Dave’s the “final judgment” was determined! The “Love you Most” ornament presented to him proved once and for all who loves who the most. (Score!).
Then came my favorite two little ladies…
#1 Favorite Angel #2 Favorite Angel
These are two of my very first Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments given to me by my mom. She has been buying me “Mary’s Angels” ornaments for YEARS!
- The little lady on the left is my favorite although part of her snowflake is missing. She is dated 1981 and she is always placed in front of a bulb so that the light can shine through. So cute and special!
- Sweet angel #2 is from the early years as well, although her date is no longer readable. I just love her sweet face and thimble tree holder. She is a very close second.
And then this sweet little gal!
I just received this year’s Mary’s Angel ornament via the mail. (Thanks, Mom!) “Hyacinth” was placed right in the center of the angels this year.
Obviously… The Prime Real Estate is reserved for the Angels.

They get the top spot because they mean so much to me. (So fun!).
Kiddos and hubby ornaments are added right below the angels…

This year, Ty’s are on the left and Destiny’s are on the right.
Here are a few of our favorite “family” ornaments.

Oh how I love the memories of days gone by!
Then finally, we fill in the rest!
Sparkly fun hearts Colorful angel bells Fun polka dots Cute bear from a friend And a sweet message on back Misc bears and angels
I love then filling in the spots and adding color with my sparkly hearts, angel bells, and polka dot ball ornaments. (Which my mom gave me because she didn’t want and I LOVE them).
Then we add oodles of bears and angel ornaments! Many have stories behind them or memories of who they came from or who I bought them with.
Memories of my mom’s beautiful trees…
When we were growing up, I always looked forward to decorating the Christmas tree with my mom.
She had all of her ornaments in an old wooden chest of drawers in the garage. (Painted red mind you by one of my mom’s aunts). Her process started with us carrying in all five of the drawers. Each drawer had a selection of a certain sized glass ball ornament (There were three sizes total) or other special treasures.
Mom would place her lights, then the glass bulbs were added – smallest to largest from top to bottom. I think that’s really the only difference I have in my process! I use bulbs as my filler whereas they were her starting point.
Mom “is” Christmas.
I’ve said many times, that my mom “is” Christmas. Even though we didn’t grow up with a lot, she always created a wonderful Christmas for us. From the tree to the huge red board of special cutouts and Christmas card fronts that adorned the fireplace mantel along with so many special candles, trinkets, and treasures ~ it was always magical!

That’s why when I came across this special ornament at a local store, there was no question as to whether I needed one! Mom’s name is Joy in case you didn’t know that. (And the Joy in Kimberly’s Joy).
Not only did I buy one for her and one for me, but I also gifted a few others with one as well! This one always earns a special “spot” on the tree.
We are blessed to still have Mom with us and I love that she always enjoys my trees… since she is to “blame”. I hope my kiddos have fond Christmas memories of me someday as well!
And without further adieu…
Our Family Tree 2019

Are you a Christmas Tree Manager?
Are you a Christmas Tree Manager? Do family members call you controlling? (The nerve!). Do you LOVE Christmas?
Do tell me all about it in our comments section!
(You know I love stories!)
🙂 Kim

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Thank you Kim
I feel behind and this one snuck up. We got the tree all set up and the house is decorated. lots of ornaments from the girls that they made in school. I even have a couple that I made in 1st grade :)Faith still believes in Santa and Grace is a new non-believer in the magic.
Today we go to Dad and Georgia’s and tomorrow we host a Christmas brunch at our place. I have lots of great memories of coming to your house for Christmas eve or Christmas day. Aunt Joy always had it decorated so nice, and it was always so much fun.
Say hello to everyone and we wish you a Merry Christmas. Lots of love, Andy
Our holiday events that included COUSINS were always so fun! I remember waiting for HOURS for your arrival! And the “are they almost here yet?” question wasn’t as easy to answer as it is now with cell phones! 🙂 Merry Christmas!! xoxo
We have two trees. We have the family tree, sits in the family room and has all the kids ornaments from over the years, and hubby’s too. It has colored lights, and most years has the train around it. In the living room we have my tree. Those are the ornaments no one is to touch! This tree has white lights, “snow”, and glitter. Both trees bring me joy for different reasons.
Merry Christmas Kim!!
I love this idea! 🙂 That makes you the Christmas Tree Manager of one tree, but you hand over the “creative process” to others on the other one! Genius! 🙂 Merry Christmas!!
Well Kim…you know my mother, so you know she was and is the tree manager for our family! My dad puts the lights on first and then mom takes over. Once I had my own home and family, I let the kids do their own thing when decorating our tree and I usually leave most of the ornaments where they are. We have a few favorites that have ‘their spot’ on the tree. It’s funny because I didn’t choose the important ornaments or choose their spots. The kids have taken care of that on their own over the years. I’m just glad they still want to decorate the tree with me. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas! Love and miss you my friend. ~ Keri
Merry Christmas Keri! It sounds like you are the Christmas Tree Manager, only you did it right… you delegated! Good management skills! 🙂 I know everything you do is special so I’m sure your tree is always filled with love!