holiday mantle reflects memory lane

Mike and Abby surprised me Saturday night with the most delightful holiday mantle decor!  Our new home has a big brick fireplace and mantle.  We have an old Dickens Christmas village that my mother-in-law gave us.  It looked pretty but lacked height and uumph.  We have lots of handmade Christmas crafts that our children have made throughout the years.  So,while I was at work Saturday(and it stunk it up to high heaven that day!), Mike and Abby created this:

They took wooden clothes pins and spray painted them red, green, and gold.  Then the hung fishing line across the mantle.  Years of treasures are now hanging up for me to smile, laugh, and tear up at. I tell you, when your oldest is talking to colleges(in Kansas no less) and talking about moving out....looking at Christmas crafts he made as a 2nd grader is pretty emotional.