December 11 – Other Traditions
Originally posted 12/11/2010.
We love to watch Christmas movies. As a kid, it was all those on ABC, NBC, or CBS. Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown. We always got the TV Guide and I'd go through it and mark the dates and times for Christmas movies. Now with DVR, DVD etc, we pretty much have all bases covered, but we still like the above classics. Add in Christmas Story, Elf, Christmas Vacation, and Funny Farm and I'm all set with Christmas movies.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Advent Calendar- December 10 - Christmas Gifts
December 10 – Christmas Gifts
Originally posted 12/10/2010.
Our gifts always started on Christmas Eve, where we could open ONE gift. It was a teaser gift- usually pajamas or a stuffed animal to sleep with.
Then in the morning, we went first to the stockings, then to the Santa gift, and then to the others. We gave and received gifts from everyone- never drew names or the like. We still don't do the name drawing thing.
Now a'days, likely due to my learning to be crafty, most gifts are homemade. Not for Marc and the children, but for just about everyone else. I love spending time on gifts, since I'm not so great at shopping. Plus, people buy what they want for themselves- they don't need me doing it. So I give them my time and my love and create things for them. And it's these same kinds of gifts that I love to receive. Homemade and filled with love.
Except that one year when Marc surprised me with a pet hamster. That was pretty awesome.
Originally posted 12/10/2010.
Our gifts always started on Christmas Eve, where we could open ONE gift. It was a teaser gift- usually pajamas or a stuffed animal to sleep with.
Then in the morning, we went first to the stockings, then to the Santa gift, and then to the others. We gave and received gifts from everyone- never drew names or the like. We still don't do the name drawing thing.
Now a'days, likely due to my learning to be crafty, most gifts are homemade. Not for Marc and the children, but for just about everyone else. I love spending time on gifts, since I'm not so great at shopping. Plus, people buy what they want for themselves- they don't need me doing it. So I give them my time and my love and create things for them. And it's these same kinds of gifts that I love to receive. Homemade and filled with love.
Except that one year when Marc surprised me with a pet hamster. That was pretty awesome.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag
Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag
Originally posted 12/9/2010. Updated 12/9/2011 at the bottom.
Last year we began another new tradition with Advent Calendars. I noticed the December before that we were so busy doing fun things that we didn't have time to enjoy the fun things. So last year, I made one fun thing a day (even if it was a coloring page).
I put the ingredients for the fun thing (or a slip of paper outlining the fun thing) in paper bags alternating red and white and lined them up on the bookshelf. Every morning the children got to open a bag and find out what our thing was that day. They liked it so much, that we are doing it again this year, but with fancy boxes instead of lunch bags.
Here are some of our fun things:
Originally posted 12/9/2010. Updated 12/9/2011 at the bottom.
Last year we began another new tradition with Advent Calendars. I noticed the December before that we were so busy doing fun things that we didn't have time to enjoy the fun things. So last year, I made one fun thing a day (even if it was a coloring page).
I put the ingredients for the fun thing (or a slip of paper outlining the fun thing) in paper bags alternating red and white and lined them up on the bookshelf. Every morning the children got to open a bag and find out what our thing was that day. They liked it so much, that we are doing it again this year, but with fancy boxes instead of lunch bags.
Here are some of our fun things:
- Decorate the house
- Make Christmas cards
- Movie Night
- Disneyland treat (Signa chose candy and William chose suckers)
- Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe
- Outfit at Build-a-Bear
- Decorate the Tree
- Drive around and see lights
- Go caroling
- Make wrapping paper
- Go out for ice cream
- Go shopping
- Decorate cookies
- Go see Santa
- Make reindeer food
- Have hot chocolate and cookies
- Have a gingerbread decorating party
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Advent Calendar- December 8 - Christmas Cookies
Advent Calendar- December 8 - Christmas Cookies
This was originally posted 12/8/2010.
I already shared the recipes for my mother-in-law's fig cookies. My own mom has made chocolate chip cookie bars and Russian tea cakes every year for as long as I can remember. She makes big batches and gives away giant platters as gifts and never ever does anyone say, “Gee, that’s too many cookies.” They are so delicious that before you can finish saying the second “e” in “Gee”, the cookies are GONE.
This was originally posted 12/8/2010.
I already shared the recipes for my mother-in-law's fig cookies. My own mom has made chocolate chip cookie bars and Russian tea cakes every year for as long as I can remember. She makes big batches and gives away giant platters as gifts and never ever does anyone say, “Gee, that’s too many cookies.” They are so delicious that before you can finish saying the second “e” in “Gee”, the cookies are GONE.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Advent Calendar- December 7 - Holiday Parties
Advent Calendar- December 7 - Holiday Parties
Originally posted 12/7/2010. Updated at the bottom.
We have family get-togethers, but not “parties”. Our get-togethers are loud and crazy and exciting. Everyone is excited because IT’S CHRISTMAS! The children want gifts and ate too much candy and the adults catch the excitement from their children. The sound is deafening and wonderful.
We have three such events these years. The first is with Marc’s family. We drive to his mother’s where she makes ambrosia salad (and other things) and the children all get car-loads of gifts. The second cousins all play with each other like they won’t see one another again for a year. Which is true of most of them. They do make up for lost time, though, and we are all sad when it’s over and promise to do it more often next year.
We then have a new tradition of going to my brother’s for Christmas Eve. We sing and eat and sing some more. Now with my new nephew, it will be even more wonderful to spend time there helping him have traditions to remember his whole life.
And then Christmas Day at our house with chili and crazy excited children and hopefully a new Sally for the porch!
Updated 12/7/2011- This year, we are hosting Marc's family Christmas party at our house. There is no Christmas Eve at my brother's, though, since he is headed to his wife's family for a week or so. We are also going to have a fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party with the kids' friends and their parents. So lots of parties this year!
Originally posted 12/7/2010. Updated at the bottom.
We have family get-togethers, but not “parties”. Our get-togethers are loud and crazy and exciting. Everyone is excited because IT’S CHRISTMAS! The children want gifts and ate too much candy and the adults catch the excitement from their children. The sound is deafening and wonderful.
We have three such events these years. The first is with Marc’s family. We drive to his mother’s where she makes ambrosia salad (and other things) and the children all get car-loads of gifts. The second cousins all play with each other like they won’t see one another again for a year. Which is true of most of them. They do make up for lost time, though, and we are all sad when it’s over and promise to do it more often next year.
We then have a new tradition of going to my brother’s for Christmas Eve. We sing and eat and sing some more. Now with my new nephew, it will be even more wonderful to spend time there helping him have traditions to remember his whole life.
And then Christmas Day at our house with chili and crazy excited children and hopefully a new Sally for the porch!
Updated 12/7/2011- This year, we are hosting Marc's family Christmas party at our house. There is no Christmas Eve at my brother's, though, since he is headed to his wife's family for a week or so. We are also going to have a fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party with the kids' friends and their parents. So lots of parties this year!
Advent Calendar December 6 – Santa Claus
Advent Calendar December 6 – Santa Claus
Originally posted 12/6/2010.
Santa has always come to our house on Christmas Eve. He fills our stockings with trinkets and leaves a gift for the children. He used to leave gifts for us, but when we had children, he switched to giving them gifts instead. I’m sure he must have known that this is what makes us happiest. Plus one year, he brought us a family present, so I can't feel too disgruntled.
Santa eats a cookie and has egg nog while he works at our house. He also sometimes leaves crumbs and beard around here and there. We look for it every year. And this wasn't just the past few years that we've had children.
Since we don’t have a real chimney, we have a special key for him that we hang on the door outside. It only works for Santa and it’s VERY fancy. The kids sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn and we hang the key and tuck in for the long night.
Originally posted 12/6/2010.
Santa has always come to our house on Christmas Eve. He fills our stockings with trinkets and leaves a gift for the children. He used to leave gifts for us, but when we had children, he switched to giving them gifts instead. I’m sure he must have known that this is what makes us happiest. Plus one year, he brought us a family present, so I can't feel too disgruntled.
Santa eats a cookie and has egg nog while he works at our house. He also sometimes leaves crumbs and beard around here and there. We look for it every year. And this wasn't just the past few years that we've had children.
Since we don’t have a real chimney, we have a special key for him that we hang on the door outside. It only works for Santa and it’s VERY fancy. The kids sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn and we hang the key and tuck in for the long night.
Advent Calendar - December 5 - Outdoor Decorations
Advent Calendar - December 5 - Outdoor Decorations
Originally posted 12/5/2010. Updated at the bottom.
We mostly lived in the country and I don’t remember ever doing any outdoor decorations. Now that I have Marc, he goes all out. Last year, in addition to the lights on the house, he created a Jack Skellington who appeared on the porch Christmas morning. Created out of pipes and boxes and junk.
I heard rumors that Sally will be appearing this Christmas…
12/6/2011- No Sally last year, but we did get the evil wreath. And an inflatable Oogie Boogie. Here we are this year. Holey jeans and flip flops in December...
Originally posted 12/5/2010. Updated at the bottom.
We mostly lived in the country and I don’t remember ever doing any outdoor decorations. Now that I have Marc, he goes all out. Last year, in addition to the lights on the house, he created a Jack Skellington who appeared on the porch Christmas morning. Created out of pipes and boxes and junk.
12/6/2011- No Sally last year, but we did get the evil wreath. And an inflatable Oogie Boogie. Here we are this year. Holey jeans and flip flops in December...
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