GOING SOLO THIS YEAR

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

 Normally every year, my side of the family, gets together to make cookie houses and eat WAY too much candy. It has been an interesting year of doing everything without our extended family. We miss them a lot, but it has really been good for us to step up as parents and make sure that we keep these traditions that we love going. So, even though it was just the 5 of us, we made our wafer cookie houses anyway :)

I have to say, those cherry cordial m&m's and the coconut ones are the stuff dreams are made of! Got myself sick from eating way too many.


Piper helped me make the frosting or as we call it "the glue". 



 My kids are not going to be architects anytime in the near future because their houses were not at all sturdy, but they designed and built them all by themselves...we just put theglue where we were told.



I love his, "I'm concentrating" face. This is serious business.







Piper's house was not sturdy enough to carry after she mashed a bunch of candy on top of it. 

We have been keeping some other traditions alive too. This is the Advent Calendar from my Childhood. I was SO excited that my mom still had it and was sweet enough to pass it on to me. Every day the little bear moves around the house looking for Christmas. On the 25th he finally finds it :) My kids love moving him all over just as much as I did when I was a kid.

"Elf on the Shelf" is a new tradition I have started since having kids, and it is one of our favorites. I love being able to say, "Doodles is going to tell Santa everything you are doing....so be GOOD!" I love waking up in the morning to the sound of their excitement about what trouble he got into.

"Kris Kringle Day"  is another wonderful tradition from my family. I was born in Germany and we lived there for about 3 years, and it is a German thing. On the night of the 5th, each family member puts out a shoe in front of the door before bed and when they are asleep, Kris Kringle brings them small gifts if they are good, and coal if they are bad. So, on the morning of the 6th, you get to "open" your shoe. My kids got socks, candy, coal (candy) and sticks. They are a mix of good and naughty :)

The house is almost all decorated, which I must say is a first for me. Usually I am neck deep in family photo sessions that I have to edit. So, this year it has been nice to get things set up early and have fun with it.  There are a few more crafts I plan on making with the kids. Ornaments, paper trees and a few other decorations. It is gonna be fun!

Got my Christmas cards out by the 3rd of December! WAHOO!

This little bear is from my childhood. Pretty sure it was given to my sister Kim, but I always claimed it. haha.
 Craig bought me this nativity the year we got married. We were poor, so it was my only Christmas present, and I didn't care because I LOVED it! It is my favorite Christmas decoration by far still.

 We are a Disney Family for sure. Every year since Mckay was one, we have gone to Disneyland. Now we live so far away from it,  so we are taking a Disney Cruise instead!   It will be our Christmas, Anniversary and Birthday presents all rolled into one. I can't wait!!! One more month.

 This ornament is special to me because it is Craig and I's first ornament together. But, I think this ornament has it backwards, I should be the one making the scared face. haha! In January we will be married 10 CRAZY years.

 I love the classic "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" cartoon. So I love these stockings. No, they are not beautiful or trendy, or something you would see on pinterest, but I still love our stockings and they make us smile. Mine is the "Abominable Snowman" I think he fits my personality well.

 I hope you all are having a wonderful December so far! We still have lots of fun stuff planned...Santa on the Riverwalk, seeing lights, baking and a trip to Arizona to see family...

3 Say What's:

Amy said...

Wait... you're coming to AZ! When??? Loved looking at all your Christmas festivities. It's really different doing it on your own. But, fun too.

Kim said...

Ahhhh haaaa! Yes...every year you would pull that bear out and say it was yours and a big stink would happen. i am glad you love it. i have one or two that i think may have been some one elses too, but i think mom just gave us the ones we loved. love traditions...

Heather said...

Haven't you guys earned a free trip to Disneyland yet? Seriously, they need to offer a punch card for hardcore families like yours who come back year after year.

What great traditions. I am sure your kids love it all. Way to keep it up!

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