We did a lot of fun traditions for the holidays this year and I call them traditions because I want to do them every year! We went caroling on a trailer pulled by a truck Monday December 20
th for Family Home Evening with friends the Shaw and
Holbrooks (and a few other neighborhood kids). That was of course rain week of the year here in the desert and that entire day it poured rain. The evening was no different but we went anyway, and so glad we did. It was a blast! Didn't get many good pictures due to the rain but got at least a couple. I want to do it every year. Next year we will be able to follow through with our original plan and use
lanterns or candles, and deliver neighborhood gifts at the same time. The kids had great ideas of decorating the trailer with lights and greenery next time. Then we'll have to do hot chocolate.
Porter had fun ringing his bell for "Jingle Bells" and shouting "HEY!". He was so good and such a little trooper! I also had him layered like you would not believe. I think it was 4 layers of pants and 4 layers under his coat. I was not about to have a cold kid. I was bundled as well.
Part of the group.
Our neighbors, the Stapley's, do a light show set to music every year. This year I took Porter several times to go watch the "pretty lights" as we listened to the coordinating music on the radio (all set up in their basement). That was really fun and I know they will continue to do it so I look forward to going next year.
Christmas Eve we sprinkled "reindeer food" out on the lawn. It's a delicate combination of special oats and magic (glitter) to help the reindeer fly. *wink*
Gave Porter a red bath in honor of Christmas and go figure, he HATED it. Scared him to death or something! He hasn't cared about the color in the bath before but did not like it this time. Just cried tried desperately to climb out. I ended up having the drain the water and refill it with no color. Boo.
New '
jammies (pajamas) on Christmas! He got some from Grandma Taylor (my Mom), and Nana/Papa. Grandma gave him super soft blue Joe Boxer ones with sports balls on the front. Nana gave him a Lightening McQueen set.
Made cookies for Santa and left them out on the special Santa cookie plate (my Mom gave that to me years ago).
Porter was so cute! The plaid red pajamas I found at DI months ago and thought they would be hilarious for Christmas. They were super cute. I should have made a butt flap in the back.
My little stinker loves to climb on the counters now. It's not a holiday tradition, just a recent Porter thing.
And the tradition we had for his third year...seeing Santa Claus! This year he only saw four (vs five last year): Jubilee of Trees, the mall,
Harmons, and my favorite one at Boulevard Home Furnishings. He's just such a nice, warm, jolly grandpa-like Santa.
Don't ask me what the tongue is all about. Silly kid.
I also want to attend a live nativity every year to remember the true reason for the season and to emphasis a Christ centered Christmas. Last year we went to the one at
Tuacahn (I
LOOOOVE it) but missed it this year. Was going to going on one of the last days but it got rained out. This year we went to the live nativity at
Staheli Family Farm and it was wonderful. Next year I would like to start a December Christmas countdown calendar with a different activity everyday (idea and cute example from friend Erin Terry on her blog) and have Porter write (or glue pictures) a letter to Santa. I also want to sing Christmas carols everyday, bake sugar cookies (I'll get really domestic one day), and watch every Christmas movie available. Aaron and I had a Christmas tradition of painting ceramics every Christmas Eve, but it didn't happen last year (I was sick) or this year. Does it still count as a tradition? Want to go sledding (went last year; haven't been this year), and build a snowman (did that in our own backyard this year!). I would also like to do a big service project every year. I remember my parents taking us to serve at soup kitchens on holidays and that made a HUGE impact on me. So Happy Holidays and Merry future Christmas celebrations!
We did a lot of fun traditions for the holidays this year and I call them traditions because I want to do them every year! We went caroling on a trailer pulled by a truck Monday December 20th for Family Home Evening with friends the Shaw and Holbrooks (and a few other neighborhood kids). That was of course rain week of the year here in the desert and that entire day it poured rain. The evening was no different but we went anyway, and so glad we did. It was a blast! Didn't get many good pictures due to the rain but got at least a couple. I want to do it every year. Next year we will be able to follow through with our original plan and use lanterns or candles, and deliver neighborhood gifts at the same time. The kids had great ideas of decorating the trailer with lights and greenery next time. Then we'll have to do hot chocolate.
Porter had fun ringing his bell for "Jingle Bells" and shouting "HEY!". He was so good and such a little trooper! I also had him layered like you would not believe. I think it was 4 layers of pants and 4 layers under his coat. I was not about to have a cold kid. I was bundled as well.
Part of the group.
Our neighbors, the Stapley's, do a light show set to music every year. This year I took Porter several times to go watch the "pretty lights" as we listened to the coordinating music on the radio (all set up in their basement). That was really fun and I know they will continue to do it so I look forward to going next year.
Christmas Eve we sprinkled "reindeer food" out on the lawn. It's a delicate combination of special oats and magic (glitter) to help the reindeer fly. *wink*
Gave Porter a red bath in honor of Christmas and go figure, he HATED it. Scared him to death or something! He hasn't cared about the color in the bath before but did not like it this time. Just cried tried desperately to climb out. I ended up having the drain the water and refill it with no color. Boo.
New 'jammies (pajamas) on Christmas! He got some from Grandma Taylor (my Mom), and Nana/Papa. Grandma gave him super soft blue Joe Boxer ones with sports balls on the front. Nana gave him a Lightening McQueen set.
Made cookies for Santa and left them out on the special Santa cookie plate (my Mom gave that to me years ago).
Porter was so cute! The plaid red pajamas I found at DI months ago and thought they would be hilarious for Christmas. They were super cute. I should have made a butt flap in the back.
My little stinker loves to climb on the counters now. It's not a holiday tradition, just a recent Porter thing.
And the tradition we had for his third year...seeing Santa Claus! This year he only saw four (vs five last year): Jubilee of Trees, the mall, Harmons, and my favorite one at Boulevard Home Furnishings. He's just such a nice, warm, jolly grandpa-like Santa.
Don't ask me what the tongue is all about. Silly kid.
I also want to attend a live nativity every year to remember the true reason for the season and to emphasis a Christ centered Christmas. Last year we went to the one at Tuacahn (I LOOOOVE it) but missed it this year. Was going to going on one of the last days but it got rained out. This year we went to the live nativity at Staheli Family Farm and it was wonderful. Next year I would like to start a December Christmas countdown calendar with a different activity everyday (idea and cute example from friend Erin Terry on her blog) and have Porter write (or glue pictures) a letter to Santa. I also want to sing Christmas carols everyday, bake sugar cookies (I'll get really domestic one day), and watch every Christmas movie available. Aaron and I had a Christmas tradition of painting ceramics every Christmas Eve, but it didn't happen last year (I was sick) or this year. Does it still count as a tradition? Want to go sledding (went last year; haven't been this year), and build a snowman (did that in our own backyard this year!). I would also like to do a big service project every year. I remember my parents taking us to serve at soup kitchens on holidays and that made a HUGE impact on me. So Happy Holidays and Merry future Christmas celebrations!
