Speaking of preparations, I thought I'd share a few of ours with you. I have been looking for an advent calendar that I can make (but might just end up buying one on sale after Christmas :) to help focus our preparations during the Christmas season. Like I said, the time has flown by and I didn't get one made in time for this Christmas, but I'll let you know what I end up making/buying for next Christmas. We do, however, have our own little Christmas countdown. I made this "chalkboard" with a scrap piece of wood from our garage and a can of clearance chalkboard spray paint. I've told you that I'm all about re purposing and reusing and I actually made this for Eliza's first birthday party. To go along with the countdown, I wrapped Christmas books (in tissue paper because E loves tissue paper :) and we have opened one each night and read it together as a family before bedtime. I taught second and third grade, before staying home with my sweet girl, so I already had a good selection of Christmas books. I found some additional inexpensive books to add to the stack and I have loved sharing these wonderful stories with my baby. I am planning on wrapping these same books up again next year, so that we can continue the tradition, maybe adding a new book in the mix each year. This is a new tradition for us but on Christmas Eve, I will wrap up a Bible, and we will unwrap the Christmas story and read about Jesus' birth - which is an old tradition in my family.
Our little family started another new tradition this week. We wanted to drive around to look at Christmas lights, so we put our PJs on early (all 3 of us :), ate breakfast for dinner, and loaded up the car, hot chocolate in tow, Christmas music playing, and drove around to check out all of the beautiful lights around town. We all truly enjoyed it and will be sure to do it again next year.
Playing with her bell - after reading tonight's book: The Polar Express
In PJs with Mama, ready to look at lights!
Now this last one is a tradition that we started last year, with my sweet Daddy or Pops. E was about 10 weeks old this time last year, and recovering from RSV, so we didn't love the idea of taking her to see Santa. Pops had access to a Santa suit, so he volunteered to be E's personal Santa for a photo op. She did great and we have a precious picture on the mantle of her first visit with Santa. Well, we decided to do the same this year, and make it a tradition of taking pictures with "Santa Pops". Below is last year's picture compared to this year's ... I guess every parent needs a screaming Santa picture! It didn't matter one bit that Pops (whom E LOVES) was under the suit, she was not amused!
Tradition is tradition, so we'll try again next year! :)
I can't think about traditions, or Christmas, or anything really, without thinking about the parents of the precious children that were lost in CT this week. I honestly have no words, and can't even imagine trying to write about how broken my heart is for everyone involved in this tragedy. But as I think about our family traditions, I am devastated that none of those families will ever be able to carry out their past traditions ... but I pray that one day they can make new traditions. I pray that they can find some comfort in the midst of their suffering. I pray ... and I realize that the Lord knows their heartache ... that God has been there ... he lost his one and only son. He GAVE UP his only child for me ... and you. I can't imagine the pain the parents of those babies from CT are feeling, but God knows, because his child died so that we can live - eternally with him. Oh praise Him!!! Let us never forget how amazing the gift of Jesus is - what sacrifice the Lord made for each of us. So even though the countdowns, books, activities, and pictures are fun ways to celebrate the season, my family's most important tradition will be to always remember the ultimate gift that God has given us - in that perfect tiny baby.
Thanks so much for reading! I love that we already have 3 followers and I hope that eventually we will have more. I would love to hear about any of your family traditions, if you feel like sharing.
Merry Christmas friends - May Your Cup Runneth Over!!!
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