Christmas Extravaganza!

Christmas came and went fast! We are in the midst of trying to figure out new traditions for our own family as well as incorporating some of each of our own from our own childhoods. It's been fun and a challenge to figure out how we want our own family's traditions to go. One of the things we have struggled with the most is traveling at Christmas time. It's hard to let go being with our own families of origin to now wanting to be home at our house with the kids. As hard as it might be, this might have been the last traveling one for a while. I really want to have that special Christmas morning at our house. And not have to bring all our presents wherever we go. It's a give and take so we will see what next year brings but I think we might be at home in Bham for at least Christmas eve and day. We were lucky to spend this past one with Adam's family on Bainbridge. What are some of your traditions that you have either kept with your own kids or do now with your kids?

Our little elves!

One of the traditions that I am trying to keep, is reading the "Night Before Christmas" a Tasha Tudor illustrated version from my 1st Christmas in 1979, on Christmas eve. This year Corbin helped by saying the last word in almost every phrase! We also ate some yummy lasagna for Christmas eve dinner and ate too many amazing cookies that Susan makes. Adam and his brothers used to all sleep in the same room on Christmas eve, we thought the fact that the four of us sleep in the same room was good enough to not include everyone any more :-)

We also both grew up leaving Cookies and Milk for Santa (and a carrot for the reindeer!). Corbin was so much more into Santa this year. In fact he wouldn't tell me what he wanted from Santa. He told me is was a secret between him and Santa! Good thing I was standing close by. I think next year we will write a list :-) It was really fun seeing him believe in the magic of Santa. For me Santa is all about being a kid, believing in magic and the spirit of giving. And when it's over, it's about carrying on the spirit of Father Christmas and making it special for someone else.

Corbin was so excited for Santa to come and he had a nap that he was up till just past 11pm! At one point around 10pm he said he saw Santa fly by above the trees. He was worried he wouldn't come back! We told him that he only comes once you go to sleep. He then said that he would just circle until he fell asleep. Eventually Susan went and sung to him and then he finally fell asleep when I came to bed at 11. Silly boy!

Eliza was up earlier than Corbin, so we came down and checked everything out till everyone else got up. She still wasn't so sure about this whole Christmas thing. Next year it might be a different story.

When Corbin finally woke up, we all opened stockings. Eliza was trying to put things back in. We all chipped in and filled everyone's stockings. It was fun to find little treasures!

Every Christmas has to have a picture of a baby in a box! This one is complete with some bat ears.

I love Christmas and getting everyone something I think they will love. I often go way over board with Christmas. This year we had a need to pair down (financially) and well as a desire to as well. We tried to follow a friends idea about getting them something they want (Santa), something to read -books, something to wear, and then we decided to also to something to do (art) and each kid always gets an ornament. We stuck to this pretty well minus just one extra each. We also got them each something small to give to the other. Next year Corbin will help out more with this than he did this year. This year all he did was help wrap his gift to Eliza. We also have started to do gift exchanges with our families. This is also nice because then we get one person something bigger and each person a stocking gift too. It's been really nice.

Santa brought Corbin a Bat Cave. This was what he really wanted. We debated for a while on this...this is his first big plastic commercialized gift we have ever gotten him. We really wanted to get him something he could play with, manipulate, pretend, almost like a doll house or something. When we looked at some of the higher quality wooden things like this the price was almost 3x the amount. And it's what he wanted, so Santa got it! He LOVES it!

Eliza is a little baby obsessed. So she got a baby doll from Santa and Uncle Kevin and Aunt Meghan also happened to get her one too. It was almost the exact same one. She is SO excited to have not one but two babies!

Family! We missed getting Kevin and Meghan in this one...

They both love their Grandparents (on both sides)! Thanks so much Grammie Susan and Grandpa Mark for a great Christmas on Bainbridge.

We are now in Bend with my family. A lower key Christmas since we were on Bainbridge and Jed and Kara are in Kentucky.

Here are the Santa presents...





I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday however you celebrate it!