I love the anticipation of Christmas. It brings back good memories when I was little. My brother and I would set out a special plate of cookies for Santa... which would mysteriously get eaten up every year. One year I remember throwing carrots outside for the reindeer. One year we came outside to see if the carrots were eaten up and we saw a package dangling from the roof by a rope (my Dad's a rockclimber).....it was so funny!! I would lay in bed listening for Santa's footsteps on the roof. :) sometimes I would freak myself out...I was a full believer! I still look up in the sky on Christmas Eve... for some reason it still gives me butterflies in my stomach. Even though I know.. :) My brother and I would sit at the top of the stairs waiting for permission to come dowstairs. I remember trying to arch my neck far enough to see past the corner wall and ceiling and see if I could get an early glimpse of presents under the tree. And there was the year my elementary school had tracks in the snow where "Santa's" sleigh touched down that everyone was talking about! :)
One special tradition we had at Christmas was this fun countdown to Christmas. My parents would tie lifesavers on each day and Mark and I would get to untie one each night after supper as we counted down to Christmas. I pulled out the calendar for the kids this year. We decided to tie candy canes on b/c I don't think the kids are ready for lifesavers just yet. You should have seen the kids eyes light up when I brought out the calendar and read the poem attached at top. (I still have it memorized!) :) anyways... last night we had a triple delight b/c I made brownies which we served up w/ peppermint icecream and topped off w/ a candy cane from the calendar. ummmmm.... I can still taste it. (well maybe that's b/c I just snuck a brownie for breakfast!) ;)
We enjoy setting out the presents early. I'm a big gift giver.. I love wrapping packages.. I don't care what I'm wrapping. I just love to wrap. I remember mom used to put me in charge of wrapping the packages at home b/c I liked doing it so much. With kids, I learned it's easier to wrap them quick and not worry about hiding them! I'm waiting for Luke to un-cover my hiding place someday! I remember sneaking around as a kid when Mom was gone looking for the packages. And yes... there was the one year that I found them and OPENED one played w/ it and re-wrapped it!!!! (confessions from a 31 yr old!!!) :) shame shame! I know!! I told my neighbor friends, who in turn told their mom, and their mom called my mom and tattled on me! Gesh... I didn't think it was THAT bad of a crime! :) Anyways.. I'm sure they will follow in our footsteps...so we'll have to keep one step ahead of them!
Abby found one w/ polk-a-dotted wrapping paper that she liked. The kids have been strictly informed that they may not touch the packages... and if any of them are opened early they are going BACK to the store! Abby put one finger on the paper today and Luke shouts out ABBY DON'T TOUCH THE PACKAGES!!!!!!!!!
Anyways.... it's not just about presents.... I'm looking for some other traditions to start as the kids are young to remember the reason for the season. We started reading some stories about Jesus birth at night. I've heard of families baking a birthday cake for Jesus. I think it's a wonderful idea.. I'd love to hear everyone's traditions if you have something special you do to remember Jesus on Christmas day. I want to start these while the kids are young. I have a stained glass nativty scene that I am excited to put out. It's similiar to one Mom had. We discovered that the glass lights up beautifully if you put white lights behind them! So I've continued the traditon at my house as well.
One special tradition we had at Christmas was this fun countdown to Christmas. My parents would tie lifesavers on each day and Mark and I would get to untie one each night after supper as we counted down to Christmas. I pulled out the calendar for the kids this year. We decided to tie candy canes on b/c I don't think the kids are ready for lifesavers just yet. You should have seen the kids eyes light up when I brought out the calendar and read the poem attached at top. (I still have it memorized!) :) anyways... last night we had a triple delight b/c I made brownies which we served up w/ peppermint icecream and topped off w/ a candy cane from the calendar. ummmmm.... I can still taste it. (well maybe that's b/c I just snuck a brownie for breakfast!) ;)
We enjoy setting out the presents early. I'm a big gift giver.. I love wrapping packages.. I don't care what I'm wrapping. I just love to wrap. I remember mom used to put me in charge of wrapping the packages at home b/c I liked doing it so much. With kids, I learned it's easier to wrap them quick and not worry about hiding them! I'm waiting for Luke to un-cover my hiding place someday! I remember sneaking around as a kid when Mom was gone looking for the packages. And yes... there was the one year that I found them and OPENED one played w/ it and re-wrapped it!!!! (confessions from a 31 yr old!!!) :) shame shame! I know!! I told my neighbor friends, who in turn told their mom, and their mom called my mom and tattled on me! Gesh... I didn't think it was THAT bad of a crime! :) Anyways.. I'm sure they will follow in our footsteps...so we'll have to keep one step ahead of them!Luke came out this morning w/ his eyes bugging out of his head when he saw the Star Wars wrapping paper! He announced I'm opening that one first!
Abby found one w/ polk-a-dotted wrapping paper that she liked. The kids have been strictly informed that they may not touch the packages... and if any of them are opened early they are going BACK to the store! Abby put one finger on the paper today and Luke shouts out ABBY DON'T TOUCH THE PACKAGES!!!!!!!!!
Anyways.... it's not just about presents.... I'm looking for some other traditions to start as the kids are young to remember the reason for the season. We started reading some stories about Jesus birth at night. I've heard of families baking a birthday cake for Jesus. I think it's a wonderful idea.. I'd love to hear everyone's traditions if you have something special you do to remember Jesus on Christmas day. I want to start these while the kids are young. I have a stained glass nativty scene that I am excited to put out. It's similiar to one Mom had. We discovered that the glass lights up beautifully if you put white lights behind them! So I've continued the traditon at my house as well. Abby and I went to music class today. We're thinking about taking on Gymnastics next session to try something new.
Then we picked up Luke. Preschool was having a bake sale.. I was supposed to bake but I have always managed to avoid it. Sometimes you just gotta say no... or life gets to crazy! My contribution was buying holiday cookies from the sale! :)
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Rich met me at school and drove the kids home.. they both wanted to ride w/ Daddy! Once home Abby clung to Rich and refused to allow him to go back to work. She thinks if she's really cute she'll manage to talk him in to staying. Poor Rich. I know it's just torture! As he leaves she keeps running at the door saying one more kiss, one more hug!!
-Beth
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