'Twas the Week Before Christmas

 'Twas the Week before Christmas
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Because they all ate too much.

What can I say? Poetry is my thang.

I've been reflecting a lot about Christmas traditions this year for two reasons: (1) our kids are finally at the age where they understand Christmas traditions and (2)for the first time since June was a baby, we are celebrating alone. It's been sad because they past several years we were able to drive up to Atlanta from Florida to be with Heidi's crew. But this year we are too far away and are doing our own stuff.

So there are tons of ideas for Christmas traditions, but traditions are something that have to fit with your individual family. We have tried a couple of new things this year but have also kept a few older ones.

So here's what we have come up with:

1. 25 Days of Christ

We painted these sets as part of our Super Saturday at church. It's a kit of 25 ornaments and a booklet that has a devotional for each day. The devotional highlights a story for Christ's life and the ornament goes along with the story.

For example the "10" ornament is from the day we read about the 10 lepers. The donkey is from the day we read about Christ's triumphal entry (Palm Sunday).

The pitcher and the bowl are from the Last Supper.

And there are many others. This tradition has definitely been a keeper. The girls don't quite grasp the stories from the scriptures yet, but it starts a family discussion. And they get excited to take turns putting ornaments on the tree. And because we are always missing nights and playing catch-up, it usually works out that they each get to put up an ornament every night.

What is sweeter is that I helped run Super Saturday this year, so I didn't have time to paint my kit. One of the sisters noticed this and took my kit home and painted it for me. She told me that she knew that I would never have the time to do it because of the energy levels of my three little kids. I was beyond touched by this act of service.

May I never forget what it's like to have little kids. I hope I will watch out for those young mothers when I'm past this stage.

2. Christmas Caroling

This one is an oldie but a goodie. I used to do this with my own family growing up. My brothers had a tradition of wearing shorts, no matter the weather.

Each year, we make Dan's mom's doctored up hot cocoa mix and deliver it to neighbors and friends while singing. We are truly terrible singers. Truly. So hopefully the mix makes up for a lot.

This trash can is our special hot cocoa mix container, saved for this one purpose all year.

This year, we actually took the time to write out the recipe for future years. Because for the past 5 years, we just guess at what we are doing while grumbling that we didn't take the time to write down the "perfect" mix from the year before.

Then we get everyone dresssed up! Dan always wear his famous "Grinch pajama pants", and the girls are usually reindeer. Begrudgingly.

We have 20 houses to hit up this year, and we have about 8 left. We have gone out two separate nights so far. The pattern we follow is that we are strong for about 3 houses, after which we are prompting the girls every third word. By the end, one or two (or three) kids are asleep  and whoever is remaining gives the saddest solo or duet known to man while everyone else waits in the car.

A major highlight this year was when everyone else was sleeping in the car, so Dan and Gwen went to sing to a guy from church by themselves. Just as the guy came to the front door, Gwen's hand got caught in his front door and she started screaming. Dan decided to carry on singing "Jingle Bells" by himself whilst she screamed, only to forget what he was singing halfway through and say "Sorry, we're done. Merry Christmas!", all while carting a still-screaming Gwen back to our car.

Also this year, June fell asleep one of the nights and then came home and threw up.

You know that song--"Grown up Christmas List"? I do not like that song. One bit. If I were writing the lyrics, they would go:

No more barfing in my car/
I'd like to stay up late enough to see the stars/
And my Wal-Mart is just too far.

The other verse would definitely have something to do with no more kids (cough cough Harris) twisting around during a poopy diaper change.

3. Advent Calendars

We did advent calendars for the first time this year. I have mixed feelings about this.

First off, these were a buck each at Aldi, and you know I feel like I've achieved something when I get a good deal.

But it definitely promotes the "gimme gimme" attitude of Christmas that is a pain. I think I'll go to Trader Joe's next year and get one of theirs because they have an act of service under each tab. Or maybe I'll write up my own service ideas because I need very simple things if I want to accomplish them around here.

4. Letters to Santa.

We wrote Santa letters this year. It seems like everyone is pretty passionate and divided on their opinions on Santa these days. My thoughts are--it's fun but I don't kill myself to keep the tradition alive. I think it's fun for small kids and then it's over.

5. Christmas Cards.

I actually did a Christmas card this year, complete with a newsletter that everyone could throw away without reading. It's something I have wanted to do for years but was always overwhelmed. And then I had so much fun doing it that I would like to do it every year. I ended up accidentally sending two cards to one of my friends (sooo shocking and doesn't sound like me at all!!), and she made one into this ornament and gave it to me. And so a new tradition is born. I love it.

And now the miscellany:

June's musical program at school.

It was very snowy so she changed her shoes there.

And I bawled through this thing like a fool.

 And I still have "Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel" and a song about snowflakes stuck in my head. But just the cutest concert ever hallelujah and amen.

Dressing festively for church:

Just like all of my cute clothes, my sister gave me this dress. And then I took a nap after church and lost my brooch and I'm still sad about it.

 Grinch Snacks:

Let's play my favorite game of "Review what's in this photo".

That would be a plate of snacks, about to fall off of a crowded table, sandwiched between vegetable shortening, mittens and dryer sheets. My picture-perfect life!

And! Cutest baby of the year.