Christmas Traditions and other Festivities

We have many fun traditions around here that I thought would be fun to share.  One is the annual getting of the Christmas tree, which I shared in the previous post, that is always an adventure.  When we get around to decorating the tree (and house) it is always an all day ordeal. The one thing the kids look forward to the most is the little people nativity set.   And  I am always so grateful when we come across it, as I know the kids will be out of my way for a while after.  I had to take this shot of them transporting the crew on Mack.  I guess they couldn't find the donkey?

And this year we discovered a new tradition.  Grand Junction puts on a Christmas parade every year.  It was great, and luckily not that cold that night.  The kids especially loved the eBricks truck from their beloved Lego store.  The Lego guys walking alongside were amazing, my photography is terrible, but you get the idea.  There was like six different guys, and they were huge, very cool.

  We always make lots of goodies, chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, snack mix, sometimes I will even get brave and try some fudge or homemade caramels, but we never leave out making gingerbread cookies.  We invited some friends to the frenzy and voila treats for Santa. 

And a ward party complete with Santa Claus.  And not one of the kids cried this year! Of course one was not ready to join us in time to see Santa...but hey 3 out of four isn't so bad!

 

One of my other favorite things is joining the kids in their classrooms for parties and such.  This year was especially fun as my mom came out to join us for Christmas and was able to watch with me.  I am not sure who enjoyed watching Maren singing with her class more...

She is so expressive, she totally takes the cake.  

 Spencer also got to sing for us, and it was so funny because the kids all bunched up at the end of one of the rows and one of his classmates almost got knocked off the risers.  They sang a song called snowman jump, so they were jumping all over the place.  Gotta love kindergarteners!

 We also enjoyed a cute little party in his classroom, and he scored with the cutest treats.  Man  those are some creative moms!   I took notes and made some cuties into snowmen for a party we went to the next week.  They were a hit.  Love the donut snowman and reindeer, Jacob did too.  I think he ate five of them while he and I were sitting by the serving table.

 Jacob sang a few songs with his classmates, and we had some snacks.  He was super cute and insisted we take our homemade snack mix, which he loves.  His teachers gave him two new books, one about snow that we read everyday....without fail!

 

Maren also had a recital for her piano at a retirement center, which was really fun.  She played jungle bells and did a great job.  They did a sing along after and she asked if they could sing the "snowman" song from primary, it was fun to see that a few of the old people knew it.

And Amanda had a holiday band concert, which I am sad to say I missed out on.  But I heard it was good.  And it was fun to help her get ready. It's a good thing I got to hear her practice those songs at home some.  She is really improving on the oboe! 

And I think of all the traditions this one is my favorite.  Every year we dress up in nativity garb and put on a play of the nativity for Christmas eve.  The kids love this and I love the meaning and spirit it brings to our Christmas Eve.  Last year we were given costumes that make it even better, as I don't have to scramble for robes, towels, and rope.  Aren't we stunning!   

This year Jacob almost refused to participate, as he was having a "don't tell me what to do", three year old moment.  But after everyone left him alone, he came through....phew!

And our last tradition I almost forgot this year, but we made it happen a little late.  Every year we have a box under the tree that represents our gift to Jesus.  We all fill out something we'd like to give Christ for the next year on a slip of paper and slip it in the box.  Then the next year we open it and repeat.  I am looking forward to adding more depth to this in the coming years.  I have some thoughts floating around in my noggin.  We'll see if I can remember those thoughts as well as not put this one on the back burner again next year.