Its in the air...

I am big in to traditions......I follow them religiously. I have to drink Martinelli's in fancy cups on New Years. The fourth of July has to include the Layton fireworks even if their are way to many people there. Christmas Eve jammies are a must, for me and the kids. I like to eat ham on Easter, chili on Halloween, and cheese potatos and baked beans on Christmas Eve. That is the way it has always been for me, and it has to stay that way.

The other day my sister and I were talking about our childhood Christmas's. They were the best, the absolute best. My parents made them absolutely magical for us. Sure we loved those presents, but it was all the little things that really made it special for us. Things like walking into "the smell of Christmas", advent calendars, decorating sugar cookies, delivering neighbor gifts, driving around looking at the lights while eating peppermint and eggnog shakes, Amy Grant and Alabama Christmas albums, the candles that were glowing from my bedroom window, mom staying up late wrapping. I could seriously go on and on.....yeah my love for Christmas was instilled young.

Crazy now to be the parent and trying to make sure that this love of Christmas is passed down to my little ones. I want them to feel that special spirit that lingers in the air, I want their month of December to be filled with anticipation, I want to watch their eyes sparkle and shine with every little activity. Christmas isn't so much an event for me but more of a feeling. A feeling of warmth, love, peace...and tradition.


So I have been working hard to make sure their Christmas season is a good one...starting with a few old favorites.


Advent calendars...first thing Cars does every morning is run out to this calendar. Their are Starbursts for Lincoln and Reeses trees for Cars...both of their favorites.


I guess I am a food oriented person...but certain treats for each holiday are a must for me. White covered Oreo's and peppermint icecream are a few of those.


Letters to Santa...along with many trips to see the jolly old man in person.


He wrote this himself....of course we helped him with the spelling. In case you can't tell its says, Dear Santa....handy crane, Wilson, choo-choo train, zoo (I have no idea what he means by that)....Carson.


Christmas ring count down, taped up high....out of Lincoln's reach.


School calendar packed with festive activities.



First trip around town to see the lights. Stopped at Chevron for hot chocolate for me and Thiago and a KitKat for Carson (Lincoln was already sound asleep).




Christmas movie night...featured movie was "The Santa Clause". An old favorite.


And introducing a new tradition....Elf on the Shelf. We had to follow suit with the other million of you out there and get ourselves one of these.


His name is Buddy, and we love him. Especially Carson. He hates saying goodnight to him each night and sending him off to the North Pole. If it were up to Carson his new best friend would be having a sleepover up on the top bunk. Carson is forever reminding Lincoln that Buddy is watching, and he is pretty much convinced that Lincoln won't be receiving anything for Christmas. According to Carson, Lincoln is pretty naughty.


We shall see....I think Santa knows that he is only 2 and still learning how to be a good boy. We'll cut him some slack.

Hope all of you are off to a jolly good start of December, we sure are. Gotta soak it up, it comes just once a year.