I feel like we're finally starting some of our own family traditions. Charlotte totally got Christmas this year. I explained a little bit about Santa to her one day and she couldn't stop talking about it and asking questions. She would say, "Santa, fireplace (with downward hand motion), presents, Dora (she wanted a Dora movie), nice (she needed to be nice). Cookies."
First real gingerbread house! Thanks to Auntie Kori and Uncle John for assembling them!
Eating the frosting right out of the bag!
First time ever for me using cookie cutters and making sugar cookies. It took a lot of patience for me to let Charlotte do this but it was Christmas. She was so excited to make cookies for Santa and leave carrots for the reindeer on the fireplace.
Annual Breakfast with Santa at Church. Abby was ready to eat so this is the best we got. Charlotte was so excited until she got anywhere near him. Then she would go ballistic. I'll have to scan her picture somehow and add it later. We were too busy holding her to take a picture on our own camera. It's hilarious. Unless you had to hear the screaming.
We had some classic Christmas movies this year too. She loved Frosty the Snowman. When our neighbors put up a huge blow-up Frosty in their front yard we had to drive very slowly every time we went by! She still talks about how they took down big frosty, "melted."
Some traditions were a little different this year.
Pre Twins: Buy our tree and decorate about 2 weeks before Christmas.
Post Twins: Buy tree and decorate about 2 days before Christmas (it was much cheaper this way but it didn't feel like Christmas until it was up despite the rest of the decorations being up all month.)
Pre Twins: Walk around to see the Mesa Arizona Temple lights at least once- usually 2 or 3 times
Post Twins: Drive around the Temple viewing the lights from the car so we wouldn't have to unload our HUGE stroller and three grumpy children and miss their dinner time!
Maybe it will be easier next year to do some of our old traditions... ya know when we have 3 kids running in all different directions! On second thought maybe we'll just have to hold off on some traditions for a decade or so!
Don't worry we made sure Charlotte also knew the real reason we celebrate Christmas. She could also tell you all about Jesus being born and the shepherds, Mary, and the three wise men. Every night she would request that I hold her up so she could say good night to baby Jesus and the whole Nativity on our mantle. Every year really does get better!
Traditions change as time goes by. Loved Charlotte in the apron making the cookies.
ReplyDelete