Growing up we had bunches of traditions. I'd list them except you might think I'm a crazy person. And as the youngest child, with a gap of almost six years to Big Sis, some of the traditions started to fade as I got older.
For instance, we used to go cut down a Christmas tree at the same farm every year. It was a big, big deal. Hay rides, a bookstore, hot apple cider, marking trees we liked with styrofoam cups to come back and compare later. All morning we'd pick it out, saw it down, yell timmmm-berrrrr, and then tote it home for decorating with all sorts of colorful, non-matching ornaments. Then, one year, we didn't go. And I'm embarrassed to say I threw a tantrum and probably cried and said something to the effect of "then it just isn't Christmas." (Now, of course, I totally get that that farm was expensive and I needed to buck up and be ok with the new farm without the frills where we could still chop it down ourselves.)
Time has passed and now my parents get beautiful, pre-cut trees from a parking lot and decorate them with matching gold and red ornaments and it looks nothing like when I was ten. But it's beautiful, and it's part of their empty-nest Christmas traditions and that's ok. It's more than ok, it's lovely.
All that to say, I feel strongly about having some traditions this time of year. Luckily, J-Man can get cornered into agreeing.
Tradition #1 - Slightly silly Christmas cards. We started this by accident and it grew from there. If you get them from us, I hope you like them. We have fun making them. And full disclosure, PDG was already crying when we took the screaming photos - we didn't poke him or anything - and we made that part of the photo shoot super fast.
Tradition #2 - Spend time with the H's and all their traditions. You know, visiting the luminieres, reading Polar Express, overeating, stretching gift-opening all day long, etc
Tradition #3 (Just started today!) - a G holiday brunch
We had so much fun today with friends here at the G house. J-Man and I woke up early, cleaned up (swept and threw everything in the bedroom), and cooked a ton of food. Then people came over, ate it all, laughed and talked with us, and watched the little monsters in attendance eat crackers, fall over, and mouth-breathe (sometimes all at once).
I'm thinking that'll stick around. And as a bonus, PDG is so worn out from entertaining that he's been asleep going on two hours after a two hour nap this morning. Everybody wins!
Hope everyone else is in the throes of happy holiday traditions too
I love these pictures. I'm behind on the blog. Your Christmas card was another hit this year. Loved it and I just saw this pic of Parker in the crib. Love it too. Miss you and can't wait to see you soon :)
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