Christmas Roundup 2015

I am declaring that I have unofficially completed Christmas shopping two full weeks before Christmas.  (I will officially declare it when all the gift are wrapped, though). 

I have been pretty busy with that so even though I have a new Christmas blog post coming soon (which I am super excited about and will be sharing it in my newsletter first along with an update on my book – here’s the link to sign up), here is a round up of my blog posts from Christmases past.

If you are looking for any last minute homemade gift ideas (which sounds like an oxymoron to me), here are some ideas that are pretty easy.

Here’s the time that I was super stressed out because The Toy I Must Buy was sold out right after Halloween.  Ridiculous, right?

One of my favoriteChristmas memories was when we took the kids to A Christmas Storyhouse in Cleveland.  It was one of the best weekend getaway we ever had.

Or the time I admitted to “never say never” when it comes to the Elf on the Shelf (which I still kind of regret buying).

There was that time when the Christmas grind seemed almost too much to bear. I wrote about how I use this quote for It’s a Wonderful Life to get me through.

And the time that I included some more inspirational quotes because I really needed to find my center.  I will be reviewing this post again before Christmas Eve because sometimes the holidays can be like woah.

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Since I am committing more time to writing my book, my blog might not be as active.

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Christmas Traditions: A Letter to my Kids

Dear Thomas and Marie,

It is almost Christmas, and although this season is a lot of work, I would not trade it for anything in the world.

I love our traditions.

One year I had to get Marie out of the house because the fumes from our freshly painted basement was too much. I cranked up the heat in the car and took you for a drive around the neighborhood in your jammies to look at lights. The tradition stuck, and we now listen to Christmas music in our jammies as we drive around and look at lights.

I look forward to baking cookies with you and decorating them with Nana and Papa. This tradition was handed down to you since I used to bake cookies with Nana.

December 2009. Look at those cheeks.

December 2011. This face!

I love how we always get dressed in Christmasy clothes and write letters to Santa at Macy's. This tradition was created because you were both too scared to sit on Santa's lap. We eat in the mall food court before finishing up Christmas shopping for daddy. 

December 2012: This is one of my most favorite photos of them in the
history of their photos. Which is a lot of photos.

Our new Christmas Eve tradition of putting on our new Christmas jammies, watching a Christmas movie while eating Christmas cookies and drinking hot chocolate is one of my favorites. It is cozy and relaxing and so different than any thing I ever experienced as a kid. I enjoy this maybe a pinch more than the highly coveted Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve 2012. Hot Chocolate through a straw.
And by hot, I really mean lukewarm chocolate milk.

I cherish these rituals that are perfect for our little family.

I try to memorize how your little bodies feel all snuggled up under the favorite brown, fleecy blanket while we watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

I record your giggles as you sneak the chocolate chips meant for the Hello, Dolly bars because you didn't think I heard you.

In my mind, I etch the excited look on your faces as you find each house with lights the most amazing house in the whole entire world.

I realize how fleeting this time is, and one day you may not want to wear Christmas jammies and drink hot chocolate with me. 

 And one day, if you decide to have a family of your own, we may not even be able to see each other on Christmas. This, of course, will be sad for me, but I want you to remember this: I will be fine.  I mean, you don't have to be jerks to me, but just know that I understand as life evolves, so do traditions.

Our traditions are based on being together because we love to be together. Not guilt. Not out of obligation.  Nothing sucks the joy out of Christmas than feeling stifled to keep a tradition that no longer fits.  I mean, how ridiculous would it be if we still were writing letters to Santa when you're 25, right?

Being a part of your lives will always be important to me, and because of that, I promise that I will not get hung up on the tradition that it becomes more important than the people who are celebrating.

Also, I am writing this as you are both only 4 and 7 years old, but I know how frustrating it can be to incorporate new and old traditions together.  Feel free to show me this because I know that I will want to buy you Christmas jammies (and calling them jammies) forever.

Love your favorite Christmas elf, 

Mommy