Okay, okay, okay... so, now that it's after Thanksgiving, I'm officially really excited about Christmas. Yesterday Jack took a nap and we put up the tree. He came down the stairs and has been absolutely obsessed ever since. So sweet. "Wow!" he says, over and over and over... Wow.
We decorated the tree & the rest of the house, put up stockings & snowflakes, made cookies & watched A Charlie Brown Christmas. We even went to Wal Mart & bought a little tricycle forJack. He tried it out in the store. His feet barelytouched the pedals, but he was on cloud 9.
Breath in, breathe out. Okay. I'm ready. Ready or not... here it comes...
Holiday traditions to start with our family this year:
Advent devotionals with the wreath & the calendar...
I bought an advent devotional book a fewyears back, actually when I was single, and thought, I want to do this with my family one day... I was reading through it, and it'sreally, really cool. Not just for kids, but for the whole family to refocus our hearts on Jesus during such a crazy time. You read a verse from the Bible, read the short commentary, answer a question, and sing a Christmas song. so sweet. I'll let you know how it goes...
Go to the Living Nativity at Horizon
Every year we say we're going to go, and it gets so busy that I'm exhausted by the time it comes around. But this year Jack will love it. We're going. For sure.
I want to start painting houses for a little village. Each year everyone paints a house and our village grows and grows. Love it...
I think that's it. Remember Erin: Keep it simple. Focus on Jesus. Keep expectations low. Repeat to yourself, "You are not Superwoman. You are not Superwoman.You are not Superwoman." Breathe in, breathe out.
I think you are on the right track, don't over stress trying to be perfect and do it all during the holidays. Pick a few meaningful things that you want your family to associate with the holidays and they will become family traditions over time. Even cooking together a batch of cookies can become a holiday tradition that they will want time and time again. For the last few years I've taken my boys out the Saturday evening before Christmas and we'd drive around in our jammies drinking hot chocolate and checking out Christmas lights. We even have a 'ratings' system and acknowledge the best ones with 3 short beeps..lol Silly but a fun tradition to do each year :)
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