"12 Christmas Hoopla Things About Me"

I know, I know it's January. Yes, Christmas is over. But Janae tagged me & I need to be a good sister & play along, even if I am a good 3 weeks too late! So - when she tagged me, I was supposed to share 12 things about me & Christmas. (This really is a good excuse to recap our Christmas season) I have been working on this blog post much longer than I would have liked, so I am most anxious to click that "Publish Post" button! January or not, here are my 12 things . . .

1. Like Janae, my kids all get new jammies & slippers to open on Christmas Eve. I think it's because we got new jammies on Christmas Eve when we were kids, so we're passing on the tradition. (Ben decided he did not want to be in a picture in his new jammies - it was late & he was tired, and I think he may have been worried that Santa wouldn't come if he didn't get to bed! Poor Benny - it's hard to be one!)


2. My mom says my red, raspberry jello has become a tradition at Christmas Eve dinner. I think that's just because she likes it. We usually share Christmas Eve dinner with anyone in my family who is in town. (incidentally - my jello is on dad's plate in his picture)


3. Our Willow Tree Nativity set, that Brad's parents gave us last Christmas, is my all-time favorite Christmas decoration. This year it was Ben's favorite too, and he was surprising gentle with it.



4. Every Christmas Eve we put out grandma judy's molasses cookies with white icing & red sprinkles for Santa & every Christmas Eve he eats them!

5. I like to buy my kids coordinating new outfits to wear to church the Sunday before Christmas. I don't know how much longer that will last, as the girls get older, but for now, I am glad they let me do it. Of course, we take pictures of them looking lovely, but this year I did not get a whole lot of cooperation. This is the best picture, after much effort & grief!


6. I usually try to wait until after Thanksgiving to do anything "Christmas", but I think that is going to change next year. I think I will try to start my shopping right after Madi's November 1st birthday & finish IT by Thanksgiving! I enjoy the shopping, but not the crowds that accumulate in December. The crowds actually make me a bit cranky - especially driving in them! Maybe if I start a little earlier I can focus a little more on the spirit of the season and a little less on the "one more thing I have to do" part of the season.

7. I love to decorate the outside of my house with lots of lights every Christmas. Brad puts up the little string above the garage & I do the rest. I believe I deserve the title of "Queen of Extension Chords"! Our neighborhood is pretty boring when it comes to decorating for Christmas. I am not bragging when I say that our house is one of the best-decorated in the neighborhood. It really is because hardly anyone puts any effort into decorating for the season. I just wish the pictures did the lights justice - I think they look a lot prettier than this, but oh well . . .




8. Every Christmas morning we make Christmas breakfast for anyone who wants to come - it's usually just my mom & dad and Mike & Karla (& Katie & Jared come when they're in town). Brad makes his famous blueberry pancakes (which I, of course, had to photograph). You can also see a couple of pictures of poppy & uncle Mike having fun on Christmas morning with the kids new toys (like father like son)!




9. I finally figured out what to do with our Christmas cards this year! Every year I get them & they end up in a big pile on the desk. I wanted to enjoy them all season long so I copied my friend & taped them up on our pantry door. The whole family loved this new tradition & I am sure we will now do it every year. I am not sure why it took me so long to figure this out, but I finally did & I am glad!


10. This year, our good friends, the Bracketts came from Idaho Falls to visit with us for a couple of days just before Christmas. We love the Brackett family. They were our neighbors for a while and we loved getting to know them & becoming their friends, then they moved on us! We were sad to see them leave, but glad that we can still keep in touch and enjoy each others' families! (I have to tell you that these pictures are a really big deal, because Stephanie does not like to be in pictures AT ALL! - I have never gotten a picture of their whole family before & we have known each other for 9 years!)



11. Ben was very tempted by the Christmas tree this year, but I was able to teach him to not touch the ornaments. Every once in a while he would forget, but he was amazingly obedient. He would look at the tree and shake his finger & say "no, no, no tree." Take a look for yourself -



12. Each holiday season, I love to watch my children's performances at school. This school year we have a new music teacher who has brought a wonderful new music program along with some incredible percussion instruments which are highlighted in their performances. You can see in each video how they are used from preschool through middle school. I am sure that you have to either have been there or be a parent of one of these kids to get the full "awe" factor, but I think you will still enjoy . . .

Lacey's performance - (Lacey is in a "Spanish Immersion" classroom)



Katie's performance - ("Sing Noel" is an African Christmas carol)



Madi's performance - (I think Madi rather enjoys playing the drums - what do you think?)