We have started some traditions that we followed up with this year and started some new ones that we hope will carry over to future years. Marsha and Lauren made an advent calendar. They made 24 cloth bags with pockets in the front. Each pocket contained a ticket with a number corresponding to the date. The bags contained a treat for every day as well as a sticker and an activity. Everyone got to eat a treat (Hershey's Kiss or candy cane or something like that.) The sticker was of a stocking or something Christmasy (Christmier as Ryan says.) We would stick the sticker on the date tag and hang the tag on the tree in the piano (front) room. We would then do the activity (anything from read a Christmas story to go see the lights at Temple Square.) Another tradition that we have been doing for a few years came from our friends, the Birches, in Provo. They do an advent wreath. Once a week for the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we get out a wreath and put four candles in it. Each week we light an extra candle (so one candle the first week, two candles the second week, etc.) We turn off all the lights in the house except the candles and the Christmas lights. We then read a Christmas story by flashlight while drinking hot cocoa with candy canes. It is really a neat thing.
We had snow in the week leading up to Christmas. Mark was still in school, but the rest of the kids were out and I was off, so we went sledding at a park near our house. We had a great time and didn't even get too cold.
We had a bunch of cute sledders.
Christmas Eve we decided to take the kids to a movie to pass the slow afternoon time by going to a movie. We saw Disney's "The Princess and the Frog." The movie was OK, but it served its purpose.
We had a "Eureka Christmas Dinner" on Christmas eve. This included clam chowder and crab salad. The kids weren't overly impressed, but I thought it was good.
After dinner we drove around to look at lights. There is a place in Alpine that has a HUGE light display and sleigh with Santa. None of the kids wanted anything to do with talking to Santa (hmm, I wonder where they got that?) but we took a picutre of him anyway.
After we got back from looking at lights, we had our Nativity play. We only had one person crying this year. That is a new record for us. Try to guess who it was from the picuture.
After the nativity, the kids went on a treasure hunt. They got a chocolate orange at one stop. We all got Santa socks at another stop.
The last stop had PJs for Mark and Lauren and quilts for Ryan and Joseph. Marsha made the quilts herself. They are pretty awesome.
Christmas was a really fun day. Lauren kept trying to negotiate an earlier time to wake up. We settled on 6:50. We (I) tried to sabotage Mark and Lauren's alarm so that they didn't get up so early, but it didn't work. Santa found our house again and we made a haul.
Some other fun gifts:
Lauren loved her new camera.
Mark spent hours downloading music (classical, of course) to his new MP3/video player (sorry, no photo.)
Ryan spent hours putting together his Lego creations
and Joseph couldn't get enough of his new bowling set.
We got an awesome calendar from the Meyers and a fun game from the Banks. We loved the presents that the cousins sent. (Ryan is detecting all of the metal in the house, the Pirate Potato Head cracks me up, the locker room esentials kit was perfect (Mark smells beautiful, thaks Syd) and the shirt and book were perfect for Lauren.)
It wouldn't be a Lindsey Christmas blog unless we talked about the food. We had ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry, jello salad and rolls. Outstanding!!!!
Of course one of the funnest presents for the little boys was a giant box that we turned into a bus.
Marsha and I had a fun Christmas. It is so fun to watch the kids be excited about their presents and to help them put stuff together. We got some fun presents as well. We are very thankful for the Christmas Season and for the birth of Jesus.
We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have a happy, wonderful and prosperous New Year!!!!
6 comments:
Wow, you guys have quite the festivities during the month of Decemeber. It sounds like good memories for everyone. I was tired just reading about it all, though! (how'd ya do it all?) Marsha the quilts do look awesome! Ryan and Joseph are very lucky! Glad you had a Merry Christmas. Love you,
Suzie
Those quilts look awesome Marsha! Great Job! Those sound like fun traditions, I'll have to get some details as I feel we are a little lacking in that part! Looks like fun was had by all!
TRADITION!!!! Yes we love them... it's been a little different since we have been alone for the last 2 years we hardly know what to do, but traditions keep us all happy.
Marsha the quilts are super amazing! I'm still trying to finish the ones I started for last Christmas :(. My head is bowed in shame. I am much impressed!
Waw! You did enough before and during Christmas day to last all through the year. Loved your narrative.
Marsha,
The quilts for the little boys are adorable. Sounds like you do lots of fun things through the Christmas season. Very creative.
Love
Mom
love the quilts marsha made! you must have all the time in the world marsha... making quilts and an advent calendar!! ;)... i love that you make time to do those things! merry christmas to you guys!!!
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