I really love Christmas time! I love getting out on my decorations, shopping for gifts, looking at Christmas lights, listening to Chrismtas music, and I especially love the magic of Christmas through a child's eyes. I am able to do that everyday at work with my first graders.... only because I work in a super conservative public school district, where we can say Christmas, make ornaments, and sing Away in a Manger at our Christmas show- YAY Wilmore. But this year I am also seeing Christmas through Ivy's eyes. This year she is old enough to really talk about all the magical aspects of Christmas and it is so much fun. We have started some new Christmas traditions and added to some old ones. This post is to capture us getting into the Christmas spirit!
New Tradition: Elf on the Shelf!!! If you have a child and haven't heard of Elf on the Shelf it is a book and little Elf that you read to your child. The Elf then gets a name (ours is Rob- odd I know!) and it lives at your house until Christmas flying back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa and reappearing in a new spot each morning. Ivy talks to Rob- every time she wants to report her good behavior. She pretty much ignores him when I refer to him mid temper tantrum!! When she wakes up the first thing she does is look for Rob. :) It is so much fun!
New Tradition: Pink Tree :) You've seen it, we love it, and it needed a spot on this post!
Old Tradition: My Granny got me this advent calendar when I was little (well maybe me and Anthony... but I have claimed it!!) and each day you move the mouse. Ivy loves it. She doesn't understand to move him one day at a time but instead skips him all over the calendar. One thing she does know is that on the last day Santa will be coming! This is one of my favorite memories.... except the times when Anthony tackled me to try to beat me to the mouse each morning.
Old Tradition, New House: LOVE the fact that I have enough space that we do not have to move furniture to put up our Christmas tree. Don't LOVE the fact that our toddler of a kitten destroys the tree daily so I have the joy of redecorating it each and every day for the month that it is up. Don't LOVE the fact that our toddler of a kitten opens Christmas presents so they have to rest on the mantle to protect them from little kitten claws! LOVE LOVE LOVE the Christmas tree and stockings, even if my cat is sort of annoying!
Old Tradition.... Growing: I love getting out the Santa pictures each year!
Here is this years picture! Ivy was terrified of Santa. She clung to us from the moment we stepped in line to see him. We have been talking about going to see Santa and she has been so excited, but it all turned to fear when we actually could see him. None the less, this picture became a family affair with Santa!! Now she is already saying.... next year, when I am bigger, I am going to sit with Santa by myself. We will see!!
Merry Christmas!!!
