Christmas Traditions

We kicked off the 2016 Christmas season with a big "first" this year... a day trip to Placerville to cut down our own Christmas tree!

I have been wanting to reboot this childhood tradition for YEARS, but until this year we always had some practical reason for why we should haul our trusty artificial tree out of the garage "just one more time". This year all the stars aligned and I got to enjoy my first real Christmas tree of my adult life!

Our trip to the Christmas tree farm was a real family affair. Not only were we joined by Nana, Papa and Uncle Jesse, but also Great Grandma Bette, who had come to stay with us for several days after Thanksgiving. Come to find out, she had never been to a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm in all her 87 years (mostly spent in Southern California). She didn't even know such places existed! I'm so grateful she was able to join us for such a special and memorable outing!

Setting off on our tree-hunting adventure

After about an hour of searching, we found The One

Our group before heading back to Nana & Papa's house for a feast of turkey soup and enchiladas!

In mid-December we attended what has become and is sure to remain a holiday tradition... Avalon's  school holiday concert and art show! She is fortunate to attend a charter school that still has weekly music and art classes, and this annual show is where they show off what they've been working on!

Stinker Eddie refused to smile for this pic with his sis before the show began

There's one (sorta)! :)

Avalon flashing me a smile during her performance (that's her music teacher Mr. Cormack in the background)

Posing with some of the artwork on display

Another Christmas "first" happened in 2016... making gingerbread houses! The girls had wanted to do this for at least two Christmas prior, but we just never got around to it. This year I made a point of picking up a couple kits at Target when they were on sale right after Thanksgiving (and then hid them in my closet for a few weeks to keep the girls from bugging me about them incessantly!). The girls had the time of their lives building and decorating their houses about a week before Christmas. No, really... they both proclaimed it to be the best day of their lives! (Little things!) It looked like so much fun that Shaun and I decided that next [this] year I should buy four kits so that we can each make one as well. ;) I think it's safe to say that we've established a new holiday tradition!

Pausing for a pic during the construction phase

Avalon went with a traditional look for her gingerbread house

It was her own idea to use her extra icing to make a path and write her name :)

Eloise went with a more flamboyant motif and was successful at using nearly every piece of candy in the kit! ;)

Proudly showing off their gingerbread house creations!

On December 19th we headed to Arden Fair mall for one of our longest-established Christmas traditions... a visit (and photo!) with Santa. This was the latest in the season that we've ever waited to see Santa, so thank goodness for Amazon Prime! ;)

The official 2016 Santa pic! After the photo was taken Santa assured the kids that they were all on his "good" list, which Eloise in particular was very relieved to hear. :) Then Avalon asked for a "Flipizoo", and, because little sis was too shy to talk, told Santa that Ellie wanted him to "surprise her with something you think she would like." So stinking cute!

Happy kids excited for Christmas!