Christmas Traditions with Young Kiddos

December 21, 2020

 Wow wow wow it's the week of Christmas!! Before having kids I loathed seeing December tick away so quickly, but now my excitement is right alongside Jack's. I can't wait to see the boys receive their gifts on Christmas morning!!












One of my goals this month was to make a list of traditions for our family to do (or start) this year, but in actuality no list was made and were just rolling with the ideas in my head and things we've loved from past years.











After having little ones I quickly realized my usual traditions could use some adjusting. My expectations needed to shift from keeping things tidy to letting the kids make the mess. Like most preschoolers and toddlers, my boys have short attention spans and they find the same joy in a pile of dirt as they do in a ball pit. Celebrating in a way that is simple for them and for us parents is a win. I am all for fewer meltdowns and more magical holiday moments. 

Here are some of things we have done and will do this week!!


Rent Christmas books from our library

It's fun, it's free, and the boys' shelves are stocked with new books for us to read at home. Some of our favorites we borrowed are Itsy Bitsy ChristmasA Charlie Brown Christmas, and Twas the Night Before Christmas on Sesame Street.


Christmas movie night

Jack is all about a movie night. We make it extra special by popping popcorn over the stove and snuggling up on the couch together. This year we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Star. 


Jammy Cocoa Christmas

Thanks to Shay Shull's yearly tradition we've adopted it too. Since our kids are still in car seats we tweak this tradition by going through Starbucks' drive thru because why get kids out of their seats when you don't have to?? ;) So put on your pj's, hop in the car, sing along to the Christmas tunes and drive to find all the pretty lights! Bonus points if the kids fall asleep before you get home. 


Dance parties/Guitar carols

In our house we break a leg and bust a move at least 2-3x a week. How is this a tradition? Simply turn off the lights, let the tree be your disco ball and play some Christmas jams. Our personal fav is Run Run Rudolph. Did you know kids actually sleep better by using up energy whereas adults need to slow down to tell their bodies to prepare for sleep? Dance away party people. 


Pick out a Christmas present for sibling 

This might be my favorite tradition because as Jack grows older we get to instill little nuggets of goodness like the gift of giving! Before he picked out Peter's gift we told him he would have to earn the money by doing chores around the house. Jack was ready to pick up sticks and sweep the floors that very moment. He was SO excited. There may be tape all over Peter's gift but its so sweet seeing him take ownership of gifting his baby bro.


Christmas morning cinnamon rolls 

When I was a kid I remember every Christmas morning my mom would make blueberry muffins. It was something so simple but it stuck with me and added to the beauty of the morning. This year I will make these homemade cinnamon rolls with maple frosting on Christmas Eve so that Christmas morning all I have to do is pop them in the oven and frost them. 



Do tell! What were your favorite Christmas traditions as a kid? Always open to new ideas to celebrate the best season of all. 

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

December 15, 2020


Get ready to pamper yourself or your loved one with a festive sugar scrub that looks as great as it smells. The magic to this scrub is in whipping the coconut oil so it is soft yet exfoliates the skin.


Whipped Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

Recipe makes 2, 4oz jars of sugar scrub

Ingredients
1 cup solid coconut oil (Oil will melt in warm temps. If melted put in fridge to solidify before making)
8-10 drops peppermint essential oil
1 cup white sugar, divided in half
2 drops red food coloring 
4 oz glass jar

Directions
1. Mix 1/2 cup white sugar with 1 drop red food coloring in a bowl and set aside
2. Beat with a hand mixer 1/2 cup white sugar with 1 cup coconut oil till whipped and fluffy.
3. Stir in 8 drops peppermint oil
4. Combine with a spoon the pink sugar mixture into the whipped coconut oil mixture.
5. Scoop into two glass jars.
6. Add a label or make your own and tie with twine! Totally optional but entirely festive and cute.










These make great favors or small gifts! Merry pampering!

Holiday Home Tour

December 8, 2020

Our fireplace is aglow and scents of cinnamon and spruce fill the air!! Welcome to our holiday home tour!





Something about the house being decked in garland and lights makes me so giddy I never want to leave home. Okay.. the irony is not lost on me that we technically cant go anywhere #facepalm. Wishing warmth and magic to your homes as we willingly (or begrudgingly) embrace our inner homebody!! xox

December Goals

December 2, 2020







Ho-ho-holy cow can you believe it's December? I so vividly remember the early months of January-March that it feels surreal to be at the end of this year already. This month is one of my favorites but I almost feel like I have to hold back my holiday cheer. Merry & Bright feels very contradictory when there is an air of fear and sadness from everyone everywhere. 

This year has costed us all something. This December, more than ever for me, magnifies the cost of Jesus' life. The gift he gave with His life is one I am marked by. Forever changed. Indebted and grateful. Ya'll I LOVE the mechanics of Christmas (baking, decorating, traditions, music, movies) but I am not willing to let the fun of those things crowd out the reminder of the hope I have in Him. 

Hope that He will right every wrong  
Hope that He will make all things new 
Hope that He has overcome when the world says otherwise
Hope that He is Immanuel (God with us) despite what I feel/see/think
Hope that His love for me is everything I desire

If you're looking for permission to celebrate look no further. We can celebrate this season in the face of sadness/fear/worry, because what were ultimately saying is we have hope. And, friends, that's a reason for "singing loud for all to hear." ;)
 
A look at November goals...
Make Christmas lists and set budgets in time for end of month deals
- Order our Christmas cards
- Celebrate Jack's 4th birthday!
- Put away fall decor and then deck the halls ;)
- #getaftergrateful every day this month 
- Print our new family photos (still need to pick out my favorites to print.. so hard to choose!)

December Goals
Read Honest Advent each day-- so excited for this one!  
Re-plan hosting friends' Christmas in a way that's still connected and fun
Write out family traditions we want to continue or start this month
Pick out family photos to print
Clean out coat closet and purchase needed winter gear for kids
Fix record player
Learn to play Christmas songs on the guitar