Traditions, Old and New

Every year we have a list of our normal annual traditions, like going to the tree farm with great grandpa to get their Christmas tree (ours is fake, sad but true), our Christmas Eve Beef Stew Dinner with the WHOLE family (all 18 of us!) to our traditional Mexican Christmas dinner. Our holiday season is filled with lots of exciting and different things from each family and we mash them all together into one family celebration.

This year, we did something different, actually we did lots of new things this year, which we hope to continue each year.

Every year, Newman has its annual tree lighting downtown. After seven years of living here this was our first time going. It was really great. It poured down rain, from the time we left our house until fifteen minutes after we got there. It stopped just in time for the actual tree lighting!

They called it the Newman Charlie Brown Tree!! It was pretty though! Not my fav. photo, but it will have to do!

Downtown Newman, lit up with Christmas lights!

The kids enjoying the holiday season!

The very next day, in between rain storms, we headed out to the Christmas tree farm to pick out the most perfect tree with my grandfather and cousin! The kids love it. It doesn’t matter how muddy or cold and windy it is, they never stop smiling while out there tracking down the perfect tree (sadly we have a fake tree). It rained before and as we were leaving it started to rain again. Like it stopped and started just for us when we needed it to. Or at least I would like to think.

The trees are THIS BIG!

Big helper, little helper

How many people does it take to cut down a Christmas tree?

Found it! The most perfect Christmas tree!!!

 

This year, we went to a Breakfast with Santa event at Lance’s job. It was really great for the kids. They enjoyed a tasty breakfast of pancakes and ham and eggs with orange juice and then we all made a visit to Santa. Zoey wasn’t up to talking’ with Santa this year so we made it a family thing. Then we colored Christmas pictures and made ornaments and even won a cheesecake in a drawing! It was great to have the chance to visit Santa since we never made it out to the mall this year, too many fun things to do!

Let’s see, what else did we do in December. There was so many wonderful thing we did last month. Xander had his winter concert at school. Every year, the classes choose a song or two and practice them all month and throw a concert on the Friday before Winter Vacation. All the kids sound so amazing and it’s a super way to kick off their vacation.

We watched A Christmas Story. Apparently you can’t have a Christmas without this movie, I’m more of a Miracle on 34th St.or White Christmas, but whenever keeps them smiling! All the kids piled on the couch, even the doggies! No matter how young or old, Christmas movies remain timeless.

Oh and don’t forget about the Christmas lights! Each year the boys get to play with their favorite toys. Usually my dad, Lance, and Xander get out all the lights and get to work on creating their master piece! Well, here ya go!

December was a very busy month for us. We love all the exciting things that come with the winter season and Christmas time, putting up the tree and the lights, our Christmas eve tradition of Beef Stew with the whole family, the endless searches for the perfect gifts and hiding spots! I smile all year long, but maybe just a little bigger in the month of December.

go here to see the rest of the pics!