Christmas Traditions

I know I take on too much.  I tell myself to slow down and that it can be just as special having two traditions as having twenty traditions.  But, some of the traditions I can't let go of because they are so special to me.  I want the boys to look back on their childhoods and remember these traditions, remember the "happy times", and want to pass these (or some of these) traditions down to their children.  Traditions are part of our family and who we are as a family.  I am thankful for the traditions passed down to me and the ones we are starting fresh with.

When I was little, I remember being at my Grandparents house in Bloomington. It is odd how much this memory sticks out to me.  My grandma had this Christmas tree that we got to decorate with all these mini light bulbs.  When it was all together we would light the tree and it was so special.  I remember telling my "Little" brother (Pete) this a while ago when I was in college.  He is such a thoughtful brother.  He found one and got it for me that Christmas.  This is absolutely one of Alex's favorite things to do.  Light that Christmas tree!

Another tradition in our family is going to the Macy's 8th floor display in the big "downtown".  We went there every year as a kid and then we would go to breakfast with Santa following.  We haven't gotten to breakfast with Santa yet, but every year since Alex was born we have gone to the Macy's 8th Floor display.  He really enjoyed it this year.  Aiden did too, although he won't remember it, it was a lot to take in for this little boy.

When Alex was born we started a new tradition of going to Macy's on a Friday night after school (beating the rush), grabbing a quick bite and then watching the Holidazzle Parade from the Skyway.  This year was no exception...

As Alex grows, his "cool" factor grows also.  The Skyway did not last long, so being the good mom that I am (sigh) I took him outside to watch the parade.  He was in awe and it made my whole night.  Err...my whole freezing night.  Mr. Aiden stayed inside warm with Andy and my mom.  I think he was perfectly content there.

Alex signed up for a couple of classes through NP ECFE.  The first one was a night when he went with Andy and they made a whole bunch of different Christmas crafts (door mats, tree decorations, reindeer food, etc..) some of which made excellent Christmas gifts.  The other night was the "Holiday Choo Choo" night where he and I went and sang songs and made a candy train.  Alex had so much fun counting the candy pieces and making a train.  Here he is showing it off...

 My Grandpa Andy always made popcorn balls growing up.  I used to love to sneak out to the three season porch with my brothers and cousin, Cassie, to get one to eat.  They were such a treat during the holidays.  Alex and I made some this year.  The first batch I wasn't as daring and did plain white.  The second batch we made green.  I think I need to get his recipe, because the we actually ended up throwing away most of them because they were pretty hard.  We will learn.

My mom is so thoughtful and creative.  If I ever live up to her talents, it will be a miracle.  Each year growing up she made each of ornaments which reflected our year or part of our year.  I look forward to this each year.  Decorating the tree with Alex is so much fun because he remembers when he was a cow for Halloween, or when he loved Elmo.  We look back on the different interests I had as a kid/teenager/adult.  When Andy entered our family and now Aiden also.

Alex's ornaments: 

Aiden's ornaments:

Mine and Andy's ornaments:

Andy's ornaments:

My ornaments:

This year I made special ornaments with both the boys.  We did the Santa hat decoration for family and the hand prints for our Christmas tree.  It makes me sad to think those hands will get bigger.  

They are my babies.

We have gone to visit Santa every year since Alex was a week old.  We have gone to the same Santa, which I love going to because you can take your own picture.

Last year's picture of Alex on Santa's lap

This year's picture on Santa's lap...much different.  Both the boys were troopers.  Aiden was a little creeped out, but did an excellent job.

This was our first year going to the NP parade and lights show.  We went with a group of friends we met through Alex's ECFE class.  They have been a good group of friends.  There are five families (including us) who all have kids around Alex's age.  Four of the families (including us) had a baby within 7 months of each other and the fifth family is expecting and due within the next couple of months.  Needless to say, they can relate.  So, on one of the coldest nights of the year, we got all bundled up and went out in NP to see the lights.

Not so much a tradition, but part of our home.  My Grandpa Andy makes amazing stained glass.  He has made us a beautiful lamp, tons of picture frames including two frames each with a "goosie" on it for the boys.  We have "The Goosie's" hanging in our living room and many more.  One thing my mom had for years and we recently were the happy recipients of were the Santa and Mrs. Claus for Christmas decorations.

 

Our first Christmas together, Andy and I picked and ordered our stockings.  Which today look pretty boring.  My mom made Alex and Aiden's stockings out of some new material, but with the pattern our stockings had as kids.

 

 We decorated for Christmas, putting all the ornaments carefully on the tree.  Surprisingly, this was the first year that any ornaments broke.  We lost three purple bulbs.  Which is funny because we had only about five.  My boys must not like the color purple.

This was one of my Christmas presents from my Grandma Alice in December 2010.  She made one for my cousin, Cassie, and myself.  It is a very special angel.  Alex loves to help put it up on the tree.

Merry Christmas from the Guse family!