Decorate the House

Time to deck the halls!! We’ve pulled out the Christmas decorations and now it’s time to trim the tree and get the house read for Christmas.

North Pole Breakfast introducing our New Elf

This is our first year trying the Elf on the Shelf.  I’m pretty sure that I’m more excited than Brody will even be, but I can’t wait.   We are going to have our North Pole breakfast to introduce the new elf and give him a name and also introduce the concept to the kiddos!

Christmas Parade

Every year we have a city Christmas parade.  It’s always a lot of fun and each year it gets better as Brody gets a little older.  We go to a friends house to watch it and the kids always have fun running around while we drink mimosas 🙂

Company Christmas Party

Matt and I always look forward to this occasion for a parent’s night out.  We get to dress up for the evening and attend the company Christmas party.  Lots of our friends come from out of town and we usually make a whole weekend of it.

Country Club Santa Brunch

We’ve done this brunch since Brody was born.  It’s always a little chaotic, but lots of fun to get dressed up and be with family.  They have a Santa Clause and photographer there to snap photos of the kids and family and it’s always well done.

Start an Advent Calendar

I just ordered one of these from PB Kids this year and hope to get this tradition started this year.  I think Brody is old enough to get into it.

Sponsor a  Child for Christmas

I remember doing this as a child through our church and I would like to start the tradition up again.  It feels so good to help another family during the holidays and I want my kids to understand the giving portion of Christmas as well.

Ride to look at Christmas Lights

I would love to dress the kids in their Christmas jammies this year and hop in the car to go tour some Christmas lights.  A stop for hot chocolate along the way would be really nice too!

Send Out Christmas Cards

We love sending out Christmas cards every year, but even more so; I love RECEIVING them!! If anyone wants to send me a card this year, I would be flattered! Message me for an address.  We still have to take our family photos this year so I can get our cards ordered.

Make a Gingerbread House

We are going to try this out this year even though I’m not certain if Brody is a good age or not.  I’m sure it will be a big mess, but should be a lot of fun.

Host 3rd Annual Girls Dirty Santa Party

I’ve hosted this party ever since we moved into our new house.  It was such a fun party to throw and now we all look forward to it every year.  Everyone brings one wrapped gift under $40 and we draw numbers and play dirty Santa.

Take Horse and Carriage ride downtown

Matt and I did this last year and it was so pretty to see all the lights downtown.  I would love to get the kids on the ride for a few minutes and let them see the lights downtown.

Watch all of the 25 Days of Christmas Movies on Freeform

I love me some Christmas movies! The schedule is out this year from Freeform.  My favorites are Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone and The Holiday.  Love Actually isn’t part of this series but it is always a must watch!

Visit Santa at the Mall

We’ve done this in the past and it’s always been a disaster, but I still like to do it! Brody has hated Santa every year so far.

Attend Christmas Eve Children’s Mass

We love to attend 4pm mass on Christmas Eve and then we have dinner at my brother’s house.

Let Kids Open their Christmas Eve Gift

This was a tradition when I was a kid and we always got to open one gift on Christmas Eve and it was always pajamas.  Me and my Mom had matching pajamas every year and I always looked forward to it!

Our Christmas Cards through the Years…

2012-2015