Fun Christmas and New Year

There are so many traditions that we are forming now with the kids and especially during the holidays. Going to Christmas light shows or hay rides, going on the Santa Train, Charlie the Elf fun, Pajama Elves, chilling out on Christmas Day, celebrating Jesus's birthday with cupcakes, candle and a birthday song, and making a gingerbread house. This was the first year that the kids were introduced to Christmas movies. I think last year, he watched Mickey Mouse's Twice upon a Christmas, but that was it. That was also a favorite this year, but we also introduced Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and Frosty the Snowman. Gabriel and Amelia were really quite partial to Rudolph and really took to this one. They particularly liked talking about the Bumble. Amelia would say "Bumble says Ahhhh, Ahhhhh, and Bumble says Bzzzzz Bzzzzz". Then Gabriel really latched onto Cornelius "What does Cornelius say?" Pretending to lick a pick....."Nothin!" It was really fun to watch those movies again, as I remember them from my childhood. They both got antlers and binky noses inside of their stockings this year, so it was perfect timing. Gabriel had fun with the nose. Amelia didn't want much to do with it, but she had fun with the antlers! This was the first Christmas that Amelia got to REALLY get into it and express her excitement with things, so that was really fun. And I can tell that this year really started the year where Gabriel really remembered the things that we did. He has this amazing memory, that he even remembered some things from last year, but I think he will remember even more from this year. We went to 2 really fun light shows this year. Both were taken by hay ride and the kids loved them both. The would get a little antsy toward the end, but no worries, mommy packed food! They both had a blast! Gabriel had decided that he didn't want to go see Santa, except on the train of coarse.

Going to see Santa on the Santa Train!!

 

All Aboard!!!!

 

 

Santa!

 

Christmas Eve

 

 

 

I remember my parents taking this picture every year at Christmas...the once a year hug. Although with Amelia and Gabriel, it is certainly MUCH  more often than once a year!

 

Pajama Elves left them magical Christmas PJ's to wear Christmas Eve and the Pajama Elves book. Their PJ's were made by the Pajama elves at the North Pole! :-)

 

Thank you Auntie C, Uncle Joe and Cousins!

 

 



 

Gabriel is one for routine. He doesn't like to break it. But after seeing Rudolph, he pretended to be the Red Nosed Reindeer for quite a while after Christmas. "Who am I being?" The nose was a staple piece of  his wardrobe for a week or so.  He EVEN welcomed the song to join his normal bedtime song to be sung. This took place for a little while, but after about a month, we were back to our previous normal bedtime song routine.

 

Thank you Auntie J and family!!!

 

I somehow forgot to take pictures of us making the ginger bread house this year. Either that, or just lost them. We have so many pictures between 3 computers, there is no telling! But this was the end result anyway! :-)

 

For New Years Eve, we took the kiddos to a huge downtown event again. It's such a fun event where the local museums get involved with kids activities inside and outside. Then we have a parade toward the acorn drop and get set up for a 7pm New Years celebration. The kids both LOVE fireworks "boom boom fireworks" according to Amelia. But they like them more in the distance as I think we were a bit too close this year. They liked them, but were a bit thrown off by how loud they were.

 

 

2012 encased so many wonderful memories for our little family, and  with these two kiddos, 2013 is sure to have more of the same!