December Traditions

    December has become a very fun month at our house, especially now that Connor is getting older. I am all about traditions, especially during Christmas time. We have started quite a few over the last couple years, so here they are.
     Our first tradition that we started last year is a Christmas book countdown. It has been a hit both years with Connor because he loves opening a new book each night before bed. With the exception of our Christmas Eve and Christmas book that I set aside, I let him choose the books in any order this year.

Our list of 25 books include:

Eight Jolly Reindeer by Ilanit Oliver

The Polar Bear Who Saved Christmas by Thomas Nelson

Corduroy's Christmas Surprise by Don Freeman

Is It Christmas Yet? by Jane Chapman

Santa Is Coming To Texas by Steve Smallman

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Rick Bunsen

Jingle All the Way by Tom Shay-Zapien

The Littlest Christmas Tree by R.A. Herman

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer {slide and find} by Roger Priddy

The Littlest Elf by Brandi Dougherty

The Very First Christmas by Suzanne Berry

The Night Before Christmas In Texas, That Is by Leon Harris

A Visit to the North Pole published by Hallmark

Tractor Mac Saves Christmas by Billy Steers

The Littlest Christmas Elf by Nikki Shannon Smith

There's Snow Stopping Us Now by Cheryl Hawkinson

Christmas Farm by Mary Lyn Ray

God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Olivia Helps With Christmas by Ian Falconer

Santa's Workshop {lift the flap book} by Roger Priddy

The Christmas ABC by Florence Johnson

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer

The Sweet Smell of Christmas {scented book} by Patricia M. Scarry

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore {read on Christmas Eve}

The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer {read on Christmas morning}

All wrapped and ready to read.

   Our next tradition is our daily visit from Hoho the Elf. He first showed up last year with a big breakfast cooked for us. This year he brought milk and cookies, a present, and a special letter!

Connor has had a lot of fun looking for Hoho ever morning to see where he is throughout the house. He has become a "silly elf" because as you can see, he does some silly things. Here's what he's been up to:

1. He showed up with milk, cookies, a present {Lego Advent Calendar}, and a letter.

2. He made our blanket ladder into a swing.

3. He picked out a book for Connor to read since he forgot the night before.

4. We were gone the night before, so he picked out a second book for Connor to read.

5. He got into the bandaids and got them stuck all over himself.

6. He was hiding in Connor's stocking.

7. He was sitting in the tree with Connor's new reindeer ornament. He fell later that day and Connor put him back in his stocking to stay warm.

8. He got a checkup by one of Connor's stuffed animals.

9. His checkup took a little longer then expected and he was still there in the morning.

10. He figured out how to use our copy machine and made a copy of himself.

11. He had a paper sack race with some of Connor's other stuffed animals.

12. He wrote Connor a message on one of his drawing toys.

13. He took a ride on Connor's tractor.

14. He made paper snowflakes.

15. He brought Connor Christmas pajamas to wear to school for pajama day.

16. He made smores on Connor's kitchen stove and brought him a bag to eat after dinner.

17. He went on a trip with us to Bolzano.

18. He brought Connor a gingerbread house to decorate.

19. He was sitting at our table keeping warm by the candle centerpiece.

20. He was learning his letters with Connor's magnetic alphabet toy.

21. He toilet papered our tree.

22. He was skiing on our table.

23. He flew through the air on his glider

     Thanks to Hoho, we had a gingerbread house to decorate this year. It's our first year doing it, but it will definitely become a yearly tradition. We had so much fun. I think Connor enjoyed eating the candy and frosting more then actually decorating the house. At one point we looked at him and he was sucking the frosting out of the bag from the tip.

    For our first gingerbread house, I think it came out pretty good. :)

    A final tradition that we do is purchase {or make} a special ornament for Connor each year. This year I took him to the store and let him choose it himself. He couldn't pick just one though, so he picked two.   Tomorrow I'll post all about our Christmas Eve and the rest of our traditions that we save for that day!

XOXO,

Jenn .