December Traditions

    December is a busy month for us. I love traditions, and over the years we have added quite a few to the month of December. Here they are, not including our Christmas Eve Traditions.

 Christmas book countdown:

      For the last few years, we have done a Christmas book countdown with Connor starting on the 1st of December. Every night before bed Connor opens a different Christmas book. He can pick them in any order, except for the last two. On Christmas Eve {which we will be celebrating when we are back at our house on the 26th} he will read The Night Before Christmas, and on Christmas day he will read The Christmas Baby.

Christmas Eve

      Merry Christmas Eve! We have had such a fun day over here. It started with Connor seeing Hoho the Elf on the table making snow angels in sprinkles. There was also a gift left for him to open with a sweet letter from Hoho {below}. After a shower and breakfast, he opened it.

Dear Connor, 

     Guess what today is? It's Christmas Eve! That means tomorrow is Christmas. I have a lot of fun things planned for you to do today. When you open the box I brought you, you will find stuff for you to use throughout the day. First you are going to make Santa cookies. He really likes sugar cookies, so that's what I got for you to make him. Be sure to leave some out for him before you go to sleep. Jaimee and Brandon got you a special plate to put them on so they know they are for him. I also packed that in the box. Your Christmas jammies are all ready for you to wear after you take a bath. After you get dressed, your mommy and daddy are going to take you to look at Christmas lights around your neighborhood. When you get home you can open the snack bag that I made you. Inside you will find popcorn and hot cocoa with extra marshmallows. Those are my favorite snacks, so I hope you like them also. Maybe your mom and dad will let you watch a special Christmas movie before bed. The final thing I have planned for you is to read The Night Before Christmas.

     I have really enjoyed spending this Christmas season with you. After tonight, I will be busy working in the North Pole preparing for next year. Continue to be a good boy for you mom and dad because Santa is always watching and I will be back to check on you! I love you and can't wait to see you next year.

XOXO,

Hoho

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.

Innsbruck, Austria: Christmas Market Hopping

   

    Visiting a European Christmas market will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit. They are scattered throughout Europe, but for some reason we haven't been to any of the big ones the last two Christmas seasons. I have always wanted to go, but we have never made it a priority... until this year. On December 3 we woke up early and drove three hours to Innsbruck, Asutria to visit their very popular Family Christmas Market {Chriskindlmarkt} and Old Town Christmas Market. We also took a funicular and visited the Panarama Christmas Market on Hungerburg, but it only had a few booths and we were disappointed. We ate some yummy Austrian food, drank glühwein for the first time, and had fun shopping.

Christmas Festivities

     I can't believe Christmas has already come and gone. We have had a really fun month reading a new Christmas story each night and finding Hoho The Elf in a new place each morning. Hoho even joined us on our family vacation to Switzerland! How special is that?!? Here's what he's been up to the last month....

Hoho The Elf

     We had a special visitor from the North Pole cook up a delicious breakfast for us this morning. When Connor saw his new elf and all the food surrounding him, he was so excited! He immediately put a muffin, donut, mini pancake, slice of bacon, and apple slice on his plate with the biggest smile on his face. 

Christmas Book Countdown

    Hello December! We are very happy that you are here! This year we are super happy to be starting a new tradition: a Christmas book countdown. Over the last month I have been adding to our existing collection so that we could have 24 books to read every night until Christmas morning. On Christmas morning we will read one final book, The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer.