Very excited to have Flick from The Baby Vine sharing her Christmas traditions with us this week.
(If you don’t follow her already, you really should. Great blog, lovely lady and two adorable little girls.)
Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. As soon as November hits I can’t help but get carried away with it all. The lights, the events, the activities, the decorations and the mood, as everyone comes together and wraps up the year.
Ever since I was a little girl I have loved Christmas. Whether Santa was real or not wasn’t an issue for me, because I feel there is so much more to the big day itself. I remember all too well staying up until all hours in the morning on Christmas Eve, getting excited with my brothers and waking my parents at the crack of dawn. The excitement of seeing all the wrapped presents under the tree, and the looks on the faces of family when I gave them the presents I had picked out especially.
I am now that adult that blasts the carols from the start of November, singing out of tune at the top of my voice. I love decorating the house, baking Christmas goods and getting into the festive spirit. One of the things that excited me most about becoming a parent was creating traditions of our own with my little family.
Cassie is now three and Vivi is one, and the traditions are well and truly underway and evolving each year as the girls get older and understand more. Here are just a few in our little family unit:
The Santa Photo
Every. Single. Year. And I have a book to keep them all in. It’s all about matchy matchy for this photo and I buy the girls outfits to wear together. They are finally old enough Chris and I aren’t needed in the photo, and it’s the cutest! We make an evening of it, heading into the city to meet Daddy after work, getting the photos done and then out to dinner together afterwards.
The Tree
It goes up in our house on the first weekend of December. We have a fake tree (can’t handle the mess here). Each year the girls pick out an ornament of their own (we helped when they were little). Sure, it means a bit of a mix matched tree, but it is full of lots of memories as the years go by! We all put the tree up together, with carols on in the background and the star is always Daddy’s job, with the help of one or both of the girls.
Stockings
Both girls have a special stocking from Pottery Barn with their name embroidered on it. I love getting them a few small knickknack presents to put in it for the big day. Think hair bows, clips, bracelets, stickers and stamps – all their favourite things. We always wait until last to open these.
Outfit
Christmas day for us is about FUN. The girls don’t wear something nice, instead they dress up! From Santa to elves and beyond, each year brings a new outfit and lots of fun. Means I don’t worry about keeping them clean all day and brings a laugh to everyone as well.
As the years go on I know our traditions will change. I envision sitting up on Christmas Eve and watching Santa movies. Opening presents early. Pigging out on treats. But now, while the girls are still so little, we have a great place to start.
