I cannot believe it is ONE WEEK until Christmas. Insert both a happy...and sad face here. Happy, because it is ONE WEEK until Christmas, sad, well, because, that means no more Christmas tree, cinnamon candles, flavored coffee creamers, Christmas lights and of course, Christmas songs...you get the idea.
But, what it does mean is that I am savoring every second until that magical day arrives!
I decided to put together a post about some Christmas traditions here in the Seda Household. We added a couple this year and will likely continue to do so. So far, I love the ones we do and look forward to them each year.
Seda Christmas Traditions
(in no particular order other that how the pop to mind)
1. Christmas ornaments -- Each year since Maddie was born I buy a new sentimental ornament for the tree. Here are the 4 we have so far.
2. Gingerbread Houses -- The last two years Maddie has really enjoyed doing these. I think this one will stick around a while.
3. Santa Pictures -- Well, Maddie has never been a fan of Santa to be honest. This year, she would not even make eye contact with him...despite weeks of saying that she could not wait to see him! ha
Thanks to one persistent Elf (who likely gets commission from photo sales) we got this one this year. Hey, beggars cannot be choosers.
If you ask her about the experience "I LOVE Santa!" She asked him for a "bike".
4. Carriage Ride in Southlake Town Square
We do this at the same time we do Santa pictures since the Santa we visit is at the Southlake town square. Maddie LOVES this tradition.
CLEARLY.
Her Mommy does too.
It was a cold night, all the better for snuggles as we look at the lights.
The tree in the center.
5. Christmas Music -- Ok, this may be one of my favorites. As I type I have some playing. This one actually started before we were ever "the Seda Family". When we were dating, Robert bought me my first Christmas CD as part of my Christmas. Since then, he adds to the collection. I actually start them the day after Thanksgiving. In the OR, everyone knows I am a James Taylor girl, except for at Christmas time...then it is Christmas Classics all the way!
I am partial to the oldies (you know, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, and Perry Como). HOWEVER, I do like some newer songs.
I will confess, I think my top two favorite Christmas songs are from newer artists. I will not number because I cannot decide!
"All I want for Christmas Is You" Mariah Carey
"Feliz Navidad" Jose Feliciano
"That's Christmas To Me" Pentatonix
My Favorite traditional song:
Oh Holy Night.
6. Christmas Cards -- I send out our cards yearly and love getting ones from friends and loved ones.
They make up one of my favorite decorations.
When Maddie saw me addressing letters, she wanted to as well. She has gotten pretty good with writing. She can write her name, my name, Robert's name and Nana and Papa with out prompting!
7. Light Looking -- Another one of my favorites! We put on our PJs, make up some cocoa/coffee and head out! One of our favorite neighborhoods is just minutes down the way.
We just started last year doing our house and Maddie LOVES having them up!
8. Coffee Creamer! Another one of my favorites. Ok, who am I kidding, I LOVE all the ones listed.
I actually buy about 10 of them so I can get an extra few months out of theses babies, I am not kidding.
9. Advent Calender(s) -- This has become one of Maddie's favorite things to do in the AM as we head out the door. It's also practice on our numbers, score!
Ok, so maybe we have a couple, but she does this one at night (it comes with a chocolate goody!). It has a daily reading with it and a chocolate, who wouldn't like this?!
10. Nativity Scenes -- We are working early to teach Maddie the reason we truly celebrate Christmas and the goodness that we can all do for the world during this time. I bought a nativity scene this year and got the hand crafted iron one as a gift from a mission work we do, it's from a local artist in Haiti.
Where's Maddie?!
"Eye" see her!
11. Maddie's Christmas Tree Trimming
12. Christmas Crafting
Finished product. One for us, one for each set of grandparents. Robert even laminated them for us.
I did not come up with the design, I got them from here. I could not put this out this year. Broke my heart. No pun intended. It broke last year and Robert managed to glue it back to salvage it, but it is too fragile to put up. Her hands have really grown!
13. Christmas Books
Every day we pick a few to go through the month of December.
14. Christmas PJs, socks, you name it, we heart Christmas!
This really is not a tradition, but we might make it one! We went to the Hilton Anatole this weekend for Collin Bear's 4th birthday and all had such a good time. I mean, talk about traditions, this place had just about all things fun at Christmas time (Cookie decorating, Hot cocoa making, Santa letter writing, Santa meeting, ornament making, to name a few) all wrapped into one morning!
Happy Birthday our sweet Collin!
Headed to load their plates for breakfast with Santa!
Loving on Nana!
...and Papa!
Double trouble here. Hey, I just noticed...TWINKIES!
Meeting Santa!
Working on our letter to Santa.
Mailing our letters.
Cookie decorating. Woohoo, no clean up for Mama!
Cocoa making.
Reindeer Meeting.
Troop letter making. Speaking of a tropper, Nana was a trooper. She is definitely not her old self but gives it all she has to be there for her grandbabies.
Cousin loving!
Selfie taking! bahaha Caught these two love birds.
We topped it off with some ice skating at the Galleria, request of our Collin bear.
Maddie pretty much monopolized Curt. She does not do well with me, she wants me to carry her and the Skate patrol gets on to us when they see that happen!
This was my main partner, luck me!...and right before our wipe out! Hey, we did pretty good until the very end, then someone tripped us up! My left knee is bruised up good today! Guess I'm not as young as I think I am!
Someone was worn out after all the above!
That's all I can think of for now. We held out this year on The Elf on the Shelf. I doubted my ability to move him daily! haha We will see if she notices next year! I have heard about a Kindness Elf instead that I may do next year. We will see!
Some more pictures from the last time I wrote:
Sunday Smiles.
I know, I had my phone on at church, but when I looked over and saw this, I had to sneak a picture. Maddie has gotten so good in church, she is a little delight. She does not go to Wigglers during service, she just hangs out with us...and I am glad!
How could I forget...last weekend we attended a Christmas recital! It was Will's first Christmas Piano recital, he did so good! We were all so proud of him!
We all had fun!
Our favorite song of the night...Frosty the Snowman! He worked so hard on practicing and it showed, it was perfect!
The countdown is on! Speaking of another tradition. This afternoon I plan on wrapping gifts with a little Christmas music/Christmas Movie!
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