Christmas Traditions

I think traditions are important. In many ways, I'm a traditional type of girl. Y'all know I like order, consistency, and structure. Although I have become more "lax" since Mr. Mister came into the picture, in the chaos of raising a toddler, I certainly like to hang on to tradition as much as possible.

I love Christmas. I never get caught up in the commercialism of the holiday. I don't overspend, overextend, or overwork myself during the season. I'm an early shopper and planner so, by the time Baby Jesus is due to have a birthday, I've been decorated, wrapped, and "ready to go" for most of the month of December. This gives me much more time to reflect upon the season of giving.

Growing up, my family had a few Christmas traditions that I looked forward to every year:

Secret Santa: We would all pick a member of our household and secretly leave them a gift under their place mat; starting December 1st until Christmas. At the end of the run, we'd have to guess who our secret Santa was. Looking back, I feel really sorry for my parents who would leave us really neat little gifts, while my sister and I would give them handmade stuff... thinking we were going undetected. (Although, I'm sure I would LOVE it if Toby drew me a picture every day!) It was such an exciting feeling to get up in the morning and sneak out to the kitchen and see that tiny lump under our place mat.

A nightly reading of A Story a Day Til Christmas: This is one of my fondest memories as a child; getting into our new Christmas pajamas and listening to one of our parents read to us out of our most cherished book. The book, A Story a Day Til Christmas, was something my mother bought from Current Catalog back in the 1980s. It contains the most wonderful collection of Christmas stories. While my sister was given our family copy, last year she bought me my own copy. To continue the tradition, this year, I was able to track down a scarce copy and bought one for my brother. It means the world to me to know that all three of us are reading these stories to our children every night in December.

The Christmas tree fund/Cutting of the Christmas tree: My sister and I were pretty responsible with our allowance/paper route money. Somewhere around the time I was 8 years old, my parents started something called "The Christmas Tree Fund." It was simply an envelope my mother kept in her sock drawer every year, and we would all add $1 to the fund every month (or something along those lines, I forget, Nicki- help me out here.) Anyway, by the time early December rolled around we had plenty of money to go get any tree we wanted. We'd make a day of it and cut down a pretty tree, get cocoa and just be together.

As parents, Aaron and I wanted to incorporate some of these traditions into our life with Toby. While I decided long ago that I couldn't, in good conscience, cut down a tree every year (we have a beautiful fake tree) we are doing something similar to The Christmas Tree Fund.

A while back there was a post that went viral about a "Christmas Eve Box." I'm sure most everyone has seen the concept of a "Christmas Eve Box" on Pinterest or circulating the newfeeds of Facebook. We decided to adopt this tradition, with a slight twist and variation to make it our own.

 

This is the picture that has been circulating newsfeeds. It's called "The Christmas Eve Box."  While I think it's really cute in theory, I think giving all of this to a child (or at least my child) on Christmas Eve when they are so excited for Santa, is tough. Further, I can't rationalize feeding him popcorn and hot cocoa, having him sit through a movie, then reading T'was the Night Before Christmas, and adding in all the other Eve traditions (stockings.) My kid would be wound so tight and I would feel rushed!!

So, I figured, if it was something that we are going to do every year, well... Toby would need a proper "Christmas Box." So, I hatched an idea.

Just prior to my Pepe passing away in 2012, he made it known that the willow tree at camp "Had to come down." This tree, he thought, would someday fall into the camp, crushing it. Over the summer, my Mom and Dan took the old tree down. Being resourceful, Dan saved all the wood and gave us much of it (because he knew it would mean so much.) Aaron made Toby's Christmas Box out of the willow from camp. This means so much to me, obviously, because of the ties to my Pepe.

We also decided that we were going to give Toby his box on December 1st, so he could enjoy the spoils of it up until Christmas.

 

 



(GAP) Beaver Pajamas, new (GAP) slippers-- I found the SAME slippers he had as an infant (!!) and a fleece (L.L.Bean) robe.

A new cup, a few new Christmas books, some cocoa, Rudolph, popcorn (for our popcorn machine) and a chocolate Advent calendar. The calendar was something Aaron really wanted to incorporate because it was a tradition from his childhood.

 

The stuffed box, ready to be looted by Mr. Mister!

 

This was when we told him we had a "prize" for him.



He couldn't get there fast enough!

He was just so appreciative.

Now, I know it looks like we spent a good chunk of change on this box but, we didn't. A (not so) little not known fact about me is that I am incredibly (incredibly) frugal. (Almost) everything I purchased was with a coupon. Remember, I had the luxury of time on my side (I started collecting things for this box in early September, so I was able to find good deals on everything.) Whereas, had I waited until last minute, I would have had to pay through the nose. Further, I planned everything I wanted to have in this box so, I was able to search for deals. Nothing was an impulse buy... down to the hardware we used on the box!

With everything said and done (including handles, letters, and hardware for the box) we came in just under $52 for EVERYTHING. Yes, you read it right. My biggest score was the L.L Bean robe. Normally this is $39. But, I bought it on clearance, had a $10 gift card I received as a bonus when I purchased his winter jacket, and then had an additional 10% off coupon + free shipping. The robe was $8.96. Score!

So, we have set that as our limit for Toby's Christmas Box every year-- $52. Which helped us to incorporate the last of our traditions: The Christmas Box Fund. Every week we'll squirrel away $1, which will give me about $52 to spend next year.


Christmas is a special time; made even more precious because of our son. I look so forward to him learning about generosity and kindness but, I also can't wait to see his excitement on Christmas morning.

A huge shout-out to my husband who spent, literally, hours making this box perfect for our son. Toby loved everything and it was a great start to a fun family tradition.

 

Bah-Humbug!

Wednesday, Oui? My Man-flu

We all know what a "man-flu" is. But, in case you live under a rock, or somehow escaped having a partner who often succumbs to this debilitating illness, the man-flu is when a woman and a man end up with the same exact flu bug BUT... the dude is down for the count. He's the sickest he has ever been. He's actually the sickest person in the world. It hurts him to blink.

Yes, it's annoying.

Over the weekend I caught a disgusting flu bug and was down.for.the.count. It's times like that when you really realize what kind of a person your spouse is. When you are at your most disgusting, wheezy, snotty, needy, coughy, and miserable.

It doesn't take a monumental moment or event to make me realize how lucky I am to have married Aaron. He's the best husband ever. Like whoa. I know I've sung Aaron's praises a MILLION times on this blog but, I think there are just some things that need to be said over and over again.

Now, those who know me (well) know that I am, by no stretch of the imagination, the kind of person who will hold up a sign advertising free hugs. I'm quite content with the obligatory holiday hug. I don't need to be fawned over, waited on, or spoiled.

Unless I'm sick. Then drop everything. Hold me, rub me, massage me, pet my hair, and make me toast. I get the full on "man flu." Yes, yes, it's true. I'm not afraid to admit it. I become a baby when I'm sick... and only when I'm sick. Remember, this is coming from the girl who gave birth without so much as a Tylenol.

Aaron eats this up. He loves to be needed and he loves to take care of me. While I love to soak up the spoils when I feel like death, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that, not only does Aaron anticipate my needs but, he goes above and beyond. The proof?

J: (said with a stuffy nose- after waking up in the middle of the night) "Babe?"
A: (sleeping)
J: (scratching at his leg with my toe-talon) "Babe?"
A: "Yeah, love?"
J: "Can I have a popsicle?"
A: "Sure." (gets out bed and goes downstairs to the freezer and comes back empty handed.)
J: "Where's my popsicle?"
A: (settling back into bed) "We don't have any... and it's 1:30. Hannaford is closed."
J: "CVS is open 24 hours."
A: (gets up and gets dressed.)


Yes, my husband drove to CVS to get me popsicles at 1:30 in the morning when he had to go to work in just a few hours. That's love.

And before he left for work that morning he said, "Would you like for me to put in one of your sick movies?"

On Monday I stayed home from work (my Nanny came in, thankfully.) I pretty much slept all day and into the evening. When he came home from work and sent Nanny home he totally took care of everything. I don't even know what he and Toby did but, I didn't hear from either of them until about 6:30 when Aaron came into the bedroom and said "Hun, we're about to do the second day of his Advent Calendar. I figured you'd want to see that. Do you want to come down, or do you want me to go ahead without you?"

I mean really? Really? I must have done something in a previous life to deserve this guy.

So, it must be said:
Aaron, love of my life, thank you for putting up with my WhoaMan flu. You're a trooper. Oui?

Halloween 2013

Growing up, Halloween was a big deal in my house. My mother ALWAYS made us our costumes because she was really (really, really) fun and creative.

In first grade my mother asked me what I wanted to be for Halloween and I said a seahorse. Mom didn't try to talk me out of it; she made me a seahorse costume. I wish I could dig up a picture because I remember going to school feeling like the prettiest purple sequined seahorse. I had such a sense of pride when I told people my mother made the costume. Looking back, especially now that I'm a Mom, I really appreciate the thought (and painstaking hours) she put into making our costumes. She did this for me AND my sister. Every single year.

When Toby was born I knew I would make his costumes for as long as I could (or until he wanted to be something I couldn't "make.") For right now, obviously, Aaron and I decide what he's going to be so it's easier to make the costumes. But, Aaron and I have also decided that we're going to dress up with him; it's more fun that way.

 

This year, in honor of one of Toby's favorite soundtracks, we were Mary Poppins and Burt the chimney sweeps. Everything was either borrowed, made, or already owned (except for my top hat and skirt [I bought those at Goodwill.])

 

 

Last night we went trick-or-treating. While we only went to a few houses we got a lot of compliments on the originality of our costumes and Toby made off with a pretty good loot.

 

 

Uncle Matt & Uncle Nelly were in Europe for Toby's first "real" Halloween, but they still sent him a Halloween card with some moolah for his piggy bank. Thank you Uncles!!


Toby has his own little mailbox. We leave him treats in it a couple times per week. If he gets any "mail" it also goes in the mailbox. He loves to check it and gets SO excited when there is something in it!

 



He tried, and eventually succeeded, in pocketing the money. I told him it had to go in his piggy bank!

 

Toby also received a card from his Nana and McPepe when he trick-or-treated at their house. They taped $10 in quarters to his card. He is going to have a field-day dropping all those quarters in his piggy bank! (He loves to put money in his bank! I love that he's a saver!! Just like Mama [most of the time.])

 

And finally, just before bed, in honor of it being a "holiday" we decided to let Toby watch a short Halloween movie. It was 11 minutes long (Angelina Ballerina: Henry's Halloween.) Toby lasted about 3 minutes before he lost interest. I guess the kid is like his parents when it comes to TV. We let him off the bed and he ran directly across the hall into his nursery and got a book off his shelf.

As you can see, he's thoroughly unimpressed. Oh, well. We'll try again at Christmas with The Grinch!
(Notice his big candy belly?)

And for a little blast from the past; Circa 2012.
Do you gnome these people?

We hope you had an AMAZING Halloween!