Holiday Traditions

Growing up, our family, typically, had some holiday traditions. At the heart of most holiday traditions is spending quality time with those we love and cherish; however, that's not always an option when you're a military family. 

We are fortunate enough to have been visited this year by my mom and dad, and we'll soon see hubs' parents just before Christmas. 

 

But for the actual day, we'll be just us- momma, daddy, baby, and puppy. It'll be the first time Baby A. will have a bit more awareness, and hopefully excitement, during the holidays. Last year, he was just kind of a blob of baby we shuttled around the country to visit family (somehow we got talked into traveling a bunch with a 6 month old that hated being in the car). He met a few Santas, and was a pro in his pack n play for the first time in his life. Those trips convinced us to sleep train HAHA.

This year, we are taking what, at first, felt a little like being alone and turning it into an opportunity to form some family traditions for just us. After all, I doubt this will be our first Navy Christmas with just us. 

I always remembered decorating the tree being a big deal as a child, so I definitely want Baby A. to have that moment with his mom and dad where the excitement of the season kicks off with holiday music playing while we hang ornaments and lights on the tree. 

So far, the ornaments have been a huge draw for Baby A. He seemed enthralled with the ornaments last year and was given a lot of "baby's first Christmas" ornaments, and this year has been much of the same. 

Even just the process of getting the tree is always fun for me. We had a reusable tree for a while when I was younger, but after a while, we started going larger and larger with the live trees. Something about the smell and feel of a real tree is irreplaceable.

This year, I decided we needed to arm ourselves in Navy attire and ornamentation of all forms because we are on an Army base, so even our Christmas tree is mostly blue and gold! This child will know his roots.

We plan to open presents with the baby on Christmas day, which was always fun for me in the past because I love to make people happy with presents! The excitement in a child's eyes is so precious, and I definitely want to give that to my son.

this was actually the first snow in Alexandria in January '17!

Lastly, the other event I always cherished as a child was taking a photo with Santa, sometimes at a Breakfast or Brunch with Santa occasion. We did have Baby A. sit for a photo with Santa last year and he very seriously studied this man with a white beard, gentle smile, and twinkling eyes. The photo we got was mostly his expression of annoyance when we distracted him from staring at the Santa Claus holding him at Perimeter Mall in Georgia. This year, we have a breakfast scheduled and I hope Santa doesn't scare him this year! Still, those crying photos are soooo precious! 

Do you have any awesome holiday traditions that you plan to pass on to your kids? I would love to know what other families do to make the holidays special and fun for children.

Let me know!

-Big A.⚓