Today my guest post is from the third in the trio of ladies who inspired this series, Sandy from Baby Baby. Despite Sandy moving to live less than ten minutes away, I think I actually saw Sandy more when she didn't live in Milton Keynes! We are both hoping to sort out our schedules to get our families together during the Christmas Period, I'm hoping Sandy will bring some cookies but maybe I shall just kidnap her and go together for a Hot Chocolate somewhere...
Now my children are four
and three, this Christmas is going to be the most exciting event in
their little lives so far. We are making up our family traditions as we go. We
are taking our favourite childhood memories and incorporating those. We are
also picking up some amazing ideas from our friends.
These are the current Calico Family Christmas Traditions
Advent
We start our build up to Christmas on 1st
December by getting out the Christmas books and reading a Christmas themed
story each bedtime. The boys have refillable advent calendars. This year they
are each getting a set of dinosaur figures, these are alternated with chocolate
coins. We also have a traditional cardboard advent calendar. Presley and Cash
are more exicted about seeing the picture behind each door, than any toy or
chocolate. We will re-use this advent calendar each year. This is a tradition
from Andy’s childhood. He loved the familiar countdown to Christmas. He can
still remember that behind door 10 was a robin and this meant two weeks to go
Activities
We are getting used to living in a new city and finding our
way around. We found a fantastic local church Christmas fayre where we drank
mulled wine and the boys met Santa. They saw some of their friends from
nursery. We are planning to take them on an after-dark tour to see people’s
houses lit up. We will also find a town with a pretty high street and take the
boys Christmas shopping. It will be lovely for them to think about giving gifts
instead of just receiving them. I keep my control-freak tendencies under wraps
and let the boys decorate the Christmas tree. They also make decorations and
cards, as do I. I’m the first to go through our the Christmas Radio Times with
a highlighter pen!
Christmas Eve
We bake some cookies for Santa and leave them on a plate
with carrots for the reindeer. The boys can choose their favourite meal for tea
(this is likely to be fish and chips)! We are looking forward to attending a
carol service before we head home to hang up our stockings. The boys will put on
their new pyjamas and – I expect – take a long time to get to sleep.
Christmas Day
We have breakfast before any presents are opened. Breakfast
is eaten rather quickly! Later, I will cook a traditional family lunch with all
the trimmings. This year my Mum will be joining us, after 14 years Down Under.
There will be eight of us altogether, including Mum’s husband and her brother
and his partner. I’m expecting a house full of noise, fun and laughter. No one
will have an empty glass, an empty belly or leave empty handed.
Thank you to Pippa for inviting me to share my family
Christmas traditions. Merry Christmas!
