Any and Everything

I have decided to keep some old Christmas traditions and add some new ones. I think it will be good for all of us.

For the past 17 years we have always gotten our tree on the day after Thanksgiving. We are keeping that one and I know it made the girls day that we nailed that one on point. We decorated the house as we normally would. In my opinion the beautiful colors and lights just bring up your mood. 

We have always done the Elf on a Shelf… It is a tedious endeavor. That is staying until my youngest doesn’t believe in Santa anymoree and I’m not ripping that away from her. The older girls are so great at helping me move them and that is a newer family tradition we have created.

I have also had to get creative this year… I usually have a wrapping day. Thier dad would take them to a movie and I would wrap gifts. Obviously that tradion is no more. I have told my little one that the elves will bring presents randomly but if she is Naughty they will take them back. I’ve gotten half way done wrapping and putting presents out at this point. And the magic is still alive. That is a good feeling. I will put the big present out Christmas Eve.

For the past 3 years we have all gone to see the lights. I’m keeping it. We had so much fun. I think for that bit everyone was actually carefree. I loved that feeling. The beauty of the lights and the ambiance of being outside with the cold air. It was just magnificent. After the year we have had it is the little things that matter. The moments we spend together. This was a good one.

We always made dinner on Christmas Eve and ate leftovers christmas day. I’m tweaking that a bit. We are still doing Christmas Eve dinner and we will have the meat leftover for the next day. But, I am getting a Cinnabon tray, a veggie tray, and a meat/cheese tray for Christmas day. I’m also going to make the kids some punch and spike spiced cider for myself.

These are from previous years.

I haven’t even gotten to any new years traditions I will be keeping or changing yet. I do feel like these little tweaks will help keep Josh around while we create new things just for us. I feel like we need to start separating from the old and start combining with the new.

Life will be different. Life has been different for the past 3 months. But change is good, okay, and welcomed now. I held on to the past for a good solid month. I couldn’t move forward. Now I am ready for baby steps.

Thank you all for listening to me ramble 😉