Merry Christmas!!

This was Beckahm's second Christmas and he could understand a whole lot more about all of the traditions surrounding this wonderful holiday. A few of the traditions we did this year and things he LOVED. We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas, just what I needed! 

• Attended our stake live nativity display (he loved playing with some of the manger sets, seeing all of the various manger sets on display, seeing the kids and adults perform the live nativity.  He loved seeing the baby who was "Jesus".  He loved doing the crafts they had, and he loved listening to the live music). He helped me deliver homemade chocolate chip cookies for the event the day before.
• Helping decorate the tree.  We let him throw in the ornament balls; he got such a kick out of it.  Every morning he turns on the tree lights. He also helped me string lights up on our balcony outside and he loves turning them on each night.
• We decorated his dresser with lights and Christmas decor in his room and he LOVES turning on the lights in there as well.
• He loved reading his Christmas books at night
• We read a story relating to Christmas each day
• We started reading these quotes and stories pertaining to the 12 days of Christmas 
• We read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve.  He got to open one gift: his Christmas pjs.
• We ordered Chinese food for Christmas Eve (Daddy's family tradition) and had a brunch Christmas morning and chili and cornbread for dinner
• We went to Cincinnati this year for Christmas Eve (went to the Zoo)
• We made an array of Christmas goodies this year and put them in our Christmas tins
• We sang Christmas songs during nap and bed time.
• Each day he got to put a ball on an advent Santa Claus we had hanging on our fridge and he also got to open a door to an advent calendar and eat the decorated chocolates inside (the highlight of his day). 
• I decorated the house with homemade items

Christmas decor

White snowflake made out of yardsticks

Homemade finger puppets: santa, a snowman, a reindeer, and an elf!

Beck's and I gathered some pinecones, berries, and these green balls that fell from the trees outside!

Free Christmas printable online

We woke up to snow!! What a perfect day to stay inside and make Christmas goodies: Pumpkin Gingerbread, Grinch Mint, and Rice Crispies, and Toffee!

Our Tree

 Beck's LOVED climbing under the tree this year and turning on the Christmas tree each morning

Homemade felt Christmas tree I made Beck's—a tree he could actually touch; I LOVE how it turned out!

Local St. Lucia concert (a Swedish tradition)

Christmas Eve Dinner: Chinese (Mike's family tradition)

Getting his Christmas Eve present (cow slippers he calls his "moo moo" boots and new pjs) 

Reading "Twas The Night Before Christmas"

Christmas brunch with friends

House we made for Becks out of an Ikea box

Pictures for B's room.  We got these frames at Goodwill and painted and distressed them

Opening his stocking

He LOVED his house; played in it all day!

Book from Grandparents Moncur

Cars and books from Grandparents Eastman

I love this one! He was freaking out opening all of his cars; he was so excited!