Tradition, Tradition

Over the holidays, it is great to have all of the different traditions that have been passed down. As I was looking through my pictures, I realized how many traditions we had over the holiday season and the best way to post all the pictures would be this way.


One tradition that I have married into, is Christmas with Aunty Karen. Aunty Karen is so special, or I guess we are so special, that we have a Christmas with just here! Every year she spoils us, and she continued that this year. Each of the boys received several items, including Legos, Cars book, blanket, placemat, cooking items, and I am sure there is more that I am missing. Caleb got two pairs of pants, that he desperately needed. Caleb also received some golf shoes earlier in the summer that was also part of his Christmas. I got a wonderful Abercrombie sweatshirt that I wear way too much, some new cutting boards, nice scissors, and some Sharpie pens. Addison got an adorable outfit that matches her cousins and a little frog that vibrates and plays songs, that she loves! Again, I am sure I left some things out, because like I said, we were spoiled! Aunty Karen is not only good at spoiling, but she is a great aunt who is always willing to watch babies, buy diapers, go to lunch, and is great at calling at the right time!













Another tradition that has become fun for the kids, is we make gingerbread houses with my parents. It was hard to squeeze them in this year, but I am sure glad we did. The houses don't turn out the greatest, and they usually always fall down, but the cousins all have a great time building them and eating all the candy!



One tradition, that has come to be one of my favorites, is Christmas Eve with my family. When we were little, we would go to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve and have a formal dinner that always included steak and cranberry juice with Sprite. I remember my grandpa always mixing the drinks just perfectly and then everyone sitting at the table together. Sine they passed, we now carry on the tradition at my parents house. Each year the tradition becomes more special as we pass it on to our kids and share with them about our grandparents whom they will never remember. Another part of this tradition was that Grandpa would read the story of the nativity, while the grandkids acted it out. Again, we now carry this on with our kids and it is them who gets to act it out. One thing that my mom has added to this tradition on Christmas Eve is that she makes pajamas for all of the grandkids and they get to open them that night and wear them home. I do wish that she would make us all pajamas, but I guess she has enough to make as it is!










































Over the last couple of years, we have spent Christmas morning with Caleb's parents. We eat breakfast and then exchange gifts with them. This year, Trevor and Christina were in Mountain Home and so it was just us that morning. We ate breakfast and then were spoiled, again. Caleb and I got several gift cards to go out to eat, which I love! I got a new blender(which I just made orange julius with and it worked wonderfully!), a gorgeous necklace, some lotions, a nail kit, and some new spatulas. Caleb got a jacket, a new club (which I have no clue what it is) and I am sure more that I am forgetting. THe boys got these really cool trucks that are remote control. One is a tractor that has a bucket on the front that lifts and dumps. The other was a dump truck. They had so much fun, and still do, playing with them together and pretend to dig and dump together. They also both got a sprograph that they have really enjoyed making the different designs. They both got some new sweatshirts that they wear quite often along with some new hats and gloves that will be great for all the snow!

Each Christmas break my family tries to get everyone together to go to Givens Hot Springs. Again, I remember going there as a kid and so it is fun to bring my kids there also. Katie was in-town this year and it was fun to have her around. Her little girls are so cute and definitely taught my boys a few things!


















Here are some miscellaneous pictures from Christmas that I just wanted to post, but couldn't fit them all in!