THE OLD TRADITIONS
(1) Christmas jammies: One of our (read: my) favorite ways to kick off the holiday season is to get brand new Christmas jammies. In the past, the kids got them the day after Thanksgiving. This year, since we were traveling, it was December before we got around to it.
As usual, they kinda knew what they were about to open since I wouldn't let them get dressed first...
Cute and Christmas-y!
(2) Decking the Halls: It was fun to find new places for all of our old Christmas decorations. And even though we got our tree a bit later than usual (again, because we were traveling over Thanksgiving), we left it up a little longer after Christmas too, so we still got plenty of time to feel the holiday spirit.
Setting up the nativity scene.
New stockings with plenty of room for holiday cheer.
Good thing Daddy's tall. Also strong.
Making Christmas bright.
(3) Letters to Santa: We've done this before, although I think we forgot last year...
Who could say no to that face?
Danny is super into beyblades, which are basically armored spinning tops that smash into each other.
Santa needs all the luck he can get.
In case Santa doesn't know there are mountains in Colorado...
They even decorated their envelopes.
(4) Seeing Santa: Same tradition, different Santa (although Aaron is starting to realize that it's always a different Santa). This time, we met Santa at the Golden police department, where there was no line whatsoever, and also a motorcycle...with antlers.
They had a professional photographer there who sent us the pictures for free. Things are so weird outside the big city.
So Santa, how exactly do you manage to be here and in Chicago at the same time? Hmmmm?
Posing with another local celebrity on the way out.
(4) Gingerbread houses: As uusual, more candy ended up in their mouths than on the houses.
Gluing their houses together.
Eating the glue.
(5) Baking Christmas cookies: This was soooo much easier with more counter space. And soooo much easier now that they're getting older.
Rollin' out.
Jill is feeling the holiday spirit. Or maybe she's just got a sugar high from all the cookie dough she kept sneaking.
After they baked and cooled, we got to frost and sprinkle them.
Success!
(6) Church Christmas program: Just because it was a different church doesn't mean the singing was any less adorable than usual.
THE NEW TRADITIONS
(1) Golden Holiday Spirit: Golden really gets decked out for the holidays. It was fun to see the downtown area all lit up, and we even got to attend the holiday parade!
Holiday lights along Clear Creek.
Hanging a Christmas ornament at the community center.
Waiting for the holiday parade to begin.
Is that Santa?
There he is on the fire truck!
'Sup Santa.
Doggy sleigh rides.
Never been this warm at a Christmas parade before.
(2) Christmas in Color: All the parents in Golden told me that we had to take the kids to see Christmas in Color out in Morrison. And it did not disappoint.
It was basically a slow drive through a lights course that was synced with a local radio station.
Nothing better than getting to stick your head through the sun roof...
...except maybe getting to drive. Pay attention Aaron!!!
(3) Grandparent visits: Because we are far away from family now, they all came to visit us! We had one set of grandparents after another come through town the week after Christmas. Thankfully, Colorado has no shortage of fun activities to keep guests entertained.
Riding the holiday train with Nana and Papa in Georgetown.
Cookies and hot chocolate at the train station.
Choo choo!
Storytime with Papa.
New Terrain Brewery is more fun when Oma and Opa come along.
It's also fun when they bring a trunkload of presents for a second Christmas!
THE OLDISH/NEWISH TRADITIONS
(1) Girls' Shopping Weekend: Every year, the women on Oma's side of the family get together for a "Christmas shopping" weekend, which is really just a lot of snacks, age-appropriate beverages, and hanging out. This year was special though, because it was the first time Jill was old enough to come along. So it was sort of old and sort of new!
On the train to the plane to Michigan.
Cheers to the Hietbrink ladies.
Jill got to try PB&J "sushi" rolls.
The whole crew at Frozen 2.
Michigan is a lot colder than Colorado! Thankfully, we found a warm cafe with hot chocolate.
Jill bonded with cousin Paige.
And Aunt Rachel got her Lydia fix.
In case you're worried about what the boys did while we were away...don't. They did just fine.
(2) Christmas Day: This one is also both old and new. It's old for obvious reasons. But it was also new because it was the first time we've ever had it all to ourselves. It was so nice to be just be lazy together: coffee, presents, coffee, games, coffee, movies. This is definitely one "new" tradition that we will turn into an "old" one.
Tearing it up.
Just like last year, we gave the kids something cool, something for school, something you'll wear, and something you'll share. Their "something cool" this year was brand new mountain bikes with gears.
Cuddling up to watch a Christmas Day movie.
The more time passes, the more Golden feels like home. Which is good, because I am never moving again. Cheers to many more Merry Christmases within these foothills.
Howdy Holidays!
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