We generally wait till 1 December or the first weekend in December. We had such a busy Saturday that we decided Sunday afternoon would be perfect. We had a great lunch, it started to drizzled, and the atmosphere was perfect.
This is the first time in our almost seven years of marriage that we are with any family for Christmas. The kids thought it was pretty cool that ouma and oupa were present for the fun. Thank you to my mother in law for making it fun by letting us use their tree and really old and precious ornaments. I had a blast opening all the boxes to find priceless treasures.
The kids are getting pretty good at this tree decorating thing - watching them just makes my heart so happy. They are so much alike but so unique in ways. Ian is very precise and on a mission, Hayleigh gets distracted more. But then again she is only two.
Our annual decorating is accompanied by Christmas movies and our little traditional family hot chocolate (I will post the recipe at the bottom since a few people have asked me for it.)
It was little more disorganized then I am use to, but I survived, and in the end everyone had so much fun.
Our tree decorating in pictures...
Oh and this little gem is from Nate's dated ornaments - the year I was born. I thought it awesome!
I love these little traditions, and as the kids get older they get more involved and excited, and let me just tell you, their excitement is contagious! I love all the stories they come up with, all the questions and all the interest. It makes it all the more special.
Our day wouldn't be complete with homemade hot chocolate. The great thing about this recipe it, you toss everything into a slow cooker, turn it on low for a couple of hours and forget about it. I like to sip on it while decorating, but since the kids are still small and not there yet, we turn it on decorate our hearts out and the gather around the table or the kitchen floor and sip on hot chocolate, while hanging out. Special times.
 |
| Thanks for the photo bomb, dad!! I will post it here for the whole internet to see!! Ha - fail :) |
HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE:
Serves 6
6 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 12oz bag of chocolate chips (I have used both white and brown)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1. Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and turn on low for 2-3 hours or until the chocolate chips have melted completely.
****
We wanted to start a new little family tradition this year, going out in out jammies after bath and driving around town looking at all the Christmas lights. I had such beautiful and high hopes for this fun new tradition, and all I can say is epic failure, in caps!!
I got this little picture on our way out, and the excitement was high and encouraging, and something beautiful...
Until we got in the car and rounded a couple of corners, Let's just say the littlest person in the family who will not be names, screamed the entire time. Gut curling screams, that would make any sane person crazy in a total of three seconds flat. All I can say is thank goodness screams doesn't affect eye sights because the lights sure were pretty...
And this brings to a little bit of bonus information. Once we get to move into our own house, I have accepted the challenge to make our front yard a Christmas wonderland! You can't deny that this picture with these lights makes you smile, and if it doesn't all I can say - you are lying! It's beautiful, and happy and magical....
We are excited for this fun season, and happy to be able to share it with some family.
Happy Christmas decorating from our family to yours.
No comments