Excitement is Brewing

As we approach the end of the year 2012 the preparations are a welcomed cheerful contrast to the preparations this time last year. This year I look forward to the weekend of Thanksgiving as a happy time with my family knowing the end of treatment for B will be less than a week away rather than the dread of heading into it. B and I are also excited to plan a little anniversary outing that we will both enjoy and get to actually attend. And even though our finances are much tighter this year, we are having fun planning the list of Christmas gifts for family and friends. 

The excitement of Jasmine's real first experience of Christmas (she was only a few months old last year) lets us get excited with her. There is a real Joy in the air as pictures are taken, cards are ordered, and plans begin to fall into place for the most magical time of the year. 

Now for the fun part... creating our own family traditions!

We would like to do at least one festive light tour/hunt/walk/drive each year. And try to find a fun new spot each year to help keep the magic of the find and experience alive. 

 It would be fun to attend a Christmas Parade 

We will always have a live tree, noble fir if possible, fully lit with white lights and decorated with ornaments.

Decorate the house the weekend after Thanksgiving

As the children get older they will get to pick their own annual ornament as we, their parents, have done together for several years 

Stockings are hung each year but we are fine tuning the actual stuffing of them and when to open them, etc. I'm still new to the full blown celebration of Christmas

and the newest item as of this year will be Santa...

I still don't know how that is going to work but we are going to try to incorporate Santa into a Christian Christmas. Probably tell the story of Saint Nicholas and how his name changed.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and have fun planning for Christmas <3