'Tis the season

'Tis the season for family, lights, peppermint, cozy fires, snow and giving to others. As much as I appreciate the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm one of those people who just can't wait to get out the Christmas decorations (and keep them up for as long as possible). There's something so inviting and cozy about a decorated tree and mantel. Just the sight brings about many wonderful memories of holiday seasons past, my childhood, my early adulthood, etc. While I am all about traditions and I love the many traditions we had growing up, 'tis the time for creating new traditions and memories with our own little family. Here is a peak at some of them :-)

Trimming the tree: As I mentioned, I'm one of the crazy people who like to put the tree up before Thanksgiving. I've hosted Thanksgiving (and not Christmas) the past two years so it was a way to share it with guests.  So what if it was the wrong holiday. This year was extra special as Lilly got to help hang some ornaments...the unbreakable one's which are conveniently all located on the bottom three feet of the tree.

Adopt a family: I forgot to take a picture of Lill helping pick out some toys on our shopping excursion and the finished wrapped products. But, this is a tradition that Corey and I started as soon as we were a family of two. Lill now participates in the shopping and wrapping and little man will join us next year!

Breakfast with Santa: Many of the schools and churches around here hold fundraisers with breakfast, pictures with Santa, crafts, etc. We joined Kyle and Meredith and her family of their annual tradition. Corey used to do this growing up and we plan to make this an annual thing.

Kisses

Breakfast with Santa meant no morning nap...

Our no-meat eater loved the sausage more than
the pancakes. Go figure

Checking out one of the ornaments she made

Zoo Lights: We always used to enjoy the Lincoln Park Zoo lights with my parents when we lived in Chicago. This year we decided to check out the St. Louis zoo's version. Lill enjoyed checking out all the beautiful lights and kept asking for "more"

And then there is the ever popular visit with Santa: Better luck next year, folks!