12.17.2011

Another tradition...a new one of sorts...

Okay, our family loves traditions. We have lots of old ones that I have written about here, here, and here and ... okay, I am gonna stop there...cause there are so many of my blogs (19) that are about traditions! Since we didn't have enough, we started another last year! Ha. However, the wonderful thing about this one is how easy it is for Larry and I! As I have written about in the past, we always have a Christmas Eve Morning gift...which always involved hunting for your gift around the house. This tradition, involved poems/hints that lead you around the house. Well, writing poetry is not my strong suit. In the past, I have received some chuckles...with good reason...for my lack of rhyming skills. Or, worse, it would rhyme but made no sense! So, last year I had an idea to get me out of this role of writing poetry! Here is what they received:

Mr. and Mrs. Claus’s poems have been laughed at
Their rhyming abilities, they say, are weak and flat.

They’ve looked at us as if we were crazy
When we tied them together and no one could be lazy!

So we have decided to turn the big kids loose
And just see what kind of story they can produce!

The words on the enclosed list must all be used
To make a story or poem you will choose.

Enclosed are a notepad and a pencil too
Work as a team, we look forward to your debut!

The clock is ticking; you have only a 1/2 hour to work
As yes, your results, if done well, will produce a perk!

In order to receive your prize
You must delight our ears and eyes!

Bud, Honey, Owen, Emma, Will and Clay
Look forward to your most CREATIVE display!


Larry and I came up with a list of random and I mean random words...
Today I was getting the list of words ready and pulled out the last years (which by the way, the story will be a "continued" story) and it just made me laugh. This 4 did a great job! It made me laugh this morning, so I thought I would share it with you...and maybe it could be a tradition that would fit into your family!

Chapter One:

The icy wife was hanging plastic Christmas bells while the kids were mixing a green concoction in the blender. A fuzzy blanket of snow glittered at midnight as the sleepless President texted Santa on his iphone while listening to his ipod. The cold salami wrapped eggrolls burned Santa's nose, while hearing the news of the blizzard approaching the North Pole which would affect the elves toy making in the workshop. The blizzard was so cold that not even crazy buzzards giddy with hormones wearing red socks on their toes could survive. Made aware of the eminent threat of the snow-melting green concoction, Santa danced a silly jig while slipping his legs through the holes of his pants and strapping on his jingle gun, then hopped into his sleigh filled with presents and acted as a taxi to deliver lipstick and earrings to the boring wife who's jaw never stopped moving. Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!.

As you can see, when these 4 get together, random, silly and amazing things happen! By the way, it did make Bud, Honey and the kids laugh and thus they were rewarded! We are anxious to see how they do this year!

12.09.2011

Our Special Little Tradition

I just came home from a wonderful little trip to Mansfield. Last year, Ashley, Emma and I started a little Christmas Tradition. We went to North Park Mall for a day of shopping at fun little stores but much more importantly we took Emma to see Santa!!! We started this last year and decided right there and then, that would be our little tradition! We got to North Park Mall, grabbed our ticket (it gives you what time Santa will see you!) and then did a little shopping and looking around until it was Emma's turn! First stop was the Disney store. She is VERY in to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse..as in she loves that show, so of course she loves all those characters. When we walked in the store, she looked around and exclaimed "COOL"!!! :) We just looked around a fun stores that we sure don't have around here....Paper Source, Gymboree, Janie and Jack, Anthropologie, Lego Store, H&M...before and after our appointment to see Santa! I had wondered how she would do. Ashley thought she would do great. Ashley was so right! She waltzed in to his little house, crawled up in his lap, handing him her letter and acted like she could have stayed all day! She was quite taken with the guy with the white beard! I have to say that Santa was so precious with her as well. He was so tender and sweet to her!!! I think if we had left her there she would have been just fine with that! She talked about him all afternoon! Him and his beard! So, that of course made the day super special. Then we went to eat at la madeleine...always a favorite!!!
 First sighting of Santa
 Waiting to see the big guy!

 Reading her wish list- a Kitchen and a balloon
 Checking out the big guys beard, she was quite taken with it!
Love this picture!!!
We had such a fun day!!! Emma was so sweet and good the entire day...especially since we missed her nap! She did take a mini-nap on the way back home. We finished the day at another favorite place to eat, Chuey's. Yum.  It was so fun to get to spend some time with my girls! Tonight, we have a sleepover and Christmas Shopping night with our boys...so I will blog more later but for now, I will close with a few of MANY fun pictures of a VERY fun day with Emma and Ashley!