Making new ones, hanging on to old ones, and breaking others.
We started with a new tradition of welcoming an elf to our family. His name is Fred. Sometimes Diego. Other times his name is 'Huckenchucks'. No matter what his name is, we always know that elf is watching, often from an exciting new location like the hanging lights or the mantle. One day he rode the cash cow (Jaxon's piggy bank) and he's even managed to perch from the very top of our windows.
It's been a joy to watch Kiley find him every morning- she practically bolts out of bed with an urgent need to find 'Elf'. To which she points and giggles till the novelty wears off. And then she does it again a half hour later. This elf has also been our watchdog for good behavior that we've hung over Jaxon's head just a few times. Which begs the question why there wouldn't be a year-round elf, though I guess that is a parent's job? Can't leave all the discipline up to a 10-inch piece of animated felt I guess.
Grandma and Grandpa Walker also introduced Jaxon to the 25 Days of Christmas... their own made-up Advent calendar. Jaxon received two bags with no less than 25 wrapped gifts, the weekend of Thanksgiving, each with a handwritten card and a special something inside. Often it was something we could make together, decorate our house or tree with, or give away as a special gift to someone he loves.
It's a special piece of grandma and grandpa to keep with him each day when they can't be closer. And while I recognize the thought and love that goes into it, we've decided to modify this tradition next year to 12 Days of Christmas.
I couldn't keep up.
So, finally after all our holiday preparations, we headed up to West Fargo this year on a snowy Friday morning. At least it was white out for a little while!
We made it just in time to catch a game of 'Headbandz' with cousin Zoe. Grandpa was very excited to be a spoon. Scott asked some very thought-provoking questions about pizza, and Jaxon pretty much just told everyone what they were. Kiley was concerned that the blue headband didn't match her red shirt. So she opted out.
And of course, carried on our tradition of making Gingerbread Houses. This is one of those traditions we've decided to modify for next year.
Here's the thing. Those gingerbread house kits are crap. They never seem to turn out the way they look on the box, leaving a child (and their parent) feeling incompetent and hopeless. Kiley knew it right away though, that she was never going to get that icing to stay on the uneven slabs of gingerbread. So she just used some whipped cream, put some gumdrops and sprinkles on top, and called it a day. Smart girl.
So if the folks at Michaels could indulge a frustrated parent and grandma, and get to work on some preassembled houses we can just decorate, we'll oblige by making this our new tradition.
My family tradition has always been to go to church on Christmas Eve. Most everyone opted out of going this year though either due to a great football game on tv or delicious snacks being served on the kitchen counter. Given my parental guilt and recent overwhelming desire to introduce my kids to God and the true meaning of Christmas, I was excited to take the kids to the church service and thought it would be the start of my new resolution to go to church more often.
Or ever.
Well, traditions don't always last. Nor do they sometimes start the way you want them to.
I've realized this and have already let it go.
Jaxon was adamantly against putting on his Christmas sweater and shirt I bought him. And from there it was pretty much downhill and I knew I wasn't getting him to go to church. Not when there was Angry Birds and delicious snacks.
But Kiley was happy to get dressed up and accompany me and Scott to church. We'll try again next year for all of us, and I'm still resolving to go to church more often.
Or ever. Nice sweater or not. With or without my compliant/non-compliant children.
When we got home from church, we took some pictures of the kids. Not sure these are as Christmas-card worthy as the shots last year, but we tried. Too many wiggles and squirms this time around!
Okay, and seriously, is she not so adorable? Look at this girl in her cute little Christmas dress! A mother could not be more proud.
Unless her son wore his Christmas sweater and went to church with her. Then she'd be really proud.
And of course, we even wrote it down on a list- this year we were going to get a picture of the four of us and a picture of all the family.
It was on a list! Did it happen? Not a chance.
Oh well, finally, after a long weekend of too many gifts, too much food, lots of fun, and some good laughs, we headed back home.
We got to celebrate Christmas Day with the Vuongs at our house. There were lots of hugs and kisses. Kiley learned early on, that the more kisses she gave to Grandma Wa, the more gold coins she was able to garner for her new piggy bank.
So now Jaxon has a Cash Cow and Kiley has a Piggy Bank. They've already started saving for our next trip.
Or, ahem, I mean college.
I hope you all had a very happy holiday with whatever family traditions you hold dear to you- whether they are new ones, old ones, or those that have evolved along the way. For our traditions are what we make of them and what we remember of our lives, without even thinking about it....
“I
don't know much about history, and I wouldn't give a nickel for all the history
in the world. History is more or less bunk. It is tradition. We want to live in
the present, and the only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history
we make” - Henry Ford
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