Thursday, December 15, 2005

Christmas 2005 - The Card

This is the picture that I used for this years Christmas card! 

I am sending it out to all of you in j-land to wish you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Each year we take the picture in front of the fireplace, it is amazing as I look back over the years at how the kids have grown!

Our tradition is that they get new pj's and wear them just for the picture and then again for Christmas Eve.  It is just one of the holiday traditions we do with the kids.

The tree is up and the house is decorated.  The outside is decorated too.  I decorate just about every room inside the house.  The foyer, the living room, bathroom, dining room, kitchen and family room.  The kids also have decorations in their bedroom.  Is it any wonder I get tired from all of this?

This year the kids were a big help with carrying things up and down stairs and boxes up from the basement.  My hubby and dad do all the outdoors stuff, but the kids even helped with that, too. 

Christmas is at my house.  We will have between 18 and 22 people.  6 are kids!  The number fluctuates a bit because we have open invites to some family that may or may not come. 

We do it very casual.  The first couple of years I tried to do a big sit down dinner like my mom used to do while I was growing up, but I really didn't enjoy it.  Now, everything is buffet style and casual for quick cleanup!  It is wonderful because everyone gets more time visiting. 

This year I wouldn't be able to do it at all if it wasn't for my parents.  They will be a huge help.  My hubby will be too, but he will deal with the kids, and I know my parents will help with the food and preparation and the 'details'. 

We also have a Christmas Eve tradition of going out to dinner just the seven of us, the kids, my parents, hubby and myself, after church.  After dinner, we put the carrots outside for the reindeer, and the cookies and milk our for santa.  I like to read 'T'was the Night Before Christmas' to the kids, and then we get them off to bed.  Believe it or not, they usually fall asleep pretty fast!

Then, my parents, my hubby and myself open our gifts.  It is nice and quiet, and we enjoy that.  Then comes the preparation for Santa.

So, I hope you enjoyed reading about our holiday traditions and plans.  I am very much in the holiday spirit today!

Be well,
Dawn

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

What wonderful Traditions! Thanks for sharing ~Brandie

Anonymous said...

nice photo cute kiddos:)

Deb

Anonymous said...

My spirit is lagging.  Maybe it will help that you shared yours with me.  Happy Holidays, Pennie

Anonymous said...

what wonderful traditions you have, Dawn! The kids really look forward to them,don't they? I know if we deviate a little from ours from year to year I hear about it and mine is 16 years old.

I'm glad you are in a festive mood today! Enjoy the season and the time with your family and friends :)

betty

Anonymous said...

What great traditions you have !! And the picture came out great.
Have  a good night

Ellen

Anonymous said...

A Carolin' Thru Jland ~The First Noel~

Happy Holidays!
Gem :-D

http://journals.aol.com/libragem007/JournallyYours/entries/1056

Anonymous said...

I love the pic!

Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

Anonymous said...

Dawn,
Your children are so beautiful.  The picture is lovely.  Yes, they do grow up quickly.  We already had this conversation.  Hugs, Lu

Anonymous said...

Your children are beauitful, and I like the tradition you carry out with the 'fire place
photo' it's fun to look back-thank GOD FOR PARENTS! lol I love it when I see people in the holiday spirit, cause I just can't deal with scrooge's this year! It only comes once a year, and it should remain special.~Diane~

Anonymous said...

Dear Dawn,
thank you for the photo! Your kids are great!
hugs, natalie

Anonymous said...

It sounds like it is going to be a wonderful Christmas.  I love the pj/picture tradition.  We take our picture on Christmas Eve and it is funny to compare the difference in them from the time they were little till now when they are grown!  Lelly

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Christmas Card.  I'm still working on mine.  

I hope your dinner turns out well, that's a lot of folks to feed!

Chris
http://inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings.blogspot.com/
http://www.bigoven.com/~swibirun

Anonymous said...

Don't worry about commenting. Get to feeling better. My thoughts are with you ~Mary

Anonymous said...

it sounds like you have a wonderful family.
I love it that you even decorate the bedrooms!
Christmas is a lot of work, but don't we love it!
Marti

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