First Book of Christmas

One of our favorite Christmas traditions we started after Millie Janalee was born is our 25 Books of Christmas.  Each year, I wrap up 25 Christmas books and keep them in a basket.  They are the same books every year, unless they get a new book as a gift or something.  This year we kept them under the tree.  Each night leading up to Christmas, the kids open one gift and we read the book together.  It is a sweet time.  This year we found out it is also a great lesson to teach a 3.5 year old that one gift is plenty to be thankful for. Ha!

Each year we always have gifts left unopened due to crazy holiday schedules and late nights out or traveling.  But as many nights as we are home and able, we open a book and Russ reads to the children.  They love it!  Smith was very into it!  He rarely sits still long enough to read a book, but he was interested for the most part.  And it is so sweet to watch their excitement.

Russ was also pretty excited about it each night.  When he worked nights, he would get ready early and ask me to have the kids in their pajamas and ready to read by 7:30 so he could read a book to them before he left.

I was pretty much a bystander.  And that's okay.  I loved my view...

Growing up, I have the most precious memories of Christmas traditions.  Many I still go home to enjoy.  It is very important to us to create a season of memories that our children smile back on.  And that bring them back home when they are older!  Most importantly, it is a time when we catch ourselves just being more intentional about spending time together.  And I soak it in every year.

Yes, Christmas is crazy.  This year was as busy as we have ever been during the holidays.  It was also our first Christmas AT HOME!  We didn't have lots of traveling and packing to do.  It felt good to exhale and enjoy our new life.  In our home.  With our family of four.

What traditions do you have at Christmastime?