Christmas Traditions...New and Old!

One of the things that makes Christmas time so magical for me is all of the special traditions that go along with this time of year! We have a ton of special Christmas traditions from when we were young, and it has been exciting to introduce and start some of these with Sophia this year. Some traditions are NEW(to us)...and some traditions are OLD(to us). But they are all special!! 

An OLD tradition...

Making a gingerbread house!

This is just a fun little activity that Damian and I look forward to doing together each year! 

Some years we turn it into a boys vs girls competition with Brit and Cody!

A NEW tradition...

Going to The Zoo Lights!

Sophia has really enjoyed looking at the lights everywhere this year, so we decided to take her to the zoo to check out the animals and the light display one evening. It was alot of fun!

An OLD tradition...

Christmas cookie baking day!

Every year Bailey and I have a FULL day of cookie baking. We each pick 3 Christmas cookie recipes, double the recipe, and then BAKE the day away!! It is such a fun day, and we both walk away this enough cookies to get us through all the parties and get togethers for the whole holiday season! 

A NEW tradition...

Building Christmas presents for our kiddos on Christmas Eve Eve!

An OLD tradition...

Monkey bread on Christmas morning!

For the last few years I have made monkey bread to eat while we are opening gifts on Christmas morning. It is soooo good!! 

This is the recipe I use! 

An OLD tradition...

Making a gingerbread house with Anna!

I have made a gingerbread house every year with Miss Anna since she was like 3 years old! It is a super fun tradition that I know both of us look forward to each year! Next year Sophia will be able to help us...kinda! Ha!

A NEW tradition...

Candy Cane Lane on Christmas Eve!

We decided to start this tradition this year and it was alot of fun! It brought back a lot of memories of looking at Christmas lights when I was a kid!

An OLD tradition...

Watching ELF on Christmas Eve in our Christmas pj's!

ELF is one of our favourite Christmas movies. And we always save watching it for Christmas Eve!

An OLD tradition...

Boxing Day shopping to STOCK UP on wrapping paper and ribbon for the next year!

An OLD tradition...

Ukrainian Christmas Feast!

Usually we would have our BIG Ukrainian FEAST on Christmas Eve...however this year we had it on Boxing Day! It is an AMAZING meal that leaves you feeling FULL for at least a week!! I remember going to my Grandmas house every single year for this meal and loving it!!

Sophia got in on the perogy action this year!

A NEW tradition...

A new ornament for Sophia!

Damian and I have decided that each year, both of us will buy a special ornament for Sophia. This year I bought her a cute pink elephant ornament, and Damian bought her a cute cupcake ornament! We look forward to collecting all of these ornaments for her through the years, and then when she is older, she will have a tree full of special ornaments!

I look forward to keeping up with all of our current traditions 

and adding in a few new ones each year!

 It really is the BEST time of the year!!

Christmas table decor...That won't break the bank!!

Now I must begin this post with stating that I had FULL intentions of getting this posted BEFORE Christmas, so it would be of some help and inspiration to you all for this year...however LIFE got in the way ha! And that clearly did not happen!! Soooo...just think of this post as a REALLY early start, in planning for NEXT Christmas! Ha! YOUR WELCOME!! 

This year we were hosting Christmas dinner, so I did what every person on this planet does when they are hosting a party these days...I searched Pinterest for ideas!! I found a TON of beautiful and very extravagant table settings all over Pinterest...however I did not have the time, nor the budget to make those types of table settings happen! Thus I headed to some of my favourite local stores searching for some inspiration and good deals. 

And I found exactly that!! I present to you....

Christmas Table Decor...that won't break the bank!

My first find were these paper place mats from Target! They were $4 for a package of 12. I loved the colours and pattern, and it served as the inspiration for the rest of my table items! I decided to stick with green, black, and gold, as well as the red cranberries.

Next, I found these charge plates at the Dollar Tree for $1.25 each!

 I knew they would look great with our black dishes.

Then I found these chalkboard tags at Michael's. They were $1.50 for a package of 2! I knew they would make the perfect 'placecards' for each place setting! Plus we all know my love for chalk art...AND they can be reused over and over again!!

I found these cranberry 'picks' at the Dollar Tree for $1.25.

I cut the twine off of the chalkboard tags and stuck 3 cranberry picks through the hole on each tag. I used my chalkboard pen to write everyones name.

Next, I used some ribbon from Michael's to create the 'napkin ring' portion, and hot glued it to the cranberry wire. 

I bought a small garland from the Dollar Tree as well for $1.25, and cut off a small piece and stuck it in between the napkin and the chalkboard tag for an added POP of green!

I kept the centre piece VERY simple as well! 

I bought 3 round vases from Dollarama...2 small ($1.50 each) and 1 large ($3). I bought a large bag of fresh cranberries ($2.99) and 10 white carnations (99 cents each) to create the flower arrangement! The small green candles and cranberry 'wreathes' also all came from the Dollar Tree and were all $1.25 each! 

The flower arrangement was EASY PEASY!! 

Just place the cranberries in the round vase. Fill it with water. Add the flowers and arrange how you so wish. Add in some greenery if you so desire! And VOILA! 

I was very pleased with how our table turned out and loved it even MORE because it was so easy (and cheap!!) to put together!! I hope it gives you a little bit of inspiration for the next time you want to set the table for a special meal!

Christmas 'Wrap Up' 2014

It's hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone already! There is always so much 'hype' for months leading up...and then POOF its done and gone for another year! I was especially looking forward to Christmas this year, as it would be extra special with it being Sophia's first Christmas!And it really was!!

Our little Santa baby!

In years past we would often go to church with Damian's family on Christmas Eve. However this year we decided that would would like to start our own family traditions. We decided that our Christmas Eve family tradition would include a light supper/appies, getting Sophia dressed in her Christmas Jammie's, going to Candy Cane Lane to look at lights, and then coming home to watch a Christmas movie. Our evening turned out perfect and we all had a great time!!

We had some dinner at my parents house, and Sophia got to open her 'Christmas Eve' gift from Grandma and Grandpa!

She also got a special stuffed animal from Uncle Kellen on Christmas Eve!

Damian and I also opened up all of our gifts from my parents since we wouldn't see them Christmas morning!

Our little family on Christmas Eve! 

Sophia was all dressed in her Jammie's and ready to go look at lights!

Flashback to Christmas Eve 2013...I was almost 6 months preggo!

We left my parents house and headed to Candy Cane Lane!

 I hadn't been to Candy Cane Lane for YEARS so I was really looking forward to it!

 All bundled up and ready to go...

Sophia was pretty bundled up and only had her little eyes poking out!

 But she did like looking at the bright lights!

Modelling her Christmas jammies right before bed time!

After Sophia was in bed we changed into our Christmas pj's, made some hot chocolate, and settled in to watch Elf!

Admiring our Snowman Tree while we watched our movie!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!

Sophia had a quick PJ change so she could wear her 'Let's open presents' pj's from Uncle Cody and Aunty Brit!

She LOVES Christmas trees!!

Our stockings were hung...

SANTA CAME!

Sophia was very intrigued about her very own stocking!

Although she preferred the bows and ribbons over anything! Ha!

She LOVES shakers!!

Damian's turn to open his stocking!

And then my turn to open my stocking!

I LOVE big calenders! 

Make fun of me all you want...but I will ALWAYS have a paper calendar!

 No matter what kind of technology is out there! 

Playing with her stocking gifts!

 Damian and I gave Sophia her very first PINK car!

Testing out her new ride...

Me sportin' my new Tiffany sunglasses, new scarf, and new sweater!

 I was one spoiled lady!!

This little lady was also SLIGHTLY spoiled!!!

After we opened all of our gifts, it was time to get the turkey in the oven! 

This was our big 18 pound turkey! YUM!

Then it was time to get Sophia in her special Christmas dress! 

This girl makes my heart melt!!!

Then it was time to open MORE presents when all of our families arrived!

I'm fairly certain we could open a toy store in our home now! Sophia is one lucky girl!!

Sophia was REALLY getting into the unwrapping...

When all of a sudden she LAUNCHED herself into the side of our coffee table head first!! Good thing this girlie is TOUGH!! Needless to say we all had a slight panic ha ha! 

But she was OK!!

Working on the turkey!

Yahoo we didn't ruin the turkey! I'll drink to that!! ha!

Damian carving up the bird! And wearing my fancy Christmas 'baking' apron!

Christmas dinner is served! SO yummy!!

Sophia enjoyed her Christmas dinner as well! 

She had turkey for the first time and really enjoyed it!

Kellen, Damian, and I sat at the 'kids table'!

Not sure why they are holding hands...lol

After dinner we played a super fun game that I found on Pinterest! Everyone had to draw a picture, while I dictated to them the directions. It was pretty entertaining to watch, but the pictures themselves were even more entertaining!!!

Beautiful...

Then it was time for a story from the Grandma's, and then bed!

We had the most wonderful Christmas yet! It really was magical having Sophia be part of everything with us. I remember being pregnant at Christmas last year and thinking about having a 7 month old with us for the following Christmas. And here we are! And it was even better than I imagined! The only thing that was missing was having Cody and Brit home with us!! This was the first Christmas EVER that we haven't all been together, so that was very different...but we did get to face time with them and celebrate that way!! The countdown to May, when they will both be home with us, is on!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love, Kelsey, Damian, & Sophia