Some new things for our family this year we did and even a couple new traditions!
This year was very important for us to make special especially for my brother and my nieces, but as usual special turns into crazy but full of laughs with us...
We all as a family went to the North Pole Train in Fillmore when I say all I mean The Ramirez party of 6, Team Mackinnon ( my sister's family including Ian), and then Lee and the girls. We even ran into my cousin and his wife and kids very cool. It was definitely an experience..The kids were soooo excited they thought it was the best thing they got a pre-wrapped cookie and chocolate milk while us adults were wanting Hot Cocoa and Homemade Cookies. Bless there hearts they were so excited to see Santa, and sing Christmas Carols. It was an experience I can't really begin to explain it, the kids loved it and us adults laughed at all the things wrong with the whole picture but hey it was definitely a memory that will surely be in our heads forever.
Not sure if anyone does or has heard of Elf on the Shelf but this was a new tradition we have started in our house. We have little mini elf who the kids named "Mark". Mark is a magical Elf. He flies to Santa every night and gives a report on our home if all are in the Christmas spirit and if all are good or naughty. Then in the morning he returns but is located in a different area then the night before.. The boys so enjoyed finding Mark every morning. Such a great cute fun idea and really did help alot. Mark was I will admit used as a threatening tool to the kids now and then, but I really believe they did what they could to please him and Santa. He will be returning 2 weeks before Christmas next year.
I have to say we do not have very many ornaments at all on our tree, much less any real traditions. So this year I decided to take the boys to pick out an ornament, and we will do this every Christmas. Then when they move out they will have a starter set for there tree. The boys loved going to Hallmark and choosing a ornament it was alot of fun as a family to do this and I really look forward to next year.
The night before Christmas I let the boys make and decorate cookies for Santa. They had so much fun!
Then it was here. Christmas morning! Mondo worked the 2 days prior so I was really looking forward to him coming home that morning. he got home at 6 a.m. I woke up and we hung out for about 45 minutes till Nicholas came down. It was so neat to be the first one up for a change. We had Nicky go wake up his brothers, and then it began. I have to admit the boys were very good with opening and appreciating there gifts this year.
Then it was here. Christmas morning! Mondo worked the 2 days prior so I was really looking forward to him coming home that morning. he got home at 6 a.m. I woke up and we hung out for about 45 minutes till Nicholas came down. It was so neat to be the first one up for a change. We had Nicky go wake up his brothers, and then it began. I have to admit the boys were very good with opening and appreciating there gifts this year.
My brother and nieces came over after they woke up and we opened gifts with them. Then they went down to there house and we got cleaned up while we waited for them to come back and my Sister and her family to come over. Paul and his boyfriend Hemley came over such a joy to see them on Christmas Day.
This year we changed it up and decided to do Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. HAHAHAHA Weeeeellllllll... they came out fine after we had to go buy Propane, and I guess I bought the wrong cheese, that I think Lee will throw in my face for a long time! Then I forgot to cook the sides umm yeah so my wonderful family Christmas was kind of a disaster, but hey we were all together and we all still were smiling and hey I did bake so we had sweets :D The kids had a wonderful time all the cousins played with there new toys and just had a fun time together. I will be more prepared next year but I don't think they will allow me to have Christmas again......
