Christmas Traditions

Since this is our first Christmas to be in our own house with Liam, I've been really excited to create some new family traditions. Some have worked, some haven't. Here's a review.

1. The Christmas Tree
I had envisioned going to a Christmas tree farm and cutting our own tree down. After an exciting day of phone calls with our lawyer, trying to sort out the baffling mess that our adoption agency has created for us (if you haven't heard the story, give me a call and I'll share), there was no time to go to the tree farm (Thanks agency!), so instead we went to Home Depot and selected a tree. As far as Liam was concerned, it was great because he got to ride in the race car shopping cart. I thought Liam would be more interested in decorating the tree--not really! There was a lot of crying involved and then it was bedtime and then Wade had to go to a meeting, so I decorated the tree by myself and watched a movie. Liam has been much more interested in the tree decorated and likes to look at the ornaments. We have one that looks a bit like the hot air balloons in the It's a Small World Ride at Disney World. If only you were here, you too could participate in picking Liam up to see the ornament (which he asks for at least 10 times a day) and then singing the It's a Small World song. Though it loses some of its fun on the 10th time, it is sweet.

2. The Advent Calendar
This was much more successful. Every year (this is the first exception), my grandmother sent me an advent calendar. My mom decided to carry on the tradition for Liam. She sent a great advent calendar that has little books for each day that can be hung on a tree. Wade got Liam his own miniature tree with lights on it and each day Liam hangs another book on the tree.




3. Holidazzle Parade and 8th Floor Display
A Minneapolis tradition---an electric light parade and a story display in the Macy's downtown. It's great! I remember going when I was little and lived in Minneapolis. If the ice tools haven't sold you on moving, perhaps this will. You know the winter is totally bareable when every weekend, scads of people line the streets despite the near zero temperatures to watch a parade. Liam was fascinated.

Note the wide-eyed look from Liam. He looked like this all night.

Here we are at the story display.

More traditions to come later. Happy Advent!