Christmas Traditions

We have a tradition in our family that the Christmas tree goes up on the first weekend of December, i know that is early for some but when you have little ones you cant help but get caught up in the magic and as Sophie has now reached 4 and magic is well and truly the part of the celebrations, where as Ella is only 6 months and she is a wonder at the twinkle  and shiny.  The girls also have their own Christmas at the top of the stair where no adults are allowed to dress it or eat the chocolates off of it, Sophie gets 1 chocolate a day after school.  The Christmas eve and Christmas morning presents are also found here away from the main bulk of gifts, more on that later. 

I am so behind this year normally the Christmas cake and pudding is made, all the cards written out and ready for posting (probably posted to by now) lots of the food shop done the meat ordered the gravy made and frozen ready to take a little pressure off the day. Presents bought and wrapped, but i have done nothing at all and actually find it an achievement to have got a load in the washer and the dishes done each day, due to Ella still not sleeping through the night and having to boobie feed her.  So i am deciding to sleep when she sleeps and enjoy those moments of peace and cuddles  as she snores next to me rather than be the domestic bod i normally am.

We have so many little traditions in our home like daddy always chooses, prepares and cooks the meat over the holidays and we are having goose this year, and he always makes a mean batch of honey smoked bacon wrapped chipolata.  Daddy is the one who always puts the star at the top of the tree, a great honor but mostly because us shorties cant reach to the top of our massive tree.

Christmas eve there is always a gift the night before at the kids tree a survival pack normally consisting of new PJ, slippers and toothbrush and paste, bubble bath flannel etc which Sophie changes into before putting up her stocking, over the fireplace.  Laying out the mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Ruldof then going out to the garden to sprinkle magic reindeer dust so Santa can find his way to our home.

In the morning stockings are opened in mum and dads bed then another gift is found under the kids tree a box with a new dress and shoes as we like to dress up for the day and the girls all wear dress and daddy wears a nice shirt and trousers.

We also have a Christmas Elf and now Sophie is big enough to understand the tradition this year she will take the position for the first time, she is the one that decided today the tree must go up ! and choose what fun things we do in getting ready for the holidays like make the door wreath, bake some cookies or mince pies, ice the Christmas cake, making cocktails non alcoholic for littleuns but lots of alcohol for biguns etc. More importantly she will have the all important job of handing out the presents on Christmas day which we do in about 3 stages over the day to break it up and have a bit of time enjoy some of the bits we opened so far.   

This year we have provided the Christmas Elf with an all magnificent Christmas hat to show how important the Christmas elf is this is no ordinary hat this hat not only sing and dances whilst on the wearers head but is a sure way to drive any adult crazy if played more than three times.

I have to say we really do love Christmas, what Christmas traditions do you have?