Some Christmas Traditions

Since Landon was a toddler we decided not to "do Santa." (I'm struggling with how else to say it? Hmm...) Anyhow, we chose to wake up on Christmas morning and celebrated Jesus' birthday instead. (I don't have anything against the jolly ol' guy...but we just didn't want him to get the attention on Christmas morning.) My sister-in-law, Jeanette, made us these adorable stockings 10 years ago, so I tossed our store bought ones and have used these ever since. (She makes Martha Stewart look un-crafty! Is that a word?) I also made Jesus one (...but, it's definitely not as cute!). So every Christmas morning we put a birthday gift in His stocking - then the following year we read the gift and discuss if Jesus was blessed by the gift (promise) we made. It's a nice way to hold each other accountable for our promises to Him.
If you care to visit my post last Dec., I shared about my 'favorite' Christmas tradition.
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' ~ Jesus

Of course the Ginger Bread House....(P.S. I buy the kits after Christmas, usually for a buck or two....and freeze them for the next year - it works great.)

Payton and I making tamales alone for the first time. (That's my daughter, a Red Sox t-shirt on while cooking. I have a picture of her as a toddler, holding her brother's snake with high-heels.)