Only FOURTEEN days until Christmas! December flies by faster with each passing year. We have a Christmas Bucket List, and we're checking off as many things as we possibly can, but I still feel like we're rapidly running out of time!
Although we would love to accomplish everything and go to so many more events than we already do, there simply isn't enough time or money for a family this big. Perhaps it's because I'm pregnant with baby #5, and still struggling with morning sickness, but this year, I'm all about simplifying things. This year, we narrowed it down to our most favorite traditions of all!
CHRISTMAS BUCKET LIST FOR BIG FAMILIES
Kick off the season with a Family Christmas Tree Decorating Night.
DONE! This is usually the first thing we do every year. You can read all about this year's tradition HERE!
Watch as many Christmas movies and TV shows as possible!
Lexie and Grant made a master list last year (which I will hopefully be sharing). We've already made it through a few movies and shows, which is better than last year!
Welcome back an Elf on the Shelf with a North Pole Breakfast.
DONE! We did this over a week ago, and I will be sharing all about it this week!
Have fun with Elf Shenanigans and our Little Christmas Angel.
Lily is at an age where she is so excited about all things Christmas. She especially loves her little elf, Christopher, and gets so excited to see what he has been up to each morning! We also have a Little Christmas Angel who flies around spreading Christmas cheer!
Go on a drive to see Christmas Lights.
Although I'm hoping to make it to the big holiday lights drive-through event nearby, I'm not sure we will have time! I do hope we can pile into our SUV with blankets and hot cocoa, and listen to Christmas music as we drive around looking for awesome home light displays!
Visit Santa.
Halfway done! We visited the big guy at an event in our town, but Dylan wasn't with us. Every year, we visit Santa at his little house in the town where I grew up, so we will be heading there in the next two weeks!
Read Christmas books with the kids.
We have a giant basket of Christmas books next to our tree. Each night, I try to read one of them to Lily and Liam. Sharing our favorites with all of you is also on my To Do List!
Visit a Live Nativity.
We have a live nativity in our town, but we ALWAYS forget about it! It was over the weekend, and even though it was a balmy 19 degrees (HA!), we stopped by. I'm so glad we did! Liam's favorite Christmas decoration is our musical nativity that tells the story of the birth of Jesus, and he was in awe. Petting the goats, and sipping hot cocoa were hits, too!
Make Cornflake Christmas Wreaths.
My mom and I have been making these every single Christmas for many years! Now my girls can help. We're making them on Friday, and if I can get my act together, I will share next week!
Celebrate St. Nicholas Day.
My dad grew up celebrating St. Nicholas Day. It's a tradition we recently adopted! We don't do anything elaborate. The kids place a pair of shoes on our mantle the night of December 5th, and wake up to treats filling their shoes on December 6th!
Take Christmas pictures.
I took some Christmas photos so far, but nothing fancy enough for cards. Yet again, with four kids and one on the way, we have serious lack of time issues!
Send Christmas Cards.
Speaking of Christmas Cards, we try to send them out each year, but often fail miserably because I don't order them in time! This year, I think we're just going to print out a favorite photo, place it in a card, and mail the cards to our loved ones. I plan on enlisting the kids' help!
Listen to Christmas music each day.
As if we wouldn't!
Bake Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies.
This is one of our favorite traditions, but for some reason we didn't make any cookies last year! Next week, the kids and I will be baking!
Help my kids shop for their loved ones at school holiday shops.
Lexie, Lily and Liam already had their Holiday Shops at their schools. Although I don't get to shop with Lexie anymore (and it's her last year), I was able to shop with Lily and Liam. I loved seeing what they chose for their loved ones!
Buy Family Christmas Eve Pajamas.
We always did this for the kids, but last year, my husband and I joined them, and we snapped a family picture. It's one of our new favorite traditions!
Make a Christmas Craft and a Christmas Sensory Bin.
There are so many adorable Christmas crafts and sensory play ideas. I actually have a ton of them saved on Pinterest! I decided this is going to be my year for trying pins, so why not start now? We'll see what I come up with!
Go to Christmas performances.
If you have kids, Christmas performances just come with the territory. This Thursday, we have Lexie's chorus concert, and next Thursday, we will watch Lily's Christmas dance! If time ever allows, I would love to start taking the kids to see The Nutcracker, and hit up the symphony with my husband!
Give back in some way.
It's the season of giving, so we love to give back! This year, we're supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities!
Make gingerbread houses.
This is a staple on every Christmas Bucket List, but truthfully, I HATE it! Last year, I let go of my idea of perfection, bought the premade kits, handed them over to the kids, and ignored the mess! It was a much happier experience! (You could also make homemade cinnamon ornaments!)
Count down to Christmas!
My kids have been eagerly counting down on three different countdown calendars since we put up the tree! We truly can't believe how close it is!
Celebrating the season doesn't have to be expensive...JUST fun! After all, quality time spent together as a family is what matters the most. We love our favorite Christmas traditions, and this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
What would you add to the list?
Love this. This time of the year has so many fun things to do, but time really does fly and it's tough to fit them all in. I'm doing my best! I made Christmas toffee over the weekend and I hope to make some more cookies this winter.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Great list, I hope you get to have so much fun doing them!
ReplyDeleteThese are all great things to do with a big family!!! I love how much fun this time of the year brings.
ReplyDelete