I just can't wait any longer! Thanksgiving is almost here, which means Christmas is almost here, which means it is time to breakout the old Christmas list from last year! I actually love Thanksgiving as well because I always feel grateful to gather with my family for a wonderfully large meal and give thanks for all of our blessings. But Thanksgiving is also the gateway to Christmas. For me, Christmas season begins the day after Thanksgiving and there is no better feeling than the one leading up to Christmas. Really, the anticipation and excitement of Christmas is better than the day itself!

Last year I created a Christmas Tradition list that I wanted to continue on/create with our new family. Here is what we had from 2010:

1. A visit to Santa-Did this every year with my family and every year we hung our yearly photos. Visiting my Grandma and Grandpa was the best because they hung all their children's photos, too.




2. A framed picture ornament with yearly photos.


* And thanks to Auntie Pauli, we already have a picture ornament frame for this year's photo!

3. Holiday baking-The Martha Stewart Sugar Cookie recipe is amazing! I bought the same cookie cutters I used every year as a kid!


*Last year we made gingerbread men with the boys and I hope to do that again this year!

4. Christmas Ships on Alki Beach-When we were little we could hear/see the caroling from our house. As soon as we heard/saw the ships, we would pile in my mom's van, drive the three blocks to Alki to listen/watch, and dream of all our Christmas wishes.



5. Snow fall at Pacific Place-The soap snow really does look real. Plus they have the best bell choir.

6. Buying/making a new ornament for Juliet.

7. Skiing in Idaho-Before J was even born she had her first Schweitzer sweatshirt (thanks to Grandma) and I have a good feeling there will be another one under the tree this year. Next year we plan on J making an appearance on the slopes and we cannot wait!



8. Driving around West Seattle looking at holiday twinkle lights.

9. Christmas mass-There is something special about Christmas mass and music. When I was a school girl at Holy Rosary I secretly wanted to play Mary in the annual Christmas mass production. It never happened, but I did love singing all those Christmas songs in the choir.

10. Decorating the tree while listening to Frank Sinatra's Christmas album. I had the tape as a kid and so of course I now have the CD.

11. Hanging my Great Grandmother's handmade Christmas ornaments. They were too fragile and special to hang on the tree, so we always hung them with ribbon from the windowsills. They look a lot like this and are the most beautiful ornaments:



12. Watching all the holiday movie classics.

13. A new Christmas book each year. I loved, adored reading ours when I was small. My favorite was a Rudolf one that actually played the song when you opened the book. I couldn' find it last year, so the search continues.



14. Heading downtown to view all the Christmas lights, gingerbread houses (Sheraton Hotel), and enjoy the famous hot chocolate cake from the Fairmont Hotel.



And here are the new Christmas Traditions for 2011!

15. A visit to Bellevue's Snowflake Lane. For the holiday season, the streets are decorated to match the feeling of the North Pole complete with snowfall, drummer boys, lights and everything else magical.

16. A holiday movie night for the girls of the family complete with hot cocoa, homemade marshmallows, and popcorn.

17. A visit to Leavenworth to see the Christmas Tree lighting.

18. The Christmas train which includes Santa and hot cocoa.

Last year we were able to do most items on the list and I hope to get to a lot this year as well. Of course some will have to wait until Juliet is a bit older, but I am so excited to get started! Christmas is by far my favorite time of year and having Juliet in our life only makes it better. Especially now that she can help decorate the tree and enjoy the twinkle lights. Now I have to start thinking about Christmas gifts for our little darling and our wonderful family!