New Christmas Traditions

Remember last year when I was asking what Traditions I could start?! Well, we began a few, but I think those will be modified this year with a new baby!

We may not always be at our home for Christmas morning, since we will be going to Hilton Head each year for part of Christmas, but, when we are...here are some traditions we are hoping to keep with Christmas morning~

*Set out one bigger gift or something Harper really wants unwrapped from Santa. {i'm soooo excited about her santa gift this year!} After all the gifts are opened, we'll open the stockings.

*I'll make a big Christmas breakfast that morning.  I'm thinking of making breakfast souffle and tater tot casserole for this year since it will just be me and Brian eating! :)

*Christmas night, hold our "Happy Birthday Jesus" party! I want Harper to know the real reason for Christmas! I want to have a little party each Christmas Day night, but I've got to be realistic about it and what I will really have time to do, no matter where we are! So, I am thinking of reading this cute book, God Gave Us Christmas, that I bought this year, hopefully getting Harper a Little People Nativity set and reading about that story, and then having a cupcake and blowing out the candle as we sing! We've got a very fun table-top party banner already and some plates for the cupcakes!!

...and a few traditions for the Christmas Holiday Season...
*Along with our advent calendar that was mine made from my Nanny I showed here, I'm taking Joey's idea! I love this! I'm going to work on collecting Christmas and Nativity books this year. I will eventually collect 25 children's books...one for each day in December up until Christmas (I've already gotten 5 from the Scholastic sale!).  I'll wrap them up each year and Harper will get to pick out one and open it, and we will read it together as a family! I'm quite excited about this, as family time is the most important! Plus I won't have to think of little candies and things to fill up an advent box or chart! haha! I'm hoping to find some good deals on Christmas books after the holiday! Open to suggestions of book titles!

the bin is kind of uggs, but I tried to make it cricut-cute

*Brian and I get ornaments everywhere we go, and we get each other ornaments each year, but we will start purchasing a 'family' ornament each year and putting the date on it. Here's ours this year -

*Using Elf on the Shelf for a fun way to keep Harper interested in 'being good' for Santa and for the fun of the magic!  Can't wait to hide Elf all around the house (and get a better name for him! haha)

I'm really excited to spend Christmas day at our house this year! It will be the first time EVER, but I think it will be really fun to just be able to lay low all day with Brian and Harper!

I'm sure we'll be adding to traditions...I'd love to hear what you do!!