Christmas Eve: Family Gifts (Traditions)

12.24.2015

A few years ago, we solidified the tradition of taking time to open our immediate family's gifts from one another before we leave for church on Christmas Eve afternoon and well-before everyone comes over to our house for our annual Mexican Fiesta dinner. I have come to very much look forward to this time. As the children get older, we spend a lot of time talking with each one of them about how to pick out a great gift for those that they love. I asked if they were ready and this is what I got:

For Delaney, I got the kids to notice how she likes to sit on my counter each morning and talk to me about every single makeup I apply. She clearly loves makeup right now so we researched and found this completely pretend makeup that looks REAL! She was SO excited when she opened it. Mommy and Daddy gave her, her annual James Avery charm for her charm bracelet to remember one of her biggest events for the year. This year is was an AIRPLANE engraved with CO&CA memorializing her first two plane trips to Colorado and California this summer.

For Addison, I had Carter really think about things she liked or nice things we needed. He noticed that she had run out of her body spray/perfume she had so I took him to Sephora where a sales lady showed him a neat gift where Addison could get 5 sample of different perfumes and then it had a voucher inside so she could choose one and trade the voucher in for a full size bottle of her choice! Mommy and Daddy gave her 8th "Frog Prince," and this year accompanied it with a book. I don't think she really understands the meaning behind it right now but I am confident, one day she will appreciated the meaning.

For Carter, Addison really had free reign choosing his gift and about a week before Christmas, confidently came to me and said that he could really use some upgraded "Spy equipment." She said many of his gadgets had broken over the last 3 years and that together, they played with it nearly everyday. I thought she was thought out the idea very well! Mommy and Daddy continued the tradition started 9 years ago with Carter's 10th water globe. This year, it was one from The San Diego Zoo, remembering his very first trip to California and to one of the most amazing zoo's in the world.