Christmas Shopping season

I may have went a little overboard with Christmas for Garett.

I was raised in a home that loved Christmas. The level that my parents brought it to even surprised Tyler when he joined our family, and he has grown to love Christmas as much as us. However, I may have even went a little wild. I went to a big toy expo yesterday. 'Nuff said. I went with the intention of picking out two or three larger items, since I had already bought 9 mid-sized presents and we did not want to go too crazy since Garett is way too young to even open his own gifts (I'm not diluted enough to think otherwise, don't worry). I do want him to have nice pictures to look back on and know we always did put this much effort into Christmas and that mommy and daddy and Santa were always good to him. I think my point will be proven, he has lots of gifts to "open" hahah.

Gifts are all well and good, but Christmas is about tradition and memories (aside from the religious aspect, and the whole being with your loved ones on the holidays thing ). So we have decided on a few traditions to start with our own little family :) 

1) we have his elf on the shelf ready to go-- while I won't get to place him in all the fun, devilish situations he gets into while Garett sleeps this year, we will take a picture of him this year with Garett so he knows he's been around watching him forever :) I can't wait for the elf on the shelf tradition in coming years! 

2) before I had Garett, I saw on Pinterest and decided YES to the idea of wrapping 24 books and each night of December before Christmas, we unwrap one book of his choosing to read as a family before bed (or just one of us if its a busy night). LOVED story books as a kid, so I can only Assume every kid loves reading a new book before bed.

3) A Christmas Eve gift that is always new pjs, a new movie and his favourite snack. I will take a picture of him with his gifts/wearing his pjs every year and put them in a little flip book album :) 

After we watch our new movie, we will put out the cookies, carrots for the reindeer and milk!

These will be our three main little traditions that I hope he (and any other children we may have) will look back on fondly and carry on with his own family one day!

What are your traditions with your kids/growing up that you remember??

Today, Garett would not nap like usual-- I put him in his crib and he passed out--been sleeping for 1.5 hours now --what a good, independent boy !:)/:( I managed to do some laundry, the dishes, sweep, mop and steam mop the kitchen and living room, watch some of my cooking show, ate breakfast, do some online shopping, and relax here to write this! The things I can accomplish in an hour and a half now astounds me lol.

Tonight is just going to be a relaxing evening :) 

Hope everyone has a good Thursday !!

I will leave you with a few pictures of us dressed up as a family for Halloween since I never got to share us all together !