Every morning I take in the lights on the tree which are a quick glance to your left as you go down the stairs. Or the greens strung along the stairs. As soon as I’m downstairs, second to getting a pot of coffee going (hazelnut!), I put a Christmas playlist on our sound dock. Christmas music is streaming, quite literally, all day long. Sometimes Michael Buble, other times Narada Nutcracker. Oh, and please don’t forget the Little Women soundtrack. It’s very deserving of a spot on your Christmas playlist. If we’re in the car, the Christmas music station. Parker has become so accustomed to, his favorite, Frosty the Snowman, that he tears through the first floor looking for his police hat for the line he led them down the streets of town right to the traffic cop and he only paused a moment when he heard him holler, “Stop!” On stop, undoubtedly, his hand is out motioning stop and he has the proudest smirk on his face. We’ve made sugar cookies and set up our nativity scene. Parker gets a little piece of chocolate from our Trader Joe’s countdown calendar. And William and Lindsey dress, one by one, our Advent calendar until all the pieces are out.
Parker runs around the house, searching for Jack. We’ve altered the rules of this tradition. The whole “he’s reporting your behavior and you can’t touch him,” being a bit creepy to a toddler. It’s really just a hide and seek game in this house. I can’t say I get terribly creative with Jack, the pinnacle being when I had him spell out “hi!” in Cheerios on the kitchen table one morning. Parker ate each one until they were gone. And sometimes, Jack is still in the same place as he was the day before so I quickly dash around finding a new place for him. We’ve watched Elf three times so far and Steve said he’s adopting, “Son of a Nutcracker!” when he gets hurt. We watched White Christmas too. That’s always a favorite, especially the dancing scenes (and this one!). Steve and I have gone out on dates (two in the past few weeks! Huge!) and I order red wine which is something I really only do during the colder months and always feels cozy.
And the other night, I came down to Love Actually already in the DVD player and Steve curled up on the couch waiting for me, a huge fire going in the fireplace. As two people who sometimes retire to their respective places in the evenings (him doing work, me doing work), it was a treat. I’ve already started wrapping presents, having adopted a bit of a theme with my wrapping this year. Don’t worry, I’m eye-rolling at myself too (red, brown, and red and white striped!). Parker and I read this book
every night before bed (since getting it last week, anyway. Thank you Sara!) Parker is wearing fleece two-piece pajamas, the sort that are collared with buttons up the front, and they’re covered in snowmen (his Frah-ee pajamas; translation: Frosty pajamas). He runs around the house, looking like such a little boy, walking with such purpose. His feet slap the ground deliberately. It’s such a sweet noise. On really cold days, we spend much of it in pajamas. We got our first snow this past weekend and I shoveled the walk while Steve snow blowed, and Lindsey made snowballs with Parker. We came in and had tea. We still have It’s a Wonderful Life on the docket (Steve’s favorite) and I am so excited for Christmas morning. I’m really enjoying this too. The little days leading to the big day, the mornings where we dip apples in peanut butter and listen to music, where I take stock of what I’m giving to who, and where there’s hot soup on the stove in the evenings. This is all terribly sappy, but that’s just how I’m feeling these days.
And I really want to remember it all.
I loved reading this. I love seeing how other people take the time to slow down and really enjoy this season. You're doing it right. 🙂
You just painted the most cozy and perfect picture. I felt like I was there with you. Thank you. Reading this reminded me of the joy that this season is. I am going through something tough and seeing joy is always helpful! Merry Christmas.
Your family does Christmas right. It's all about being together, less about the stuff. I love Parker's reaction to Frosty the Snowman; it's still one of my favorite Christmas songs 🙂
I really loved this, I felt like I was right there in the moment. Keep savoring those sweet moments and enjoy this season, I know I am!!
Magical and perfect. Your house is so warm. Your traditions so kind and sweet. So glad you are enjoying this time of year 🙂
You just got your first snow? We had snow in AR before you? What is wrong with this picture?!
I love your little everyday traditions. I was so depressed yesterday because my husband and I got home so late that we went straight to bed and didn't even turn on the tree. 🙁
yes! took us awhile, but then we got hit… twice in a few days!
Sounds lovely. Every year after Christmas, I feel like I didn't listen to enough Christmas music. I'm just not good about having music on and it makes me sad! I also think I lack the proper "music equipment." I barely know what you mean by "sound dock." We are so behind in the world of music technology. How pathetic are we?! Help!
i love your posts, i have a 2 year old who is obsessed with frosty this year and the exact same part. As a fellow christmas lover this was a wonderful read : )
love that! our kiddos would get along.
i love how steve is the one that popped notting hill into the dvd player 😉 gives me hope that there's a man out there for me that'll do that!
he loves a romcom just as much as i do! they are out there!
Christmas is the BEST time to be sappy. Rock it out! Michael Buble Holiday Pandora is my jam right now too. : )
Can you come to our house and help me be more "Christmas-y"? Sounds so lovely and exactly like what you should be doing this time of year.
I really liked this one. How wonderful, sharing all of your Christmas traditions with Parker and taking time to slow down and enjoy the season fully. I love it.
I am not a blog "commenter" but I just cannot stop myself from telling you how much I enjoy your blog every time I read. And thank you for encouraging me to slow down and enjoy all the little things about this time of year.
This is incredibly sweet and the details sound great! My 2 year old has snow mam pjs front target that button up, two pieces, all grown up. My 3 year old went the rebel route with some planes of course! We are absolutely frozen up here in alaska which makes pajamas our daily uniform…alllll day!
so lovely, and a great way to remember! ♥
reading this made me feel cozy and happy. kind of like i felt at your house. wish i were up there, cozying up next to that fire and watching the snow fall with you guys.
Could not agree more about the Little Women soundtrack! I started listening to it automatically toward the end of November and didn't even stop to think about why…but those Christmas scenes are the best. That movie is also the reason "For the Beauty of the Earth" will always and forever be my favorite hymn 🙂
oh i love little women this time of the year (and every time of the year). what a good idea to listen to the soundtrack. happy christmas!
I love the dancing scenes in White Christmas – especially "Mandy," the best movie ever. Now I am promptly going to find my Little Women soundtrack from eons ago…thanks for the idea 🙂 Merry Christmas!