Christmas 2013

I'm finding it so hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas Eve!  We are not traveling to NE this year, so we are having our very first Christmas in Texas in our own home and trying to figure out what traditions we'd like to have in our little family of four.  While I'm definitely sad to not be "home" for the holidays, I am happy to be starting our own family traditions (and happy to not spend 14+ hours in the car wih an infant who needs to eat every few hours!). 

Here's a little look at the Halvorsen family traditions we're starting this first Christmas in Texas:
Christmas Eve--Church at 4 (when our kids are older I'm hoping Christmas Eve day will involve volunteering of some sort) followed by dinner of soup.  Open one package (new jammies!) and watch a movie together (this year we're trying Polar Express).
Christmas--Open gifts from family and Santa in the morning.  We are going to follow this gift giving theme: one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing to wear and one thing to read.  This is my attempt to keep gifts in check :).  Then, one thing from Santa and stockings, of course :).  After that we'll hang out and spend time with Justin's family.

Of course, our traditions may change some throughout the years if we are traveling, or as we think of/find new things and as Brie and Caleb get older.  But, for now it has been fun to talk about what we did growing up and blend those things and new things into our own family traditions.  For this year, I'm really looking forward to seeing the magic of Christmas through Brie's eyes.

And, to make this post complete with a picture--here's Brie and daddy visiting the Santa at Justin's work party last Friday morning.  She was really excited to see Santa...until it was time to see Santa, then she wasn't so sure :).
And, if you want a smile, go watch this video of Caleb chatting it up with mommy :).