Christmas 2015: Christmas Around the World

Every year, Gammy Becky visits another country. And for the last three years, she has brought back the Christmas customs from that country for Griffin. She types out a whole booklet explaining the traditions and customs of that country, and has gifts that relate to it. I love this so so so much. We have saved all of them, and though we have fun with them now, I cannot wait until Griffin is a bit older and can remember and really know them. How cool?! We always do them on December 5th, to celebrate St Nicholas Day because the first one she did was from Holland and we got a wooden shoe to put out :-)

This year was from Italy!



He got a pop up book of Pinocchio, which he was so excited about. Apparently we don't have any pop up books? Who knew.


And a book about Old Befana, the Christmas Witch.


And a Pinocchio ornament.


And Griffins favorite part every year, the platter of yummy treats! He was obsessed with the gold coins Gammy. Like obsessed. Haha!


Gammy makes his name in chocolate (and that is peppermint bark on bottom!).


And this year she gave us a chocolate orange, which is apparently really popular in Europe?! You have to hit the orange really hard to pop the pieces open, like really hard! But it was delicious!! We all loved it!


There were tons more yummy treats too. I am so thankful for this tradition. Thanks Gammy, we love you!!

To see one picture from last years (I was slacking with a newborn!), click here. And to see the first year, click here.

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Christmas 2015: Breakfast with Santa

We headed back to Chaney's Dairy Barn for Breakfast with Santa again this year. We chose to go on a Thursday night like we did last year, and I still loved how it worked out for us. It just seems less busy and less rushed than going in the morning.

Santa greeted us at the door, and Grady actually gave him a high five and seemed to like him. I was hopeful this encounter was going to go better than the Polar Express Santa went.

We sat upstairs to grub, and it was delicious like always.


Look at the joy on their faces!


Santa walks around and speaks to every child during the meal. It is great. Grady loved when Santa came to the table.





We made an ornament upstairs.


Then headed down to the main event... Santa!


Griffin did great and was super excited.


Grady however...





He wasn't having it! I think he liked the Santa but not being put in his lap. Not at all. Griffin continuing to smile picture perfect cracks me up! Haha


My boys are such studs :-)


The big cow is always a hit.











I just feel like this is a great, laid back way to see Santa. But as I said last year, I think our experience is better because we always go with the Peaches. So bring a friend and head out next year!

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Christmas 2016: Louisville

I had hoped for details, but here are pictures at least :-)























































(And lest we forget the great tree debacle of 2015... Where Sheldon and I were stuck under the tree holding it and Jan was throwing hair on us... Or something like that! Haha)








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Christmas 2015: Elf & Angel Visit Again

Our friends Elf & Angel visited again this year. I was not as good at documenting their crazy antics, but here are the visits I did get:






















































His favorites were the fridge, lunchbox, and marshmallow pyramid. Not pictured were a popcorn bowl, bowl full of marshmallows, and I am not sure what else. Haha

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