Christmas 2013: The Polar Express

For the last two years, I have wanted to make it to our train depots "The Polar Express" event. It is a free event but has limited spots. This event "sells" out in like two hours! Anyhow, this year we had the hook up (one of my student workers- thanks Mo!) with someone who works there and were able to get tickets. Yay!

So Mr.Pate, Uncle D, Griffin and I all headed to the train depot last night. Griffin had some cute pj's and elmo slippers on. I just couldn't get over how cute and "little boy" he looked. The baby stage really is over. Wow. He loved getting his own ticket punch, and the cookies. Once they took us outside to get in the train, Griffin yelled "All Aboard!" How cute??!!

We got to walk thru a really old train, which was neat to see, and sit in the back dining car. Then they read The Polar Express to us. Griffin is young, so I do not think he listened to a word of that, but he was quiet and taking it all in. Then on our way out he got a bell from Santa. He sat right on his lap and smiled, surprisingly. Overall, great night! And our friends Tanner and Easton came too, which made it even more fun!



























Pardon the demonic eyes in the following two ;-)














- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Christmas 2013: Our Elf & Angel Week One

We also started our "Elf & Angel Adventures" this week. Gammy Becky got us our Elf on the Shelf, and he even came from THE New York City Macy's! Somehow that seems even more Christmasy, ha! We also have a Christmas Angel (google it, it's an alternative to elf on the shelf that tried to promote serving etc) this year, so we have two friends who are always together.

After spending WAY too much time and thought pinning ideas on how to implement elf on the shelf or Christmas Angel or kindness elves, I was a bit overwhelmed. I am just not a creative person, nor am I a go-getter that gets motivated enough to get over the top ideas completed. I needed simple. And Griffin is only 2 & 1/2. So I did not do a letter announcing why these new friends showed up or what their mission was. I just thought that would go way over Griffin's head, and I really just wanted this to be something fun for him. Instead, I just told Griffin that we had some new friends hiding in our living room that he had to find.
Then I told him he had to give them names. So far our angel is always called Angel. Our elf has been Batman, Captain America, Steve, Fred, and Wreck It Ralph. He absolutely loves it. I have just moved them to random places each night, nothing fancy, but he loves it. Yay for a fun and easy tradition! Now if I can just remember to move them each night...















- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Christmas 2013: Jesse Tree

We started our Jesse Tree this week. It's a tradition Mr.Pate and I started several years ago, and one of my favorite things we do. This is our first year including Griffin. So we explained what the tree was and that we would be adding an ornament each night. Each ornament will help us learn about what happened in the bible leading up to Jesus being born.

We asked Griffin what Christmas was. His response was "Christmas! Ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas!" Which was such a cute and spirited answer, but it shows you how quickly we can lose the "reason for the season". We don't even push Santa, and Griffin already associates the holiday with him. (Disclaimer: we are not an anti-Santa family. I get peoples reasons for each of the different ways to handle Santa at Christmas and they all are valid and good. But we determined we wanted to have Santa around as a fun aspect of Christmas, but we are not going to push him as a real character who our kids have to be good to get presents from.) It was very fun to teach him that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, bc Griffin loves birthdays. He walks around singing happy birthday all the time.

Anyhow, we have a devotion book that has a devo on each ornament for the tree, so we read that together. The first night's was on sin, so we got to emphasize what sin is and who saves is from that. How precious it is to hear our son answer "Jesus!" when we ask questions.


(If you're interested in doing a Jesse Tree, there are TONS of free devos and ornaments online. We bought plain ornaments and drew the pictures on them, super good drawings haha!)

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Christmas 2013: Happy St.Nicks Day

Gammy Becky is a world traveler. Usually every year, she and her friend Helen take a trip to somewhere amazing. This past summer, it was Holland. Well St.Nicholas Day is a big deal there, and Gammy Becky gave Griffin a "St.Nicholas Day Celebration Kit" for Christmas, and last night we had our "Sinterklass" party.

She made a little booklet that taught us about the tradition and how they celebrate.



And he got his very own wooden shoe (The children put their shoes out on night before St.Nicholas Day and fill them with hay and carrots for Sinterklass's horse. Then Sinterklass leaves them goodies in their shoes.)


Our set has a little brush that tucks in the shoe for cleaning, and Griffin decided it was for brushing his hair.


Often during their Sinterklass celebrations, the kids have a treasure hunt for presents. So Gammy had given us several gifts wrapped up and we hid them around the living room for Griffin to find. He LOVED this.








Then we opened them all and read more about the traditions. There were some yummy treats we got to eat...


And some cute ornaments we got to hang (this ones elmo).


And a book and a miniature set of wooden shoes, and chocolate in the shape of our first initials. Yummy!

It was such a fun gift and we enjoyed getting to have a little piece of Holland in our living room.

Here is some more info on the tradition via Wikipedia:

"The tradition of Saint Nicholas Day, on 6 December (19 December in most Orthodox countries), is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived in part from the Dutch Sinterklaas.... Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and 5 December, before going to bed, children put their shoes, traditionally next to the fireplace chimney of the coal-fired stove or fireplace (or in modern time close to the central heating radiator). They leave the shoe with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water nearby "for Sinterklaas' horse", and the children sing a Sinterklaas song. The next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes.

Typical Sinterklaas treats traditionally include hot chocolate, mandarin oranges, pepernoten, letter-shaped pastry filled with almond paste or a chocolate letter (the first letter of the child's name made out of chocolate), speculaas (sometimes filled with almond paste), chocolate coins and marzipan figures."


Happy St.Nick's Day!

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Some seriously good dance moves

From a recent "Just Dance" time at church...

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone