holiday traditions.

it's beginning to look a little like Christmas around here...

we spent the last warm day hanging garland and white lights on our porch this afternoon.

and H and i have been rooting through our decoration bins all weekend!

we'll also be hosting our first Christmas dinner in our new home... i can hardly wait!

as kids grow, holidays become more and more fun.

this year, we're introducing a few new traditions...

1. elf on the shelf
what better a way to ensure good behavior for santa than an elf-spy who moves each night to a new spot. i know H will get a kick out of this and it'll be fun for us too!

2. home-made advent calendar

i'll be finishing up the details on our DIY advent calendar this week & the countdown will soon be on. tucked in each pocket will be a family activity or treat... {unwrap and read a holiday story, family game night, holiday movie night, etc.} for us to reveal each day

3. christmas eve jams and story

this isn't a new tradition in our family, but it will be for our sweet hazel. each year, our girls open a new pair of jammies on the eve of their birthday & christmas... along with a new storybook.

4. a month of Christmas

we'll be visiting special places around the city to soak in the spirit of Christmas. on our list so far... Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park, Zoolights, community holiday markets, and a drive through Spruce Meadows

5. sweets & goodies galore.

H has a mini obsession with gingerbread men right now... or "cookie mans" as she likes to call them. building a gingerbread house is on our list along with so many other holiday goodies i want to bake & make for us and our neighbors.

what are your favorite Christmas traditions?