Holidays

I have a couple things to get for L for Christmas, and then I'm done with shopping for the kids. I don't have anything yet for DH -- or anyone else I just realized. I'd like to be finished by the first week of December, so I will be scouring the ads during the next week and trying to find USEFUL gifts for those on my list.

I am bummed, but we won't be attending Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Gardens again this year. We had done it for 7 years in a row, but the cost became prohibitive. It was a holiday tradition that I enjoyed, but Zoo Lights is a better bargain and enjoyed more by the kids anyway. We usually attend Zoo Lights on the last night (early January), but since we won't be attending Luminarias this year (usually attended early December) maybe we'll go earlier this year.

One of my favorite traditions is having an old-timey portrait taken. DH & I have been doing them since our honeymoon and I realized the last one we did was in August of 2007. I think we'll make that a priority over the next couple weeks.

I haven't shopped yet for Thanksgiving! I'll do that this weekend and stock up on flour and sugar for holiday baking before the prices rise after Thanksgiving. (Did you know that traditionally the best prices on flour and sugar are right before Thanksgiving?) We're having a traditional meal this year -- turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, cranberry pie. Nate wants corn on the cob, so I will look to see if any is available.

DH usually puts up the lights the day after Thanksgiving. Holiday lights are one of my favorite Christmas traditions! We won't be adding anything new this year, and we had to retire a bunch of stuff last year -- but it'll still be pretty.

I need to create our Christmas card and get those ordered and mailed.

I need to wrap the Christmas books. I have a box of books that I wrap for Advent. We unwrap and read a book from the basket each day. There are some old favorites in there, plus I try to add a new one or two each year. I don't think I picked up any new ones after the holidays last year, so I'll keep my eye out for a new one this year. The boys love this tradition, and I'm guessing L will as well.

I purchased the Playmobil Advent Calendar Xmas in Forest a while back (at Target, for less than $20 - I don't know why it's so much more right now?) and have to put it together soon. I almost bought the LEGO City Advent Calendar 2008 one this year, but decided to stick with Playmobil (3rd year I think). I'm glad I did, because N said to me the other day "And, we'll have a Playmobil Advent calendar, right?"

My sis and I have to look at calendars and find a weekend for holiday baking. We need to put together a list and decide what we're making this year.

This post became a mash of stuff, didn't it? I was thinking of tradtions, and then threw in some of my to-do's on top of it. What are some of your traditions for the holiday seasons? I know we have more, just need to think on it!