Day 9...12 Days of Adoption Christms

This time of year we are thinking about how all our christmases will be from now on. We are thinking about our childhood and the traditions we grew up with. Jason and I grew up with very different traditions. Jason grew up in catholic home and spent time at church during the holiday. The Burns family opens all their gifts on xmas eve, and only has what Santa brought to open on Christmas day. Which is becoming something we have to compromise on. In the Cowles home we only opened 1 gift, plus the one gift that had some new xmas pj's in them. Out stockings were left at the end of our beds and we were not allowed to wake our parents up till 8am, then we opened everything. We where usually done around 11, then watched a new movie then dinner.

We are very excited to create our traditions but also want to instil in our child that isn't just about the gifts. The traditions I want to share with my child is the saving gifts for xmas morning. Xmas eve is meant for games, hanging out and just taking a moment to cherish each other. Gifts are not the meaning of Christmas they are the cherry on top of it all.

I want the PJ fairy to visit.

I also want to start a wishing tree, where every year we tie ribbons on a tree and they stay on till the following year to see if your wish came true!

The month of December is the month of Gratitude and Charity. We have not figured out all the details, but every day in the advent calendar there is a mission of gratitude and charity. When they are small the missions will be small and grow as they grow. Hopefully instilling giving and kindness, instead of greed and selfishness.

We are enjoying this quiet christmas with a few family gatherings but mostly by ourselves. It will be our last one with just the two of us!!

Merry Christmas!!