christmas past, present and future

I was catching up via my googlereader this am and saw a great post by Amy.

My favorite christmas traditions from when I was little:

-- going to my great aunt mary's on xmas eve for all the traditional italian food and family

-- getting our stocking "bags"

-- christmas morning breakfast = cinammon rolls, (recently french toast casserole) egg nog, oj

-- taking turns to open presents & show off each one (we have continued this even though most of us are grown up and out of hte house, we always go to my mom's for christmas morning!)

-- playing the christmas light game while driving around

-- cookies! - and now chocolate covered goodies.

-- leaving cookies and milk for santa with a carrot for the reindeer

-- going to see the christmas tree display after thanksgiving every year

i am sure there are more, but it's early!

Traditions I want to start with our little one: (and some that we do already!)

-- family pictures each year on christmas (and before for the cards!)

-- opening one present on christmas eve

-- reading a christmas book on christmas eve before bed

-- watching the classic xmas movies (this one is for daddy!)

-- continuing the christmas morning breakfast!

-- seeing santa

-- mailing/receiving letters from santa (you know, when they are older!)

-- having christmas at our house

i'll have to see what Mike wants to do too -- he loves the holidays!

(little one, you certainly have a lot to look forward to next year!)

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and today is a very special day. it's my mom's birthday!!!

we got her something fabulous and I can't wait until she sees it. It has been another very wonderful year for her and she continues to give me a lot to live up to in the mom department.