Maybe getting a box full? which we did today from my parents. My kids were so excited to open it, until I told them that there were just wrapped present inside that they couldn't open yet. Thankfully, my wise mother included plenty of books and surprises for instant use.
Tonight we drove to "the neighborhood" with tons of lights (dancing light show, etc) with Craig complaining about the Christmas music-the style, not the songs- the whole drive, while the boys argued about something....I think miles was spitting on Parker...the whole time because I didn't turn on a movie in the car to distract them. Because, darn it, we are going to focus and enjoy every Christmas activity! The lights part of it was nice, as was the hot cocoa Craig made after while we read Christmas stories* under the tree.
*one of our Christmas traditions is that on December 1st, I put all of kiddie Christmas books, wrapped, under the tree and we open one each night and read it before bed. They are the same books from the years before that I have collected from everywhere...new and used, and maybe a few "borrowed" from my moms collection. I wrapped them (actually I think i had a sitter wrap them) with leftover wrapping paper last year, right after the new year, so they were ready to go when I opened my Christmas boxes.
I copied this whole idea from a family friend, Sharon, back in Phoenix. She is so creative, especially with traditions for kids. I loved babysitting for them growing up and remember how excited they (and I) were to open that book if I happened to be there on a december night.
