Home for the Holidays

We are very excited to be home for the holidays, because there really is no place like home!  Since it is Jillian's first Christmas, we decided that we wanted for her to wake up Christmas morning in her own home out of her own bed.  So we will be spending the holidays here in College Station. 

We are so blessed because some of our family has decided to come spend Jilly's first Christmas with us.  Julian's parents and little sister are already here so we will enjoy so good quality time with the Acostas!  And then my mom, little brother, and little sister will be joining us tomorrow too.  I am excited to warm our home with loving family, yule tide blessings, and Christmas cheer!  

What I am really excited about is getting to start out Christmas traditions!  The other day, Julian and I talked about all our favorite holiday traditions from when we were children and decided which ones we would pass on to our own family.  And thanks to amazing internet sites, like Pinterest, I was able to look up some new holiday traditions that we will start with our Jilly Bear.

Here are some of the traditions we hope to start for our family this year:

1. Write a letter to Santa (but for now, we'll write it for Jilly!)

2. Buy a new Christmas book every year.  Wrap the books and let our child(ren) pick which book to read each day leading up to the new book on Christmas Eve.

3. Set out Reindoor food for the Reindeer to find our home.

4.  And cookies for Santa for each person in the house (and carrots for the Reindeer of course)

5. Sleep one night under the Christmas tree as a family.

6. Drive around to go see Christmas lights

7. Attend Christmas mass, of course

8.  Bake lots of Christmas cookies and goodies

9. Give back to someone in need

And of course, the most important tradition of all...

10.  Fill our child(ren)'s heart with love and the Christmas spirit!

What traditions do you and your family have that will make this holiday merry and bright?  I'd love to hear some of yours, too!

So happy to be home for the holidays!  Happy Holidays to you all!