29 December 2015

Christmas Traditions 2016, New and Old

 My UVA fall semester concluded just on time this year to enjoy a few weeks of Christmas celebrations and traditions. 


Old tradition: Dan and I sang in our church's annual community "Joy to the World" Christmas concert. 
Old tradition: Messiah singalong at Old Cabell Hall at UVa. W
New tradition: Postcards from my first-graders 
(I added self-addressed postcards to their Christmas cards and promised them return mail over the break if they wrote to me.)

New tradition: Christmas caroling with other families

New tradition: the Nutcracker ballet with friends


 A's friend danced the part of a mouse in the ballet and so she felt like she knew a celebrity.
 New tradition: a Christmas tour (with lanterns and percheron-pulled wagons) of our favorite living history museum

Old tradition: taking lunch to dad on Christmas Eve Eve
 UVA grounds were empty which made silliness and running around just a little more acceptable.

New tradition: "Christmas Sunday" photo
Dan and his counselors spoke in church for the annual Bishopric Christmas devotional. I love this day of the year.
New tradition: flowers from my parents and they were still beautiful, fragrant and festive on Christmas day

Old tradition: Christmas Eve morning we enjoyed breakfast at a restaurant

Old tradition: Christmas Eve dinner with new friends. We acted out the Nativity, and posed for pajama pictures before getting the kids settled into bed.
 New tradition: The "Santa's Not Coming This Year" photo.
Old tradition: wreath cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer
New tradition: marshmallows for Mrs. Claus
Old tradition: Good friends over for Christmas Day dinner

New tradition: Missionaries for dinner so they could call home from our home.
It was a wonderful conclusion to a good season of memory-making.

No comments: