I got to thinking as we are a bit more settled and not moving around as much I would share more of our day to day learning and ideas that I felt worked or didn't work. Either way just things we do as a family that may or may not be the "norm" if you know what I mean.
One being Christmas. Not the actual meaning of Christmas, but how we chose very early on to celebrate it. I must say, I, along with Mark, were very frustrated with the "retail nightmare" of Christmas. So we decided not to exchange gifts and just enjoy time together or do a handmade card/gift. It was a great idea that we passed on to my family which of course took ALL the stress out of our holidays. No more fighting the crazy lines in shops, wondering what to give the person who has everything, good ole just hanging with good company, games, movies and food was all we needed.
Then we had kids and thought what now?
Well, first of all when they are under the age of 2 they have no idea anyway so we just enjoyed our traditions of decorating the tree and visiting family etc. We would watch other folks go absolutely crazy buying and buying when in the end the kid only wanted to play with the box! So we decided it is up to us. Whatever we start we have to continue with. We can make the rules. We don't have to fall into the trap of topping each year with more or bigger gifts.
We both decided we would start our own Christmas tradition and our children would only receive 3 gifts. Just like baby Jesus received. I mean it was the least we could do. It is HIS birthday anyway right? I figure if we were to celebrate Christmas and the whole Santa thing we could at least somewhat parallel it to Jesus on His day? Well, sort of...I guess Santa in the red suit with the magic reindeer were not by Jesus' side. Anyhow, you get the idea. So we started our tradition. The boys put out cookies for this wonderful Santa who brought 3 gifts to them and got SO very excited year after year. They never made long daunting lists, yet always felt like they got SO many presents! Mark and I would literally go out on a day together(like a date for us just being alone together) and chose the 3 gifts and a few stocking stuffers and Voila....done...no stress and NO stress on our pocket books! And we tell all the family to not buy the boys gifts either. They can spend time with them and spoil them when they want to. Just not when everyone else and their mother is doing it.
We still do the tradition of 3 gifts even though they do not believe in Santa Clause anymore(which is a story all in itself) but I feel that by never "over doing it" the boys are really appreciative and not greedy when it comes to the holidays. They love just decorating the tree, traveling to my parents, good food, good company, and lots of good movies! And NOT so focused on ALL the gifts they are going to receive. So far a good idea for all!
A "Gypsy" Holiday
Yes, I know, we are gypsies no more, but for some reason we just can't stay put. Since moving in on the end of Oct we unpacked, and a month later we were packing up and hitting the road. We have been to Vegas, Colorado, Vermont, Florida, and NYC. I must say the fact that my kids are homeschooled gives us the freedom to take these trips with "low stress".
We followed Mark to Vegas on business treated to some FANTASTIC Cirque shows then drove to Colorado to continue our tradition we left 3 yrs ago, spending Thanksgiving at our "Slice of Heaven" (Our barn nestled in the Wet Mountains) Our Thanksgivings have never been 'traditional'. I mean Mark is British, so we decided we can do whatever we want. I remember as a very picky kid I despised Thanksgiving and all those horrible cooking smells, but then having to eat them...YUCK! So I thought why not have a day where my kids can choose whatever their favorite foods are and be thankful for those. We have gone from lots of sweet treaty foods to roasted chicken, potatoes, steak, salad, corn and more! Definitely a little different cooking on a gas stove or open fire, but WOW what an experience and fun for all. I managed to visit some close friends in Colorado which was the icing on the cake.
We then came back for a short week and headed to Vermont for Mark's work holiday party. What a difference being in the west during the winter and the east......BRRRRRR cold! How soon we forget! We thought everyone was enjoying sunny and 70 degrees.
Back again for a quick week then off to our tradition of spending the holidays in Florida with my family. Keean went out a week earlier to spend some one on one time with his grandparents then we followed. Always a joy having this blessed time with my parents. As difficult as it is at times to see my mother worsen, I cherish every single moment I have whether it be with tears shed or loads of laughter. Ended our time in Florida with fireworks, boat rides, fishing, good food and lots of good movies! Mark and Keean visited Vermont for Mark's work and Keean taught a hip hop master class at a local studio.
We then met in NYC! WOW is all I can say....and to think we actually lived there for a year and half. The WOW factor never dies. What a place and to be treated to such a nice room in a hotel is a true treat for our family!!!!! Every moment in NYC was such a blast! Keean performed in a fan show for Billy Elliot as it is closing in NYC. Good fun seeing all the alumni...what a great reunion party! "Billy Elliot"was fantastic and "Book of Mormon" an absolute hoot(of course totally inappropriate for Cade but oh well, I guess I win the bad mom award) We all loved it and what talent on the stage! We then went to a very artistic outing called 'See No More" a "Shakespeare" play of Macbeth http://sleepnomorenyc.com/ You as the audience walk into an old hotel with many floors, wearing a mask, and watch the actors do their thing you can snoop and touch anything apart from the actors and really just watch as a story if any unfolds. Sometimes they use you as part of the story as I found this out when I got pulled into a wardrobe and spoken to in a Russian accent about ???? then left there with the door locked, but realized there was a secret passage door. You end up getting separated from your group and when all is said and done you meet up and realize everyone had totally different experiences.Very weird and cool all at the same time, if you are willing to step out of your box and just go with it!
Another great traveling adventure....now back to our new home. I wonder if we will remember where we put everything.
We followed Mark to Vegas on business treated to some FANTASTIC Cirque shows then drove to Colorado to continue our tradition we left 3 yrs ago, spending Thanksgiving at our "Slice of Heaven" (Our barn nestled in the Wet Mountains) Our Thanksgivings have never been 'traditional'. I mean Mark is British, so we decided we can do whatever we want. I remember as a very picky kid I despised Thanksgiving and all those horrible cooking smells, but then having to eat them...YUCK! So I thought why not have a day where my kids can choose whatever their favorite foods are and be thankful for those. We have gone from lots of sweet treaty foods to roasted chicken, potatoes, steak, salad, corn and more! Definitely a little different cooking on a gas stove or open fire, but WOW what an experience and fun for all. I managed to visit some close friends in Colorado which was the icing on the cake.
We then came back for a short week and headed to Vermont for Mark's work holiday party. What a difference being in the west during the winter and the east......BRRRRRR cold! How soon we forget! We thought everyone was enjoying sunny and 70 degrees.
Back again for a quick week then off to our tradition of spending the holidays in Florida with my family. Keean went out a week earlier to spend some one on one time with his grandparents then we followed. Always a joy having this blessed time with my parents. As difficult as it is at times to see my mother worsen, I cherish every single moment I have whether it be with tears shed or loads of laughter. Ended our time in Florida with fireworks, boat rides, fishing, good food and lots of good movies! Mark and Keean visited Vermont for Mark's work and Keean taught a hip hop master class at a local studio.
We then met in NYC! WOW is all I can say....and to think we actually lived there for a year and half. The WOW factor never dies. What a place and to be treated to such a nice room in a hotel is a true treat for our family!!!!! Every moment in NYC was such a blast! Keean performed in a fan show for Billy Elliot as it is closing in NYC. Good fun seeing all the alumni...what a great reunion party! "Billy Elliot"was fantastic and "Book of Mormon" an absolute hoot(of course totally inappropriate for Cade but oh well, I guess I win the bad mom award) We all loved it and what talent on the stage! We then went to a very artistic outing called 'See No More" a "Shakespeare" play of Macbeth http://sleepnomorenyc.com/ You as the audience walk into an old hotel with many floors, wearing a mask, and watch the actors do their thing you can snoop and touch anything apart from the actors and really just watch as a story if any unfolds. Sometimes they use you as part of the story as I found this out when I got pulled into a wardrobe and spoken to in a Russian accent about ???? then left there with the door locked, but realized there was a secret passage door. You end up getting separated from your group and when all is said and done you meet up and realize everyone had totally different experiences.Very weird and cool all at the same time, if you are willing to step out of your box and just go with it!
Another great traveling adventure....now back to our new home. I wonder if we will remember where we put everything.
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