Christmas and the new year celebrations have come and gone. I can’t say either was merry or happy. They just were. This first year was all about surviving them.

Despite the heaviness of the season, we tried to make the best of it and make memories. Landon loves The Grinch and our local library had Grinch night, where he was the cutest Grinch in attendance and got to meet Santa and the Grinch himself. No pilgrimages to Mount Crumpit needed.

We baked and decorated all kinds of Christmas cookies, including my annual jiu jitsu man, which Landon had the honor to eat this year. We did several evening drives to see Christmas lights, listen to Christmas music and enjoy hot chocolate when we got home.

Tree decorating involved matching pajamas and a Christmas dance party in front of the tree.

They also enjoyed a Christmas party at their sitter, which involved Christmas tree pizzas, presents, making reindeer food, treats and more! Landon unfortunately missed his preschool party this year because of illness.

One of my favorite moments, and one I hope will be a new tradition, was hosting Christmas Eve. My mom’s side of the family congregated at our home for an evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, cookies, beverages and fellowship, and a few friends and their kids dropped by for a bit, too!

My mom and her siblings have always lit a luminary at the cemetery for their dad, and now for Nana since 2020. With that inspiration, Landon, Bryce and I lit a luminary in front of our house for Brian, which burned all through the night. Landon and I decorated the bag.

Another favorite tradition is reading The Night Before Christmas to Landon and Bryce–the same copy my dad read to my brother and me as kids! And we certainly can’t forget to leave milk, cookies and carrots out for Santa and his reindeer.

Santa was most generous to our house this year and both boys are quite pleased with their gifts, especially the kitchen set his elves put together on Christmas Eve night.