The Clone of a Cinnabon...a Family Tradition

For as long as I can remember Mom always made the most WONDERFUL homemade cinnamon rolls at Christmas time to give to family and friends. Of course we always made sure there was enough for us to enjoy as well! It is a long process...really and all day event to make them but the end result is SOOOO worth it. If you have every eaten a Cinnabon cinnamon roll then you know exactly what I am talking about! The entire house smells of cinnamon while they are baking. I always have plenty of volunteers around the house to taste test the warm cinnamon rolls as they come out of the oven and to eat the leftover cream cheese icing...one of life's pleasures! What a wonderful day...making memories!

December 2011

Last Sunday our "pocket" for the day was making gigerbread houses with our good friends, the Boggs family! They kids created 2 houses (a little short of masterpieces) but they had a blast doing it!!! We ended the wonderful evening by going to the live nativity in Elizabethtown. Claire's favorite part was the canimal (aka the camel)! Oh and I almost forgot we also went through Christmas in the park for like the 3rd time already this year...they kids so enjoy the lights and I do too!


Double Trouble "the two Claires"








Claire petting the "canimal" aka camel
Oh I almost forgot to mention...as we were getting ready to leave for the live nativity here comes Claire out of her room dressed in her rain coat. I asked her why she was wearing a rain coat and she quickly replied "Conner said the Canimals (camels) will spit on you and I don't want to get wet!" She keeps us laughing...love those sweet babies of mine..so blessed beyond measure to have all 3 of them!

The Pocket Calendar

SORRY about the picture quality (Blogger is having issues)

For as long as I can remember one of my favorite Christmas traditions has been "The Pocket Calendar" Everyday of December my sister and I were able to run to our calendar and read a slip of paper that would let us in on our "treat" for the day. Now some of them were little treats we had to go find around the house but our favorites were things as simple as watch Christmas movies while drinking hot chocolate and stirring it with candy canes or going to look at Christmas lights.

I am so excited to be able to keep this tradition alive with my kiddos. Grancy made us our very own special Pocket Calendar. The kids ABSOLUTELY LOVE it!!! Talk about MOTIVATION when it comes to getting up in the morning!!! The kids fly out of the bed and get ready as fast as lightening in order to read their "pocket" for the day!
Here are a few things we have planned for pockets this year:
(shhh!!! I would not want the kids to know...the suspense of all the surprises each day of December is SOOOO much fun! It is like Christmas morning EVERYDAY of December!)

Write our letters to Santa (I bought the cutest little "Letter to Santa" sets...the Kids loved them

Have friends over to build gingerbread houses

Go to Christmas in the Park

Peppermint marshmallows and candy canes to have a Hot Chocolate and Christmas movie
night

Slumber party in the living room by the Christmas tree

Shop for our Christmas Angel

Make Christmas Cookies

Family game night with a new game to add to our collection

Make our Teacher's Christmas Gifts

A new Christmas ornament for each kiddos tree

I have bought plenty of their favorite little treats for other days such as:
orange drink for Conner (in the glass bottle of course), lip gloss for the girls, new markers and coloring books, bubbles for bubble baths, peppermint Oreos, Reeces trees, Chocolate Santas....

On December 24th the Pocket is ALWAYS new Christmas Jammies to wear (made especially by Grancy)

We love this time of year...Holiday Traditions are the BEST!!!