She did it!!!

I am so proud of our girl!!  Look what she did.....

Christmas 2009

This is where she was at in years gone by....

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2007

(NOPE!!  Not going to happen!)

And last year she stood beside Santa only if her sister would sit in Santa's lap!  For some reason I can not find the picture of this.  She has gotten a little braver each year and then this year proudly proclaimed that she was going to sit in Santa's lap.  I did not believe it until she actually sat there!  And doesn't our Santa look a little grumpy??  Big sister Samie thought she was too big to sit in his lap this year.  Let's hope for her sake that Santa wasn't offended and still comes to see her on Christmas Eve!

We have officially gotten our Christmas preparations under way.  Baking has begun, presents are being bought and the house is all decorated.  The girls will put the first candle in their Advent Wreaths today.  I was so happy when Sydney made one in Sunday School today, just like Samie had made years ago.  Now they don't have to fight over who gets to put in the candle! 

The other day my Mom and I were talking about traditions and are they that important to us.  Meaning, should we hang onto them even when they aren't really realistic anymore?  Or should we make new traditions?  We are hanging onto some of ours, but since Tim and I got married we have merged some of each of our families traditions and also made some of our own.  I think first and foremost, we need to remember the reason for this celebration.  The birth of Jesus.  After that, is it really that important if you have the same foods for Christmas dinner every year?

I am interested to hear what traditions you have.  Is there something that you just won't change?