Gibbens Family: A Very Merry Christmas to All

Ryan and I have so much to celebrate this holiday season. We're very thankful for one another and for our new addition (as if you couldn't tell by these posts, right?).

This has been one of the most enjoyable holiday seasons for us so far! While we are definitely human, and truly do enjoy the presents and the commercial "stuff" during the holidays, we are careful not to get too caught up in it all. We've put forth a little extra effort this year to really celebrate and enjoy the little things, to restart old family traditions, and start new traditions of our own.

So, we hope you get to enjoy "the little things" this holiday season too! Merry Christmas...and Happy Holidays!

Much love to all!

Here are just a few of the things we've enjoyed so far this season...

Gracie's first visit with Santa

...anxiously waiting in line to see Santa

....tired of waiting in line to see Santa :-)

decorating the Christmas tree

...getting bored of mommy's silliness
(while decorating the Christmas tree)...

....tired (of decorating the Christmas tree) :-)

our little stocking stuffer!

an old Gibbens family tradition, renewed...
St. Nicholas Day - Dec. 6th

On the eve of St Nicholas Day, Gracie put her shoes outside of her bedroom door, expecting to receive gifts to fill her shoes (she got to put out both shoes since they were so small). Since this was mommy's first year acknowledging St Nicholas Day, Grace's shoes are buried because mommy was stumped as to what goes in the shoe...but we'll be ready next year and not go overboard :-) Adults also get to participate in this tradition as well. Mommy got a Christmas CD and daddy got a memory card for his phone so he can store more pictures of Gracie. It's a fun tradition that we'll definitely continue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas

O Christmas Tree!

It was a frigid and windy day when we chose our tree, and it was a little unlike any other Christmas tree hunt experience. Ryan and I had to take turns looking at the trees so Grace could stay warm in the car. We took turns giving coordinates and checking out one another's picks. I wasn't disappointed per say, but I hope we can go back to the old way next year. It is a big deal and a major tradition for Ryan and I to choose our Christmas tree together, so this was a little difficult.

It went a little like this...

Ryan: "I'll wait here, you go see if you want to get a tree here because you have lots of questions."

Erin: "Excuse me sir, when were your trees cut? ...oh, does anyone here speak English? Gracias! ...Excuse me sir, when were the trees cut and where are they from? (back to the car)...okay Ry, I broke some of the needles and they're still sappy and smell fresh. They're $55 for the 5 to 5 1/2' or $65 for the 6 to 6 1/2'. The guy said the trees were cut last week and they're from southern VA. We can stay if you think the prices are reasonable."

Ryan: "Did you pick a tree?"

Erin: "Oh, no." (...back to the tree lot)
Erin: "How about row 4 tree 6?"
Ryan: (to lot and back to car) "It is okay, but how about tree 2 in row 5."
Erin: "You were supposed to tell me the row first, then the tree....but I'll try to find it"
(to lot and back to car)..."That one has a crooked trunk...I'm cold...pick another"
Ryan: "You care more about the specifics than I do...just pick one."
Erin: "Fine." (to lot and back to car) "Either row 2, tree 5 or row 7, tree 1"

And we leave with a tree tied to the roof! But it is a pretty tree, and we got to decorate it as a family! It has hardly lot any of its needles, so I think I did a good job choosing the lot. :-)