We started our first tradition by visiting the giant Christmas Tree and watching it snow at Town Square one night in November after a dinner at CPK. Last year, Nolan was amazed by the "snow" and giggled as he wobbled around trying to catch it. This year, he questioned it a little bit more and wasn't quite sure what the foamy stuff was falling out of the sky, but warmed up to it once he saw everyone else around freaking out and running around having fun. He really enjoyed the Christmas music playing and had more fun dancing around to that rather than playing in the snow!
While Aunt Denise and Uncle Georges were in town, we celebrated Uncle Georges birthday by enjoying a dinner out at Downtown Summerlin, eating at Lazy Dog Restaurant. Afterwards, we caught the Holiday Parade that rolled through one of the main streets in the shopping area, and to our surprise, was actually really cute and enjoyable! Nolan absolutely loved it, and he waved to all of the floats and Christmas characters that came by. He even got some candy that was handed out, which he held on to the entire night without wanting to eat it (just wanted to hold it, weirdo!) and he loved hopping around and dancing to the music and watching the band play. After the parade was over, we walked around Downtown Summerlin in the chilly weather and stopped by the ice skating rink, and Nolan again loved dancing around to the Christmas music playing in the background. He even had fun dancing and jumping with Aunt Denise, and asked to "Cheese!" in front of the giant Christmas tree! We definitely will make this another thing on our December to-do list if they continue this parade every year!
On the day before Christmas Eve, we continued our tradition of baking cookies for Santa and visiting Quiver Point and driving around to see lights and houses decorated in our neighborhood. Nolan really enjoyed baking cookies this year, and I allowed him to help with almost every part of the process! He thought it was so fun to be able to pour ingredients and help me mix and scoop, and he was super focused about cutting out the cookie shapes with the cutters (or poking his fingers in most of them, really). Decorating our cookies was on a whole other level of enjoyment for this kid- and while I was prepping more dough each time, I would find him licking up the sprinkles off the counter, the cookies, his fingers... everywhere! (Don't worry... we kept this one batch just for Santa while I made another batch of sugar cookies separate, so people could actually eat them)! While I switched out cookie sheets in between baking times, Nolan "organized" my towel drawer and played with the parchment paper and plastic wrap. We listened to Christmas music and made a huge mess in the kitchen, but this afternoon is probably one of my favorite memories I have with him so far in life. I can't wait to do this every year with my kids, and hope they enjoy it as much as I do!
Later that evening, we bundled up in the chilly weather and met up with my mom, Aunt Denise and Uncle Georges to visit one of our favorite streets during Christmastime- Quiver Point. They must not have decorated nearly as much this year, because usually they have lights stringing across the street, which wasn't there, and some other main decorations were missing, so that was a bummer. Yet, it was still an amazing display and Nolan really enjoyed seeing all the characters this year, asking to take pictures (aka "Take CHEESE!") with each and every one of them! The first house we came upon had the cutest Frozen castle, and Nolan quickly identified Elsa, Anna and Olaf and said Hi! He loved the Mickey house and screamed when he saw Mickey and Minnie at his level!
The Penguins of Madagascar definitely held his attention for a second, and he also enjoyed saying Hi! to Nemo and Dori, which was one of his favorites from last year! Towards the end of the street, one house had moving lights shining on it, where all the kids would chase them trying to step on them and catch the lights. Once we made it to the cul-de-sac, Nolan had to peek in and see each of the decorated houses, and gave a wave and blew a kiss to the waving Santa.
We saw the Peanuts gang and Nolan screamed Hi to Snoopy, but quickly gave way to his favorites this year- the Minions house and the 101 Dalmatians (also his favorite last year). Mommy enjoyed seeing the new addition of the Up! Movie and reminded Nolan that he was Russell from Up! for Halloween this year!
We snapped a quick picture in front of the Quiver Point sign and tried taking one of the huge Christmas tree cutout, and then made our way back to the car since it was so chilly outside that night! We hopped in and drove around, looking at lights back in our neighborhood, and made a stop to watch the fun light show that a house just a few blocks down from us does annually. It was definitely the best one thus far, this year, and Nolan was hooked watching it the whole time!
I love that we can continue our traditions each Christmas, and although I was bummed we missed a few this year since we were all sick with some nasty colds, it still turned out perfect. Making memories during the holidays has to be one of the best, most amazing things, and I can only hope that my kids can remember fun times and Christmas spirit when they think of our holiday traditions through the years! Here's to another year of making some of my favorite memories, upholding old traditions and even starting some new ones!
Our next post will be all about Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...so stay tuned!
No comments