Life As I Know It: Family Traditions: Making an advent calendar & enjoying the parade

This year more than ever I have stressed the importance of our family traditions. My hope is that Mitchell and I can take our favorite and most memorable Christmas traditions from our childhood and incorporate them into our little family--along with making new ones of our own. At two years old, Aedan is more aware of the joy this season brings and we love seeing him burst with excitement at each and every festivity we do this month. From picking out a Christmas tree, to making a Christmas wish list, Aedan is surely enjoying the preparation for Christmas Day. And though we are not sure if he fully understands the reason for the season, we do explain to him every chance we get that all the joy, fun activities, gifts and parties are about one thing--Jesus' birth (an important tradition we will stress every year).

One fun thing I remember from when I was little is our family advent calendar. It was simple and sweet, no candy or activities to pull out for each day (that I often see on new and improved calendars). It had a cute little mouse that fit in the pocket of each day of December. And I remember fondly how Donnie, Nikki and I fought every morning to be the one who moved it from one day to the next. But with little success to find an advent calendar that I liked, I knew it was all up to me and Pinterest. :)

I batted my eyes at Mitchell for a little help, took my pregnant booty to the craft store, and voila! The Cochran family advent calendar was born.

I got the idea from this blog I found on Pinterest. (I love how Pinterest can even make me seem like a crafter.)

We had leftover trim and chicken wire from past home projects so the frame only cost us about $5 for some red spray paint. I grabbed a book of Christmas cardstock at JoAnn's for around $10 and with tons of paper leftover I can use it for future projects. I found some 1 inch numbers at OfficeMax for $5, which I also have plenty leftover for other fun stuff.

This fun elephant friend Aedan picked out at Target for $2. I was hoping to find a smaller Santa we could move in each envelope but Aedan had his heart set on the elephant. He's a little bigger than I wanted so hopefully I'll find a different one next year.

I must say I'm mighty proud of myself. For a girl that doesn't even own a glue gun I managed to take an idea and some pictures and create something that our family will have for many years to come. Every morning I bring Aedan downstairs straight to the calendar and show him how to move Mr. Elephant to the next envelope and with excitement I tell him how we are one more day closer to Christmas Day. The joy in his eyes is priceless. I daydream of our three children racing down the stairs each morning to be the one to move Mr. Elephant (or whatever new creature we have) and I pray it's a fun memory they will carry with them for many many years.

The Christmas Parade

Before this year, it had been way too long since I attended a parade. After watching Aedan's face light up watching the floats and bands and dancers on TV for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, I knew we had to start a new tradition of going to the Bakersfield Christmas Parade each year. Nikki and I made popcorn, cookies and hot chocolate to bring along. We gathered the gang up for the big night with scarfs, beanies, and blankets and just like that we created a memory. Aedan L-O-V-E, LOVED IT!

Here are some pictures from our fun night at the parade. This is definitely going on the list for next year.