Our Christmas Wish List for 2011...

Here's my follow up to our Christmas Post. I wanted to write down my reflections for our holiday next year so that we can hold onto some of the lessons of 2010.

1. Do stay home for the holidays again. Much as we love our families, there is something very sacred about creating our traditions here at home and the peace of not traveling that time of year.

2. Don't go to see Santa again. I could never really get behind this tradition but when I saw Eva's reaction to Santa it really confirmed for me why I think it's such a crazy set up to put our baby in the hand of a bearded stranger that she's never seen before. I love the crying Santa photos but I just can't do it again...

3. Do make Christmas cookies again. Eva adored making cookies with me and she seemed to get that it was a special treat. We hand delivered the cookies to neighbors which also felt really good to do with her.

4. Do go to the Children's Mass again but go an hour early. We know this lesson already but it really hit home to us when we arrived fifteen minutes before mass started this year and had no seats.

5. Don't bother going to the Garden of Lights again. This one cracked me up. I was so excited to take Eva to the botanical gardens that are lit up with a half a million lights in stunning visual displays. Eva was so over it in about two seconds flat. She just wanted to be free and explore, which wasn't possible with the number of visitors in the garden. So, we left after a lot of fussing. But get this: when we drove through our neighborhood she oohed and ahhhed as we past all of the holiday light displays like she was at the Taj Mahal. Go figure...

6. Do less. We were invited to a lot more parties than usual because of our little one. While the invites are always thrilling, our holiday energy started to wane quickly. We promised ourselves that we would do just a few gatherings that really mean a lot to us next year. It's that lesson that I continually re-learn: less is more. Amen.

7. Do order holiday cards before Thanksgiving. I love the holiday card tradition, especially now that we have Eva to show off with the lovely photo cards! I don't want to lose this tradition but I found it harder to get done with a busy toddler. My time is just not my own anymore so everything takes more planning time.

8. Do shop for gifts well in advance. And don't bring Eva. I tried Christmas shopping with her the one day I wasn't sick and after an epic meltdown at Nordstrom's Rack I was reminded why I never bring her along. I love my girl but my goodness she puts up a huge fuss in the stroller! It's just not worth it. That's why I usually don't do it. Holidays should be no exception even if I'm pressed for time.

9. Do a computer and phone fast on Christmas Day. I read this idea in one of my favorite mommy blogs and I think it's brilliant. I love the idea of completely unplugging for a day and playing board games and just enjoying one another's company for the day.

10. Do plan an elegant but simple dinner. We tend to get carried away in the entertaining department but food prep, as glorious as it is, can get out of hand and distract us from what is most important. And that is each other and the message of Christmas.