Christmas Brilliance
Posted by terrepruitt on December 25, 2012
It is Christmas, and while I did not have to “work” — as in teach a Nia class, I still have to “work” — as in post a blog post. Had I been a little more organized I would have had it written and had it post on a timer, but I was not that prepared. I had been thinking about what to write when last Monday after Nia one of my students was talking about one of her family’s traditions. I had asked her to give me more info or to write about it. But as I had been interrupting her story, I stopped my line of questioning/instruction and she finished her story and then I never got back to asking her more information. Then on Wednesday I forgot. I was thinking I would see her on Christmas Eve, but I did not. So I am going to share her tradition without a lot details as to how it works for her family because I don’t know them. I think the idea is so cute I wanted to share. THEN, I got one of the greatest Christmas gifts ever last night and I wanted to share a bit of it too. So Merry Christmas. This is me sharing a tradition of one of my students that maybe you would like to do yourself and a beautiful gift I received.
First the cool tradition. I haven’t heard a lot of the details but it sounds as if my student’s kids are going to moving out soon. I believe that is one of the reasons she shared with us the tradition she started when they were young. She has had her kids gift each other a Christmas ornament every year. She was saying, when I came into the conversation, that this way they will have a start on having ornaments for their tree when they move out AND they will sentimental value. Each ornament will be a memory. She had said that one year her son crafted a little birdcage and put a picture of a bird in it to represent their family pet. I thought that was so cute. Not only did her son have an ornament for his sister, but he had made it. You may know from reading some of my previous posts that I LOVE Christmas Ornaments. I love the entire process of unwrapping each one to hang on the tree. It is as if I am receiving little mini Christmas gifts with each ornament I unwrap and place on the tree. And many have memories attached, so to me decorating the tree is a lovely process and tradition. So I really, really, really, really, really LOVED this idea. As I mentioned, I loved it so much I wanted to share it. I think it is great to have kids receive “their own” ornaments that they can take with them when they move out and that will have meaning for them.
Now one of the greatest gifts I received was a book. Apparently my nephew-in-law has a brilliant girlfriend. She had a book made for his sisters that contains their grandma’s favorite recipes and a party tip. His girlfriend designed it to have the actual copy of the recipe placed on the page along with family pictures. You might have read some post on my blog that shared the fact that their grandmother (my mother-in-law) died last year in November. My sister-in-law (John’s sister) is a smart cookie too and she knows a great idea when she sees it and she asked if she could use the book template for gifts also. So SHE swapped out some of the pictures to include more of the recipient’s family. So the ones made for the girls have more pictures pertaining to them. The one made for my husband and I has more pictures pertaining to us and so on. FANTABULOUS! It is awesome!
I am in awe of BOTH of these things . . . . the ornament tradition AND this wonderful recipe book. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and the rest of this season is grand for you.
Do you have any holiday traditions to share? Maybe you have had a custom for a long time? Maybe you just started one? Did you get a gift that you are excited about that you want to share? Tell us!
Terre Pruitt's Blog 
michele said
I love your book, what a thoughtful gift! I did not check in or work out on Christmas, I did have a wonderful day playing with my family though, I hope your day was great! I like the Christmas ornament tradition between siblings. Each year I have been buying a Hallmark ornament for each of my kids since they were born. It is something that I have enjoyed until this year and now I want to start a new tradition with ornaments while my kids are still young – maybe I will borrow this one…hmmm. Well I am glad I checked in on this post, I love the pictures and stories!
LikeLike
terrepruitt said
The book is soooo cool.
Our Christmas day was lazy. The only movement I did was my 30 minutes . . . . .not good (that I only did that) but that is what my Holiday was about. We watched movies!
I love the ornament exchange between the children. I told her that I put her tradition on my blog and she was telling me that the first ornament her son gave his baby sister was Jesus in a manger. She said he was 2 years old (maybe she said two and a half). She said he picked it out. She also said that she wrote the dates on all of them. I think that is smart too. I would imagine you could write it on the ornament if there is room or the box. She wrote whose was whose and the date. Sooooooo cute!
It would be fun — to me —- for your kids tradition to be that they have to MAKE the ornament! Ha, ha, ha. That would give you a project to do. And if they know they are going to do it they could be scouting out stuff all year long!
I am glad you read this post too. Thank you for being here on my blog!!!!!
(I like it because it is another way we communicate!)
LikeLike
niachick said
So beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing. My family collected ornaments — all of the fairy tales and nursery ryhmes and more. My faves of course were Alice in Wonderland and Jack and Jill. The Alice ornament was frosty blue with silver sparkles; the J & J was dark burgundy with flash gold sparkles. I have them both still. Memories!!!
LikeLike
terrepruitt said
Ornaments can be so special. I love it. But I love ornaments so much I love the inexpensive SPARKLY ones I get from Cost Plus (or wherever) too! Thanks for sharing some memories!
LikeLike
Angelia Sims said
That is such a cute idea! I would love to do that with the girls. I love ornaments too. 🙂 I started a recipe book with my mom-in-law. I use the pics I took while she was making it. It is really neat. She plans on giving one to each son. Awesome gift idea.
LikeLike
terrepruitt said
I think the ornaments is a great idea. I am not sure if you read my comment about talking to my student about it today (Wednesday). She said she dated the ornaments! Brilliant. Go for it! Put your own spin on it!
Great idea! I love that you took the pictures WHILE she was making the recipe! That is awesome. That will make a wonderful gift!!!!
Yay for creativity!
LikeLike