Creating the Magic of the Season and Holiday Traditions
I grew up in what most people from the area know at Christmas time as “The House with the Red Bows.” My mom has always taken great pride in decorating for the Christmas holiday and as a kid I can remember the year she finally bought enough red velvet bows to line the entire white front fence of our yard at the corner of Francis and Parker Roads. As I got older I even helped put them up! I suppose that and many other fantastic holiday traditions I grew up with as a kid set a wonderful foundation for carrying on and forming new traditions with my family.
As a mom you come to realize just how much “Christmas magic” your own mom created for you growing up. The sleepless hours of preparation, battling lines, cold weather, and uncooperative Christmas lights. Mixing countless batches of cookie dough only for you to help cut and decorate a pan before digging in on the finished product, and wrapping numerous beautiful gifts to be torn through in seconds on Christmas morning. It goes without saying that Christmas traditions are often made by mom, and done so with as much passion and magic as the legend of Santa himself.
This season is filled with hustle and I am so very fond of it all. The anticipation/ “getting there” is half the fun. In our home we all pitch in and enjoy making the magic of the season come alive together. From selecting their favorite ornaments to hang in a special spot on the tree, to unpacking each shop and house for the Christmas village with delight swirling in their faces, my kids enjoyment and wonder are definitely the joy of the season.
We love to make a Christmas Fun List in our home to prepare and look forward to activities all month long. Topping our list is usually decorating the house soon followed by making lots of sweets and taking in a few holiday adventures. Making my grandma’s Christmas cookie recipes together is a must, Anise Seed, Sugar, Chocolate and of course Gingerbread. The kids are great at laying out all the cookie cutters to choose from, as well as selecting the perfect color sprinkles to pile on each shape. They’ve also gained my love of wrapping through the years and are great helpers selecting paper and bows to go on every gift we pack up.
Topping our activities is creating a Gingerbread House. I still buy the kit at Michaels but we add on old-fashioned candy toppings from our local candy store, Raffy’s in New Lenox. This year I think both kids will attempt their own houses, I look forward to sticky candy filled giggles as they each eat way too much of the “building materials.” Closer to the big day we love to pack up after dinner for a late night “Twinkle Tour” of area Christmas lights and generally top it off with hot chocolate and holiday movies when we return home.
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| 2018 Family Photo with Santa at Lionel RR Club |
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| 2019 Family visiting Santa - tradition |
We love to add in a few area adventures to our list as well. Dressed in red and green, we bundle up and never miss the local Lionel Railway Club Open house, happening this year on Saturday, December 7th. This is where my son first got up the courage to talk to Santa, and year after year, we never miss the home grown charm of the specially currated miniature town booming with trains and meeting Santa to tell him our lists. Santa will also be making a sweet appearance at Raffy’s Candy Store on Lincoln Highway on December 8! And we never miss a visit to local Bird Haven Greenhouse and Conservatory on Gourgar Road to see all the Poinsettias – just like in Frosty the Snowman! Of course, we’ve already grabbed a selfie with our favorite Giant Santa and look forward to checking out the fun activities all month long at New Lenox’s Christmas in the Commons (CHECK OUT PAGE XX to see more holiday fun).
There is a special kind of magic that comes with being a mom at Christmas time. The magic of believing in not only Santa Clause, but also that a few twinkle lights and some frosting can make an everyday amazing. I’m so lucky to have learned as a child that you can make anything magical with some red velvet bows and believing with your whole self the spirit of the season. So moms… let yourself hum jingle bells and add extra marshmallows to that coco, hide the elf on the shelf every night and don’t forget to save a cookie for yourself… you have the most important and wonderful job this season…to be brave, make magic, and build a tradition that will last a lifetime.
I’m Rebecca Barker… mom of two, wife and writer. I’ve lived in New Lenox most of my life and excited to share some of the adventures that go along with being a mom. Skip the nap, grab a snack, get creative and Be Brave Mom. For more follow me @bebravemom2 on Facebook; @Be_Brave_Mom on Twitter and https://bebravemom.blogspot.com
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