Christmas Bucket List 2018

We have a lot of Christmas traditions in our family so our Christmas Bucket List looks very similar from year to year.  I know it may seem redundant to you readers who have been following along for a while, but I still like to post these each year so the kids can look back on them one day and see how our traditions changed or stayed the same throughout the years.  We do always try to add in a few new activities each year to spice it up, though, so there will always be something different!

Our 2018 Christmas bucket list looks like this… 

O N E – Transition from Dark Red and Gold Decorations to Red and White Decorations

I have decorated our house the same exact way pretty much every year since we moved in nine years ago.  The primary colors I have always used are dark red and gold.  Over the last few years, I have started changing out the dark red for true red and the gold for white, and this year I want to complete the transition. 

T W O – Ramp Up Outdoor Christmas Decorations

Last year, the kids begged for more outdoor lights (at the time, we only put them around the front door) so we obliged and added some icicle lights across the front porch.  Well, this year they have been talking non-stop about wanting more lights and one of those big blow-up lawn decorations and in the words of Olivia, “If we don’t get a blow-up, we’ll just die!”  Dramatic much?  Lol.  Well, this year is the year we’re going to cave… more lights and a 9-foot Santa it is!  Just give us a few more years and we’ll totally be on Clark Griswold’s level.  ;o) 

T H R E E – Give Back

Our church always puts up a Christmas tree in the commons area with requests from local families in need.  We always like to pull a boy and a girl from the tree and shower them with gifts.

F O U R – 2nd Annual North Pole Breakfast

We held our first North Pole Breakfast last year and it was such a hit that we decided to make it a regular tradition.

F I V E – Winterfest at our Local University

Our local university puts on a huge winter celebration each year and we’ve never attended.  This year is our year to check it out and try something new!

S I X – Christmas Tree Lighting for Brian’s Company

We have attended this for years and years so it’s a staple on our Christmas Bucket list.  I told y’all you’d see a lot of the same things.  ;o)

S E V E N – Celebrate 11 Years Married

We don’t usually do anything major for our anniversary, but we do try to have a day o’ fun together while the kids are at school.

E I G H T – Breakfast with Santa

Our church and school family put on a great Breakfast with Santa event each year and this will be on our list as long as the kids want to keep going!

N I N E – Watch Georgia Play in the SEC Championship Game

Once again, our Dawgs made it to the SEC Championship game.  Unfortunately as I’m posting this we already know the outcome (and it wasn’t what we wanted) but for the sake of the bucket list, it’s going to remain because we are proud to have made it to the championship once again!

T E N – Christmas Tree Lighting Downtown

Our city puts on a great Christmas kickoff celebration each year, and we will be in attendance again this year.  Fun fact, Brian and I have been attending this event since way before our kids were even born.  This will probably be our tenth or eleventh year going?  Maybe even more?

E L E V E N – Show Home Alone 2 to the Kids for the First Time

We have seen lots and lots of Christmas movies in our household, but I realized earlier this year that we had never shown Home Alone 2 to the kids.  It was always a favorite of mine growing up, so our kids must see it as well.  Plus, Jacob is obsessed with all things New York City, so I know he’ll especially appreciate it.  In addition to watching Home Alone, we will, of course, watch all of our other faves – Love Actually, The Santa Clause, Home Alone, Elf, etc.

T W E L V E – Ramp Up Our Elf on the Shelf Game Yet Again

Our beloved elf, Cheek, will be here for his sixth year, I think?  In the past he’s always been pretty lazy, either sitting in one spot for days on end, or just moving from night to night.  Last year he started getting into some shenanigans and I want to keep that going this year.

T H I R T E E N – Annual Girls’ Scarf & Ornament Exchange

My group of girlfriends is dwindling since we just lost another one to a big move, but the four of us remaining gals still plan to carry on the tradition.  We went from about 12 or 13 girls at our biggest party to having only 4 girls this year, but I’m sure we’ll still have a great time.  And Katie, we’ll miss you so much this year!

F O U R T E E N – Fantasy in Lights

There is a place called Callaway Gardens here in Georgia and we always like to make the drive to see Fantasy in Lights there.  It’s a five-mile ride on the jolly trolley and it’s always so, SO much fun.  Last year we never made it on the trolley so we ended up driving through ourselves AFTER Christmas.  This year I want to go before Christmas, and get back out there on that trolley!  That is truly the way to experience it!

Fun fact, this has been a tradition in my family since I was a little girl.  Fantasy in Lights made its debut in 1992 when I was just ten years old, and I’m pretty sure our family has gone every single year since it opened. 

F I F T E E N – Drive Around and Look at Lights

The kids have been begging to do this since we saw our very first Christmas lights just before Thanksgiving.  We had to explain to them that we have to wait until closer to Christmas because not everyone puts their lights up in mid-November.  Lol.

S I X T E E N – Visit with the Mall Santa

Both of our kids have seen the same mall Santa since they were born and the tradition will continue this year.  I hope that guy sticks around for many years to come.  We just love him.

S E V E N T E E N – Indulge in at Least One Peppermint Mocha

I have to say, the Peppermint Mocha is my FAVORITE coffee treat… even more so than the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I know.  That is a big deal, y’all, because you know how much I love my PSL.  And while I’m trying to stay away from the ‘Bucks as much as possible since we’re all about saving money these days, I do allow myself to have a treat every now and then… especially this time of year. 

E I G H T E E N – New Ornaments for Each of the Kids

Every year we get our kids new ornaments… usually something having to do with something that happened during the year. 

N I N E T E E N – Send Out Christmas Cards

I know a lot of people think that sending paper mail is beyond outdated, but there’s just something special about opening the mailbox and receiving a card from a loved one.  And it’s especially wonderful this time of year!  Such a fun way to spread some Christmas cheer!

T W E N T Y – Christmas Eve Childrens’ Mass

It’s one of my favorite hours of the entire year on my favorite day of the entire year.  Pure magic!

Can we all agree that Christmas/holiday/winter bucket lists are the best bucket lists?!  Let’s get this party started!

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