{2016 Winter Bucketlist Update // Santa, Bethlehem, Tree}


We have been busy little elves over here and steadily crossing things off our 2016 Winter Bucketlist. I just haven't had any time to blog about it. We've literally had something going on every single night since November 29th. It's all good and fun stuff though, so no complaints here. Today I am sharing some of the things we've checked off our list.


PRINT CHRISTMAS CARDS:
I shared about our Christmas cards here. We used Tiny Prints again and just adore them.


GET A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE:
We got our real tree the Friday after Thanksgiving. It's a beauty! We have been getting ours from Home Depot the last several years because they have a good selection and they stay alive a long time! I do miss going to the Christmas tree farm, though. Maybe next year we'll do that instead. I shared on Instagram, but every year we cut a sliver off the bottom of our tree and turn it into an ornament. #tradition



BUY CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS:
I shared about Mason's Christmas pajamas here for our Christmas pajama party linkup! If you haven't already, come link up with us! 


12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS AT THE DALLAS ARBORETUM:
My mom's company had their Christmas party at the Arboretum and she was able to bring all of us. It was so neat! They had so many activities for the kids to do; ornament making, face painting, balloon animals and pictures with Santa. We had a nice dinner complete with a desert bar and a hot chocolate station. Once the dinner was over we were allowed to walk around the arboretum and look at the 12 Days of Christmas exhibits. They were breathtakingly beautiful!



 
 

TRADITIONAL LIGHT PHOTO:
I've taken this same photo of Mason every year for as long as I can remember. It's become a tradition of ours to take while deckin' our halls.


BETHLEHEM REVISTED:
This is one of our favorite Christmas time traditions! It's such an amazing and moving experience. For two weekends in December you can walk back in time {over 2000 years ago} streets of ancient Bethlehem. Along the way you will meet innkeepers, craftsmen, merchants, clergy, tradesmen and other citizens. There is also live nativity, wisemen, sheep, camels, donkeys, etc. It's such an amazing experience!! This year I got a really sweet video of Mason and the man who gives out leptons to the children. {just ignore the train in town that had impeccable timing}




Bethlehem Revisited - The Messiah is born from Crystal Hall on Vimeo.

VISIT SANTA AT BASS PRO SHOP:
This was actually one of the first things we did this Christmas season! They started 2 weeks earlier than normal this year so we took advantage. We went the weekend before Thanksgiving and scored the first pass to visit with Santa! We almost had the whole place to ourselves for the longest! Definitely the time to go.











13 comments

  1. Wow!!! You guys have accomplished so much already! Looks like a lot of family fun and I'm a bit jealous of all of the cool activities near you.

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  2. Oh! I just realized my cousin moved to Dallas and he took a picture with one of those BIG signs. I don't think it was the same one though. Great job on your list so far! I love all the traditions. Bass Pro Shops is so fun!

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  3. Y'all are killing it, girl! I can't wait to see what else you do!

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  4. I wish we had started more traditions when Mason was born. I absolutely love the lights picture you do of your Mason and the fact that you get a real tree and cut off the bottom of it to save as an ornament!

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  5. I can't believe how fast Christmas is approaching!!! I feel the need to do all the things and asap!!!

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  6. You guys are sailing through your list... And having so much fun!

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  7. We always visit Santa at Bass Pro Shop too, always a cute picture and I love that they give you a free one!

    Jen
    jpabstfitness.com

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  8. It looks like you have had a blast this December. You always celebrate the holidays in a big way and I love your enthusiasm.

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  9. Aaahhhh you guys are having such a great time celebrating. We accidentally went to Bass Pro one time at Christmas and ot was amazing. We haven't been back though. I hope yall are having the best weekend.

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  10. You've been doing so many awesome things!
    12 Days of Christmas at the Dallas Arboretum looks so cool and fun! And Bethlehem Revisited is so neat, I wish we had something like that near us!

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  11. You have been so busy! I love all the things you've done. We've definitely been lacking in the activities I feel like, but I hope we can get some things in this week!

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  12. You guys have been having the best holiday season! Love your Santa photos. And that Bethlehem experience sounds so cool.

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  13. You document everything so beautifully!! I would love to look through your photo albums :) The preschool I work in is inside a church that puts on The Streets of Bethlehem the first week in December every year for 25 years, its so awesome to walk through!

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Thanks for the comments! Hope you are having an amazing day!!