Decorating the Christmas Tree

While Papa and Mimi were in town we decorated the Christmas tree.  We listened to Christmas music and had fun putting their own ornaments on the tree.  Every year Oma and I pick themes that the kids are interested in that year and buy ornaments for each kid.  Here are some past ones for Julia: cell phone when she got her first one, drivers license when she turned 16, volleyball when she played, ice skating, purple butterfly, American Girl, red purse, purple heels, and this year one for her high school graduation.  Here are some past ones for Ethan: Tony Romo when he met him at EIU homecoming, White Sox, guitar, basketball, baseball, drivers license when he turned 16 and this year one for swimming.  Grayson got two ornaments last year for baby's 1st Christmas and this year he got an airplane from the movie Airplanes, a real airplane with his name as he is obsessed with them and a German guy that has moving legs from the Chris Kringle Market at the Daley Center.  We also get the kids an ornament that has the year and our family picture inside.  My mom had a tradition of giving ornaments for Christmas and then we took these when we got older and had a good start on our own trees.  I wanted to pass this tradition down to my kids so we have fun picking these out every year.

Family Tradition - Ornaments:

1st Set: Family pictures from 2004 - 2014

2nd & 3rd Sets: Family pictures close up

4th Set: Julia's ornaments

5th Set: Ethan's ornaments

6th Set: Grayson's ornaments

  

Papa and Mimi come to visit

Grandpa and Grandma Braham came to visit Dec 4-9th from Las Vegas.  We were very excited for them to come, but a little worried as they are not used to cold weather.  Luckily the weather was very nice for winter in Chicago.  We will now refer to Grandpa and Grandma Braham as Papa and Mimi as this is what Grayson calls them.  It's so cute to hear him call for his Papa and Mimi.  He is pretty obsessed with them and I know they think the world of him.  Grayson loved giving Mimi big hugs and blew her several kisses and loved playing with Papa.  

We took Grayson to Navy Pier's Winter Fest and it was quite the attraction with so many fun kid games and rides.  Grayson was a little too young for most of it, but he had fun when the Christmas carolers sang and played their instruments.  He started dancing, clapping and tapping his feet.  It was so cute and he had a blast.  I think he will enjoy the Winter Fest more next year when he's a little older.  Ethan came with us and as always he was so good with Grayson and it's fun to see them hang out.