The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Sip Hot Cocoa with Family

 Typically we have family over for a holiday themed gathering each year. I figured with the frigid weather this December that a night of hot cocoa & movies would be perfect. So I set up a cute little hot cocoa bar complete with all the toppings & fixings. Even different types of hot cocoa were on display: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and peppermint flavored mocha. Snowflake & snowmen shaped marshmelllows were a huge hit as well as cocoa flavored Hershey kisses, peppermint bark, & caramel bites.

Sparky our Elf left the kids a fun trilogy about all of his elf pets~ his reindeer, his snow fox, & his St. Bernard. A great way to end the night snuggled up living the magic of Christmas with family.

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Drink Egg Nog by the Fire

It has become a tradition for me to sip egg nog (sometimes spiked with Bailey's) while sitting by our fireplace. It is a beautiful way to unwind and relax outside the hustle & bustle of the season. Typically I will sit down and assemble our Christmas cards, but this year I was ahead of the game & got those out early. So I sat with a few Danish cookies in the silence. There is joy in silence these days. The resting and the stillness. I don't do it nearly enough. I don't do nearly enough of what brings me joy much these days. My hope is this holiday season brings that back...the joy & light of life.

 

 

 

 

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Read a Christmas Story

Ever since I can remember, one of the staples in our Christmas decor is a basket of holiday books that we set around the fireplace. Books are added yearly but the magic remains the same as they begin to pick them one by one to read. Sometimes in the morning. Other times the middle of the day. Often at nighttime for a few more minutes of being awake. Books stack high on each of the kids' nightstands too. I can usually find Salem awake in the morning sitting in bed, surrounded by her books just contently making up the stories as she goes. Aspen is found asleep most nights with his flashlight still shining and a pile of books next to his pillow. Brighton loves to be read to; a quaint reminder that he's still little in his own way. And Adelaide is truly the reason for the basket of books as she has loved them just like I did ever since she was born.

 We always dedicate one night to reading several books under the Christmas tree that touch on specific themes for Christmas. This year I chose these three books: The Little Christmas Elf, The Bernstein Bears and the Joy of Giving, and The Christmas Story. I love the separate but similar messages that each book shares. We nestled in to hear the stories and continue to remember the reason for the season.

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: See a Christmas Play

We have been enjoying a Christmas play at Derby Dinner for the past four holiday seasons. Our season tickets were cut short in the spring and the fall didn't look promising for reopening. So we were elated to be able to attend "A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail" this year.

 

 

 The boys & Salem absolutely loved the characters & the story line. They giggled through the humor and danced & sung along to some tunes. Clapping after each act, the smiles on their faces were pure joy. The arts is such a wonderful aspect of the holidays so I was thrilled to be able to share this experience with them!

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Decorate An Ornament

 Each year we find a fun little Christmas craft to make. Some years it’s a snow globe or a wreath or a gingerbread house. This year we had a fun morning making ornaments. We made a unique kind of ornament called The Wishing ornament.  The kids wrote a Christmas wish on strips of paper and then put the paper inside the glass ornament. The notion is to put a new wish each year into the ornament and read the previous year’s wish. A true sentiment and holiday tradition.

We added holly & red jingle bells to each ornament.  Wrapping the ornament together with a beautiful red bow and the accompanying poem. Then they were hung with care in each of their rooms on their special Christmas trees.

Such a fun way for the kids to remember their wishes year over year and to look back in reflection!

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Wrap Christmas Gifts

Wrapping presents is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays. It brings me so much joy; the giving to others. I've been like this since I was a kid. Helping my mom wrap gifts for my siblings, my dad & my grandparents. Seeing the excitement & delight in their eyes as they opened gifts on Christmas day. 

The joy I see in my children's eyes as the rip open the wrapping paper as if the present will jump away is magic. Magic to see them with wide-eyed smiles & dancing in the air for the little tokens of love that they're receiving. 

I always wrap under the lights of the Christmas tree. Its glow brings a special kind of nostalgic magic to the experience. In recent years, I've added a festive beverage of Bailey's & egg nog to make for a nightcap. Placing the presents one by one under the tree to hear little voices the next morning guessing which wrapping paper will be theirs. Giggling to one another about their best ideas on what lies underneath the paper. To hear their innocence is to believe in the magic of Christmas. It is to remember the reason for the season and the greatest present we've ever been given~ the birth of Christ.

 

 

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Take a Picture with Santa

There is always magic in the air; sometimes you just have to look for it. And a magical night we had indeed at The Sauerbeck Family Drive-In. We were greeted by a wonderful conductor who took us on a journey aboard the Polar Express. Complete with hot cocoa, homemade cookies, candy canes, and of course the magical jingle bell.

As we arrived at the North Pole, we had the most magical moment meeting Santa. He was gracious & patient & fun. The kids were filled with a joy that brought me to tears. They heard the jingle bells ringing loud and clear; And I did too. Especially this year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Thompson Christmas Bucket List: Bake & Decorate Christmas Cookies

One afternoon we decided to combine baking & cookie decorating to keep us in the holiday spirit! We baked our family poppyseed bread recipe for neighbors & teachers. My little assistant Adelaide enjoyed wearing matching Mrs. Claus aprons while measuring & pouring all of the ingredients. The boys & Salem enjoyed the aroma gracing the kitchen. I love sharing my childhood traditions with my kids.

 

 

To satisfy our sweet teeth, we decorated ornament cookies. I saw the cutest pre-made cookie box with all the fixins for decorating~ icings, candies, & sprinkles. Each of the kids got to decorate two cookies for themselves and perfected their technique as they went along. We enjoyed the cookies with some hot cocoa and a festive movie after dinner.

 

 

 And because you can never have too many sweets during the holidays, we had a girl cousin cookie decorating party at my sister Taylor's house. So precious to see the littles get excited and to watch the bigs help them with their cookies. The bond these cousins share is one of the greatest joys & gifts of our lives.