Christmas Traditions '09

Every time someone asks me about our family Christmas traditions, I get a little verklempt.  Since I've been married, I've had to accept that I won't experience a Christmas like I had growing up, and I think this year is the first time I've been OK with that.  Mostly because Trey and I have tried hard to establish our own family traditions, trying out new things during the season to see what works and what doesn't.  It's also a bummer that Isabella misses so much with us, but we're all about Making It Work!  So this year, we experienced....

Fort Zumwalt's PAT Christmas - while not our school district, we heard great things about the Fort Zumwalt Parents as Teachers Christmas activities up at the City Centre.  So glad we braved the cold for this night.

Ryan loved shoveling the 'snow'...

...and building the towers and knocking them over!

While Sean & Sis went over the river and through the woods.

And Isabella attacked giant bears.

The best part?

Free pic with Santa!

Family Tradition verdict: Maybe.  Free pics with Santa are always good!

The next thing we were able to do with Isabella was Christmas Lights!  We love, love, love the Avondale house, and are bummed to see that he's taking a year off.  While many places are starting to do the synchronized lights with music, this guy has the best show in our area.  Check out the videos on his site.  Love his Trans-Siberian Orchestra number!

If we had been smart, we would have continued our light tour during the week.  Instead we waited until the weekend to finally check out Tilles Park this year.  Tilles is located in Ladue, and we opted to do that instead of the usual O'Fallon city display.  Of course, it wasn't until we got there (30 minutes later) that we found out they only do carriage rides on Saturdays.  And it was cold.  And the boys were in jammas!  So we opted to bring back another family tradition in it's place - since we were half way there, we headed downtown, and visited the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.  This is one nugget from my teenager Christmases that Trey and I have kept, and I love it!  Market Street is also nicely lit, though St. Louis really could learn a lesson or two from bigger cities about Christmas trees.  Ours kinda sucks.

Family Tradition verdict:  Of course.  Where there are lights, we will travel!  We would still like to see Tilles, Our Lady of the Snows and that place next to Six Flags.

The following week, we experienced Journey to Bethlehem, an incredible play/live action/reenactment at Harvester Christian Church, where the boys and I attend MOPS.  You travel as part of a family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, right behind Mary and Joseph, and along the way, witness a wedding, visit other travelers camps, pass through the Roman soldiers camp, see the Angel, visit the Bethlehem marketplace, and finally to the Inn and the manger out back.  It's all outside, in the woods behind the church, and it was simply amazing.  Sean was pretty freaked out, especially when the Roman soldiers pulled me aside and threatened to take me and Sean as slaves!

Family Tradition verdict:  Probably.  It may be a bit intense, and it's definitely freezing cold, but really just too cool.  And Isabella missed it this year.

Two days later, we barely made it to Trey's union hall for their annual Christmas with Santa.  This is an established tradition, we have gone three years in a row.  They set up little Christmas vignettes, they have live reindeer, and of course, pics with the big guy.  You've seen him before - this Santa has now graced two of our Christmas cards.

The Latta fam and Mr. Claus

Whom no one wanted to sit on!

Dasher, Ryan & Isabella

My babies.

Isabella making friends with Prancer.

Ryan taking it all in.

That's not ice.  Just a nicely waxed floor!

Family Tradition verdict:  Of course!

And then on Monday, the FitMommas had our first Holiday Get-Together.  I love these women - some of the best!  And I'd never been to La Chata, on Hwy K - So Good!  And we had a white elephant gift exchange, which are always fun.  Unfortunately, I only had my crappy iPhone, which takes awful pictures.  Mac failed on that one.

Nothing like a preggo Kelly, pretending to chug 'ritas.

Kelly & Erin admiring their regifted gifts.

My girl Kari.  That's a simple wave she's performing there.

That Naughty Sommer!

Mandy, hangin' with us Christians, 

and Gina, and her sassy new bangs.

Family Tradition verdict:  Family, no.  Tradition, it better be!

The following weekend, we hit another free church activity, and this one blew Journey away.  Drummer Boy put on by Stikyard at Grace Church.  Wow.  Watch the video through the link.  This is a first-rate production, worthy of the Fox, but is totally free.  The only downside is getting there an hour early and still struggling to get a seat.  Once the show started, the boys did great for about 40 minutes.  Of course, I'd guess the show lasted an hour fifteen!  Either way, add this to your list next year.  Do not miss it.  Afterwards, we hit Las Palmas with the McCanns.  Their present to us this year?  Pitchers of Margaritas!  Love them!

Family Tradition verdict:  Without a doubt!  Any chance Isabella can be with us next year for this?

Two nights later, we were conned into freezing our butts off for Wild Lights at the Zoo.  Really, Kari, you told it was going to be warmer this night!  And while the McCanns skated in with their US Bank passes, we were unable to convince Sean that he was two years old, and had to pay $5 a piece to get in.  For what is, at best, a mediocre light display.  I loved the fiber optic trees, and it is pretty nifty that it's actually warm in the Penguin & Puffin Coast.  But after shelling out fifteen bucks to get in, we still had to pay for hot chocolate and the carousel.  Ppbbblltttt!  Of course, I can't wait to see Sean's new carousel friend Hank the Hyena when it's warm again.


Family Tradition?  Um, no.  Not until it's either Free or they start throwing in some extras!  Isabella is so lucky she was with her Momma.


Unfortunately, we once again bypassed the Annual Latta Christmas Party.  Ryan's birthday really puts a snag into that planning.  Maybe we'll host a winter party after the first of the year?  I dunno.  Also, because of the weather, we missed Christmas Traditions on Main Street - something we've only managed to get to one year in our stay out here in St. Chuck County, which is ridiculous, since it goes on for four weeks.  Just once, I'd like to see the Santa Parade!  Next year.  I promise!  And I've heard Santa's Workshop at Bass Pro is something to see.  Do you need to own camo to attend?


So there's our Christmas Season activities for this year!  Actual Christmas postings to come this week!

Editor's Note:  I have no idea what's up with the spacing in this post.  Tried to fix it a few times, and it ain't workin'!