Holiday Traditions That Grow With Us.

Pretty sure it went down like this...

"Santa, you've got to help us, please PLEASE can we have a cat?  

Our parents won't get us one, YOU are our ONLY hope."

Every year Christmas looks a little bit different as every year my boys are 365 days older.

The year before they asked Santa for Star Wars Legos, the year before that similar.  When they were only learning to talk it was "Thomas the Twain."

As each holiday season approaches it's hard for me to imagine the magic that will unfold as they get older.  Why do they have to keep getting older??

But I know it's there, as long as we make space, and really as the mom of this tribe, it's me needing to make space.  As long as I can pause and look away from my to-do list and messy house to NOT MISS it.  Anyone else like this?  Not entirely sure my Christmas cards are going to get mailed on time this year.  That's ok.  Breathe in breathe out, that's ok.  What's not ok is missing the opportunities to be together as a family and make memories.

So this year we decided to start our holiday traditions with the Macy's Holiday Parade.

The magic WAS there.  Here are the moments I will remember...

...the boys so excited for their Yiaya to come with us, she is always the guest of honor in their eyes, I LOVE that.  Hot cocoa to kick it off, with no one spilling!  not even me.  The WONDER in Peyton's eyes as the stars approached and the parade began.  The joy of giving every person they could a high 5.  The fascination they had with the marching bands.  Riese is starting the flute this year, so all of a sudden this part of the parade takes on an entirely new meaning.  For me, the bag pipes, always the point when I can't help but cry, and the magic of being in downtown Seattle with all the festive sparkling lights and decorations.

Macy's goes to the nines for the holidays.  From every detail in their annual train window display to their Make A Wish Santa letter writing station - for how much effort it takes me just to get dinner on the table, I am so grateful that all we have to do is just show up.  Imagine...the most effort being ordering your favorite holiday beverage to enjoy while you walk around soaking up all the Christmas wonder.   I think everyone should add this to their holiday tradition list.

And you know bake sugar cookies from scratch, and adopt-a-family for presents.  Also musts.  But this one - so much easier.  See what I mean?

This mama's heart was filled, and my boys left chatting away about all the different marching bands, not an utter of video game strategy to be heard.  Nailed it.

Thank you for reading,
Kirsty

The post was sponsored by Macy's.

About The Trees. Paper Culture Holiday Cards.

Does anyone else do this?  I start the Christmas card journey and I get so engulfed in all the pretty cards that 20 designs later I'm in a card spiral and I've forgotten that I was planning on going to bed early.  Black and white photos or color?...eye contact or candid?...Just the boys or all of us... With so many stylish designs this is definitely one problem that Paper Culture does not help alleviate.

This is when I call in my husband, the closer.

What Paper Culture does help with is easing my mind on the impact we are having on the environment, holiday cards definitely included.  Their mission is to offset the carbon footprint they create, planting a tree with every order.  They also use post-consumer waste and wood alternatives to make their cards, like bamboo.

This is a big deal in our household.

Because TREES are a big deal in our home.  Not just because WE (yep not just me for once folks) get emotional when they cut down the last tree in The Lorax.  They are my boys favorite climbing place.  Our summer adventuring place.  The light filtering through the trees in the forest is truly magical and beneath the trees is our preferred camping place.  And pretty much this entire fall I gasped "oh my gosh so pretty" at least 20 times a day at all the changing leaves.  Go ahead, ask my kids, they will gladly tell you how obsessed *insert the most loving eyeroll* their mom was with fall foliage.

Did you know that one mature tree produces enough oxygen to support a couple for a year, and one tree absorbs as much carbon dioxide as a car produces driving 26,000 miles.  Wow mother nature is so dang amazing.

Paper Culture has been certified as a Top 10 Climate Leader and is certified as a Green Business.  I just think that's so powerful.  Holiday Card no brainer.

I should also mention that they are having a MAJOR SALE through Nov 27th, 50% off all card designs.  Early bird gets the worm.  AND the Tree.  So what are you waiting for?

Now if I could just make a decision...

best,
Kirsty

Photos by Annie Graebner Photography.  (wait till I share the rest SO GOOD)

Thank you to Paper Culture for partnering with me on this post.