Football

So when I mentioned on December 1st that I was going to share our families December traditions, I am certain you thought Christmas traditions. Well, this is a December tradition that does not have anything to do with Christmas. THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME or as we are calling it this year the CHOMPionship game!!

The first weekend in December every year we enjoy watching the SEC championship game. In our nine years of marriage, the Gators have gone to the championship game 3 times. Lou and I are going to the game against Alabama today. If the Gators win, there is an incredible chance it means they are going to play for the National CHOMPionship game!!!

The SEC Championship game is also played the same day as the ACC Championship game...and if Clemson could ever get to that game, I'd be thrilled!

The day of the SEC and ACC Championship games is somewhat bitter. A lot of years it means the end of college football for us...and we love college football!!! Hopefully this year this game will mean our season is extended into January with the National CHOMPionship game!!! CHOMP, CHOMP & GO GATORS!!!

Three Gifts

Another tradition we have here in the Sicilian household is the tradition of giving three gifts. We started this after we had Brewer. Christmas was huge and completely out-of-hand as I am sure it is in a lot of your homes. I had read once that a good way to limit Christmas is the three gift rule. Jesus received three gifts (from the wise men), and it would be a good way to limit the gift giving in homes. So we adopted this philosophy. Now, don't feel bad for our children...they get three gifts from us, at least one BIG gift from Santa, a stocking, three gifts from their grandparents, and then they have their uncle and other relatives.

There are several nice things about this three gift rule. The main one that I have noticed is that Brewer is extremely selective in what he picks as gifts to ask for. We've made it clear to him that he only needs to ask for three...and his selections have been well thought out.

Girls' Christmas Party

When I moved back to Jacksonville in the summer of 1998, my dear friend, Christina, and I started a Bible study in our apartment. The Bible study lasted for years, people came and went, got married, moved away, had babies; you know LIFE HAPPENED! We haven't met in a few years to do Bible study, but all of the girls have remained friends. Each Christmas we have a Bible study Christmas Party. What is ironic about this is that there is no Bible study any longer...but this is what we call it. I believe all of us long to be able to attend a Bible study together but with work schedules, kids, and other activities...we simply aren't able to do so. Every year at the party, we eat appetizers and desserts and have an ornament exchange. It is always a lot of fun. Two of the best parts are girl talk and no kiddos! For those of us in the group that have kids...We all love our kids to pieces. Yet, we also like to be able to just be silly girls and not wear our mommy hat for a few moments. Anyway, tonight is the night of the GIRLS' BIBLE STUDY CHRISTMAS PARTY!!! I am really looking forward to it. What a great tradition we have here! My friends are amazing and I love being with them!

Christmas Photo

Another tradition we have each year is to have the photo made for the Christmas card. This year I have two kids to get photos of...and I must say that in Maddox's nine months of life, I have yet to get a photo of the boys together that I like. Even at this photo shoot, I am not in love with any of the photos of the boys together.

Here are some of the photos that we got for the card this year.

One of my favorite things about this photo of Maddox is his outfit. Brewer had the same one for his first Christmas! I think it is so sweet. I am very thankful I was able to find the same outfit in Maddox's size so I have photos of both boys' first Christmas in the same outfit!

Me-Maw's Tradition

My mom (known to Brewer and Maddox as Me-Maw) started a tradition of giving the kid's a figurine for their own nativity set each Christmas. She actually gives it to them before December 25th so that they can enjoy it for the whole season.

So far Brewer has:
1. Baby Jesus - the year I was pregnant (2004)
2. Mary and Joseph - his first Christmas (2005)
3. the donkey - his second Christmas (2006)
4. the sheep - 2007
And this year she was planning on giving him the angel except when we pulled out the characters he already had and set them up in his room, he informed us that it wasn't complete b/c he was missing the stable. So this year, he received...
5. the stable - 2008

So far Maddox has:
1. Baby Jesus - the year I was pregnant (2007)
2. Mary and Joseph - his first Christmas (2008)

I am grateful she has started this tradition with the boys. Not only can I remind the boys each year that Me-Maw give this to them; it is also another way to reinforce the real meaning of this Christmas season!

December Traditions

I thought I'd use the month of December to update you on our December traditions.

Every Thanksgiving weekend, we use the weekend to decorate for Christmas. This is the first time in 33 years of my life that I've had an artificial tree. But in our new home we need a very slim line tree and so artificial was the way we had to go. I must admit that it was a little easier to deal with than the real tree. However, my heart still has a slight cringe whenever we drive by a lot of trees. This year I actually was done with decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving day. Lou calls it the Christmas creep...but I want to enjoy my long weekend with the family. Therefore, it was great to have it finished early!

This year we have lights on the outside of our house, a Christmas tree mixed with what I refer to as "filler" ornaments in the browns and blues of our home as well as family ornaments we've collected through the years, our nativity sets (Willow Free, Fontanini, and Fisher Price), and garland with stockings coming from the staircase. (Our new house doesn't have a fireplace or mantel so our stockings are hung with care at the staircase.)

Since Brewer and Maddox are still three-years-old and 9-months-old respectively, they can't really help with decorating, but I do want them to know that all of these decorations and light shining is because we are celebrating the birth of Christ. Brewer does love holding the baby Jesus from our Fontanini set.

Family Photo

Today is family photo day for us. It is in 3 hours and I am absolutely NOT ready...but here I sit at the computer. (Is anyone else thinking 'procrastination'?) I am not ready in so many ways. I still have post-baby weight I am hoping to lose. (Do you think that will come off in the next 3 hours?) I still need to iron clothes for the boys, try on clothes for me...I have no idea what I am wearing, pack combs for everyone, pack a touch up make-up kit for me, etc. I guess I know I work well under the wire...so here I sit instead of doing what needs to be done. We haven't had a family photo since Maddox was born. When I have taken the two boys together for a photo, I have been exhausted after the photo shoot and I'M NOT EVEN IN THOSE! LOL! Whew -- maybe I should take a nap first. Maybe I should take a shower for the day (always a plus, especially on a photo day).

Yet, I am not concerned or nervous about the photo session. We are having them done by Kurt English at his studio here in Jacksonville. He is so professional and talented. His assistant (and wife), Lisa, is patient and kind. Together Kurt and Lisa will do an awesome job working with our family. If you think of us at 5 PM/EST today, say a little prayer for our session. I don't think I have it in me to go back for a second take. Or better yet, say a prayer for Kurt and Lisa because I am leaving this one to them!!!