momma mommy bwuh

If you know, you know. Anyone else’s photo reel look like this?

When we first started this tradition, it felt like one more way to bring a little extra magic into the holidays for our boys—boys who hadn’t always experienced very magical holidays. In fact, when Boy2 was just five years old (FIVE!), he didn’t believe Santa was real. If that isn’t motivation to create some Christmas wonder, I don’t know what is.

The magic of Santa Claus, Elf on the Shelf, and all the whimsical traditions that come with this season is just that—magic. Childhood is short, and these little bursts of wonder shouldn’t be rushed. If you believe in the magic, it’s there.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t fully feeling it this year. Part of me wondered if this might finally be the year they stop believing… and I get a break. But then I remember that jaded five-year-old and snap myself back together. There won’t be many more years of this, and even though waking up in a cold panic because the elf didn’t move is a lot, I know I’ll miss it—the rush, the laughter, the wide-eyed excitement.

This is probably the most well received Elf scene so far this season! (iykyk)

As a Catholic family, it’s also important for us to honor the true reason for the season—the birth of Jesus. Our boys are in Faith Formation, and I volunteer as an assistant in their class. Honestly, we’re learning together. It’s been a while since I sat in a Faith Formation classroom myself, and I love re-learning these teachings with my kids and watching their curiosity grow.

Part of our Christmas tradition is a homemade Advent wreath that we light each Sunday. We made it together last year, and the boys lit up (literally and figuratively) when they saw it come out of storage this season. They also participate in our church’s “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest hosted by the Knights of Columbus. We make sure to catch the Jesse Tree play and the Living Nativity, too.

At home, we decorate with everything we’ve got. The tree, the stockings, and—yes—the inflatables I once swore I’d never own are proudly staked in the yard. Green garlands glow inside and out, and fake poinsettias (because the real ones never survive here) brighten the porch steps. Reds, whites, greens, silvers, and golds fill every corner. A Nativity scene and Advent wreath sit alongside this year’s Lego Advent calendar. We watch the classic Christmas movies, drive around admiring neighborhood lights, and visit the James Island County Park Festival of Lights—and sometimes Bee City’s Christmas lights, too.

Another tradition that’s important to us during this season is giving. Each year, we choose a couple of tags from the Angel Tree at our church, and the boys help pick out gifts for the children we’re matched with. We also make a few monetary donations where we can. It’s a simple but meaningful way to remind the boys—and ourselves—that sharing our blessings is part of the heart of Christmas, too.

I don’t think you have to choose. You can embrace all the fun and sparkle of the season and still keep Christ at the center. There’s room for both the magic and the meaning.

How does your family balance the fun, festive traditions of Christmas with the deeper meaning of the season?