Traditions

This is the 3rd year that shiana has been gone for the first part of the holidays. The past 2 years were nice; the first one I was completely "alone" (keylan was still baking) I felt blessed to have a healthy daughter and a healthy growing baby. Last year was a little more rough, shiana was older and missed home really bad and keylan was of course a breeze to take care since he was only 7/8 months old. This year has been so different, shiana still misses home but she is not crying every night cause of it. And keylan has completely changed since she left. Usually he is a constant screaming terror, but he has not screamed one time other then the 2-3 tantrums he has had. But though the time is nice I have realized that we have no family traditions of our own for the holidays. I remember being little and going to the Christmas parade(which they have completely changed the route for this year )= ), going to have Christmas pictures taken (this is our only year to miss formal pictures) going to see Santa and riding the reindeer carousel while at the mall, looking at Christmas lights on Christmas eve after visiting granny brand, decorating the tree together and leaving cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and then not sleeping all night and getting up early. How could I have missed starting all those kinds of traditions? The only one we have is christmas eve granny gardner's house. Next year will be different! We will be back home in Alabama with our families around and really seasons. Hopefully we will have a house (even if it is renting) so we can decorate. Halloween will be more then just going on post to trick or treat, we will be able to decorate and go see our family and then trick or treat, thanksgiving we will all be stuffed from all the meals that will be made, and my favorite part starting traditions with my kids. I want shiana to be able to look back when she is married with kids and say " this is what we did every year, these were our traditions". I do know that we will do elf on a shelf next year and hopefully things will just happen.