a very special 12 Days.

This year we introduced a super special, super fun new family tradition. (We may have borrowed the idea from some friends, but who cares!) Starting on Dec. 13th, we introduced a paper chain with 12 links on it. Each day, Reilly got to tear off a link and on the inside was written a special activity for us to do as a family. As we went through our 12 Days of Christmas celebration, I learned SO much about the traditional Christmas song! First of all, they really did used to celebrate Jesus' birth for 12 days by giving gifts for the duration. Secondly, I learned that there is an underlying, "hidden" meaning to each of the parts of the real song. This is so cool that I will give you the link so you can check it out for yourself: http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/12_days_of_christmass.htm

So, for this year's "Turners 12 Days of Christmas", here were the activities that unfolded:

Day 1 - Reilly opened her very own Little People Nativity Set

Day 2 - work as a family to build a Gingerbread house

Day 3 - watch a special Mikey Mouse Christmas show

Day 4 - special date night with Daddy, including dinner, peppermint milkshakes, and shopping for mommy and Braxton

Day 5 - deliver gifts to a friend in need

Day 6 - bake Christmas cookies and decorate then together

Day 7 - share our cookies by delivering them to some friends

Day 8 - more cookie decorating with friends, surprise visit from Santa, Christmas with DeeDee, Poppi, Uncle Brandon, and Aunt Angel

Day 9 - Birkdale Christmas: singing bears, Tree, dinner and then HOT CHOCOLATE (for the first time!) by the fire with Christmas music

Day 10 - date night shopping with mommy

Day 11 - Popcorn in the car for a Christmas light tour around the neighborhood

Day 12 - Jesus' Birthday Party-- cake and ice cream!!

We snagged a few pics throughout our 12 day celebration....