Traditions

In our home, we have a pretty big line-up of holiday traditions--beginning during Halloween, when I sit down with the kids and watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Now that Christmas is ten days away, I admit that I've been a bit lax this year on the tradition front. Having about six jobs between the two of us does that, so I'll be cramming them in in a daily double kind of way. Here's a list of what we'll be doing and what we've already done:

- Decorate the house inside and out
- Read Christmas books at bedtime
- Have a hot chocolate and popcorn movie night
- Put a train set around the tree
- Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life (in black and white only)
- Dance and sing to Christmas music
- Visit the snow
- Take a picture with Santa
- Write a letter to Santa
- Bake cookies
- Pick a new ornament for the year
- Attend midnight mass
- Christmas brunch
- Help make lumpia/teach Dianna more about Filipino food

This is a great time to teach kids what traditions are, and traditions are not just a yearly event. Traditions like family game night and having a nighttime routine count--anything that you do regularly, but now there's new vocabulary for it. Some of our regular traditions include library visits, storytime, and family dinners at the grandparents' house.

What are your traditions?

Job Hate

After a week and a half of the most depressing and frustrating jobs I've ever held, I read this and just laughed. Is hate too strong a word?

My personal meme: You know you hate your job when you have a nightmare that your boss is blocking the door after you hand over your resignation letter.

If you're in this kind of job, find your calling. Life is too short. Happy Monday.

Have an amazing weekend and [City + Family]

These past three weeks have been full of stress and excitement. I went on a guerilla job hunt one week, got hired three times, quit one job, and tomorrow I'll be attending my final orientation.

I've been relaxing the past few days preparing for another week of chaos. Being home with the kids again has been bittersweet. In just a week and a half, I've noticed more tantrums out of them than ever--I'm sure out of a need for attention and the constant spoiling they've received from their grandparents' watch. But I've also come to appreciate all the little moments that we share with a less serious approach.

In that spirit, here's some City + Family This Weekend Only just for you:

The Ford Raptor Round-Up: Get a chance to drive a Ford Raptor around a professional course, eat, and be merry all day tomorrow 11.9.13. Even though online sign-ups are now closed, if you show up early, you may still be able to steal an open spot. Food trucks and a ton of family friendly activities will also be in attendance.

Tivoli Village Annual Autumn Harvest Festival: Beefed up even more than last year, this year's fall festival at Tivoli Village still includes the free petting zoo and gorgeous gourd displays; new to this year's festivities are a chili cook-off, a Chicago Brewery Beer Truck, and contests galore. Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm, enjoy the typical Fresh52 faire plus the added family-friendly fall events. For the full list of activities, check out TV's harvest fest page.

Mums the Word! Star Nursery Kids' Garden Club: At every Star Nursery tomorrow 11.9.13, the kids can plant their own mums, the flower of the season. Go between 10am-12pm for this free event.

Sesame Street Live "Elmo Makes Music": It's Sesame Street Live, people. Your kids will dance and sing along to their favorite songs as they learn about new "instruments" in a Blue Man Group-meets-Sesame Street kind-of-way. Tickets start at $23 each with two shows a day on Saturday and Sunday.

Family Storytime at Summerlin Library: A dragon-themed storytime awaits complete with a dragon craft for your kids to make and take starting at 11am.

Monsters University Screening at Windmill Library: The Saturday Movie Matinee of the week starting at 1 pm.

Teen Scene Movie [Hunger Games] at Summerlin Library: If your kids are excited for the imminent release of Catching Fire, send them to the library for a screening of the Hunger Games and free pizza at 2 pm.

Photo above from the "Jack and the Beanstalk" club day.

Halloween for the Ladies

With Halloween fast approaching, I loved this list Brit + Co. came up with of spooky fashion that 1) wasn't an overt costume and 2) wasn't an ugly sweater. At the end of the day, it's all festive, stylish and pretty sexy.

Some of my favorites:

Here's the whole list.