It’s my favorite time of year and certainly the boys’ too. So many traditions, parties, celebrations and memories.  Here are a few highlights.

Parties
We celebrated with the Tracy side of the family and saw cousins and with friends of the O’Brien’s and decorated cookies. It is fun to catch up with everyone,even if it’s just once a year. We also hosted a Pajama Movie Night and watched Elf with the boys’ friends. 

Concerts
We had three concerts for the boys this year- each of the boys’ and Brendan’s Show Choir concert. We also attended Livi and Angie’s concert and Josh’s last concert at his school too. As much as Aidan does not like being on stage, he still participates. Brendan’s class performed with other classes in a show stopping performance. At the BCT, party the big news was the announcement of this year’s summer camp shows. Brendan’s group will be doing Into the Woods, Junior (best Christmas present ever).

Brendan’s Field Trip
I got to chaperone Brendan’s field trip which was to the Convention Center. They have been inviting third graders for ten years to come decorate gingerbread cookies and Christmas carol around the building. The highlight is always seeing how big the kitchen is!

Christmas in the City
This was something new for us this year and I hope it does become a tradition. We volunteered at Christmas in the City. Out job was to help put backpacks together that would be given to children who attended the party. It is a great organization that throws an awesome party for families who are homeless.

Christmas Pageant
This was a particularly special Christmas Pageant. It was my 20th and the opportunity to reconnect with lots of my favorite past kids (who are now adults!). It was also Aidan’s last pageant and Brendan wore Chris’ third grade costume and did the job I did in third grade- placing the baby Jesus in the manager. It was a great memory.

Traditions
Cookies, matching pjs, the tree, the ornaments, seeing Santa, visiting the wishing well, our Christmas card– all of it is magical at the holidays. Going to the Enchanted Village (skating, the Polar Express, the old dolls) was something the boys insisted on as was watching Christmas Eve on Sesame Street while decorating the tree. Watching the boys open their presents from Santa and the excitement of sharing gifts with others made my heart happy. They are only these ages once and it was another magical Christmas for the O’Brien Family.

Favorite gifts
This year’s favorite gift for Aidan were his WiiU (and its games), Legos (and more Legos) and his dictionary that is actually a safe. Gift cards were very popular to buy more things for the Wii and more Legos. For Brendan- his American Girl doll was a favorite. Santa surprised him with his own curling iron too! Nana found a Caps for Sale T shirt so Bren is ready for his next show!

The kids had a great fall session of after school activities at Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Aidan took a new class called Code Breakers. He loved it. He wrote his thank you note to Katie in code in fact.

This session he worked on Crazy Little Thing Called Love in piano.  He did great! Listen here.

Aidan was the only student who signed up for Lights Camera Action. So he and Karston, his instructor, made a “one man movie.” You can watch it here.

Brendan had the lead role in Aladdin. He loved every minute of being on stage. Here are a few clips.

Bren also took Broadway Dance with Ms. Kathy. Jazz Hands! Here is their dance for the end of the session.

We are very lucky to be so close to so many great programs! The kids are already looking forward to the winter session!! Big thanks to the grandparents who were at lots of these activities!

Here it is- our 2015 O’Brien Family Christmas Card, “Home Alone!”

We had so much fun with this and we hope everyone enjoys it. This year is the 25th anniversary of the release of Home Alone. In the movie Kevin is eight years old, just like Brendan. A perfect fit!

We realize it may seem crazy to most to spend so much time, effort and money on a Christmas card. Three years (and four cards) ago when we decided our card should be funny it was because we wanted our friends and family to smile and maybe laugh. The holiday season can be tough and stressful for some. If opening a card could bring a moment of happiness, then we did our job. If knowing we thought of you while we planned and took pictures, stuffed and stamped envelopes, then we met our goal.

But we also do it because it has become a family tradition. I love Christmas and I love traditions. I grew up with lots of them; large family parties (like rent a hall because there are so many cousins big), Christmas cookies, church pageants and special pjs. When Brendan was five years old and Aidan was seven years old, they understood that people appreciated our token of holiday spirit. They loved the response almost as much as taping Brendan to the wall. From there our new family tradition was born.

Planning for our Christmas card has become almost a year long discussion. When you have an almost 11 year old, you are keenly aware that if your child wants to talk to you or participate in a family activity you seize the moment. Who knows how long we can keep this going but for now we cherish the laughing and excitement our holiday tradition brings to all of us.

There are discussions about ideas, costumes, makeup and props. There is planning. There is photoshop. Everyone was involved in making this card. We also put together a “making of” video which we hope shows how much fun we had. We didn’t think it was possible to top last year’s card but we think you’ll like this one. Maybe it will bring back a memory of seeing Home Alone for the first time. I know we will never see the movie the same way again!

Past Christmas Cards:

2012 Christmas Card

2013 Christmas Card

2014 Christmas Card