Something new

After last year reading and hearing more about the idea of giving three gifts (like the Wise Men) representing something needful, joyful, and meaningful I was SUPER excited!!  I help out Santa and other extended family members with their Christmas shopping, so I knew this would simplify my job/excel spreadsheet!!  Plus anytime I can tie something into the true meaning of Christmas...I'm in!!

After seeing this idea on Pinterest and knowing how much Tyler and I LOVE to travel, I knew this is what I would be making Tyler.  Getting the maps took the most time and was the most challenging.

  Some of the maps had locations I needed close to a middle seam/staple and the maps on line were dull and ugly.   I included where we met and fell in love, where we were married, where we honeymooned, where we spent our first anniversary, ten-year anniversary and the major trips we've taken just the two of us (no kidos!).  We've got Europe, New York, DC, Oahu, Sedona, Maui, Italy, and Thailand coming up this spring.  This frame represents the first 15 years of marriage, I guess I'll start another one for the next 15 years! 

I love how it turned out and most importantly, Tyler loved it!

 For our girl's meaningful gift we gave them Mother/Daughter journals.

When they opened them Christmas morning (all of the meaningful gifts stood out because they were wrapped in gold paper) they found the letter I had written to each of them on the front page. 

We take turns sharing or asking questions and then return it to the other's pillow.  It's already been awesome.  Some notes have been long.  Some have been short.  Some of the letters have been hilarious.  Some have been voicing a few complaints.  Some have been sweet and tender. They all make my smile and are going to be journals to treasure.
Here is one of Megan's first pages:

And Katelyn's:

For Andrew I made him a "brothers" swatch-book from papercoterie.com.  It is full of pictures of he and Matthew and their special bond.  Oh, I love how it turned out!  Here we are Christmas morning when he opened it. 

 He keeps it in his church bag with his scriptures and looks through it every Sunday with Matthew on his lap.  I made Matthew an ABC book with pictures of him and things he loves!  Here he is Christmas morning, loving it!

Last, but not least...Tyler's meaningful gift to me was a video interviewing each of the kids having them share their favorite Christmas traditions and memories.  I love it!

This is definitely a tradition that we enjoyed and will continue!