A December Birthday Present that turned in a Tradition.

Happy Birthday with a Merry Christmas

I was blessed with Parents that both had birthdays in December.  This always made things a challenge in terms of gifts especially as they got older.  They both said "we don't need anything" and neither cared to receive gift certificates.  Over the years I had heard so much about people going to Actors Theater for The Christmas Carol and I really wanted to go, so in 2004 I decided to get 4 tickets and invite Mom and Dad.  They loved it.  They loved it so much they said lets do something like this again next year!  That started the yearly December tradition of "the Birthday present".  Sally and her family joined on most occasions and even Johns Mom. 
The last 9 years events are listed below with some pictures

1.  The Christmas Carol at Actors Theater
2.  A Tuna Christmas at Actors Theater
3.  Joe Huber's Annual Holiday Dinner & Show
4.  The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Kentucky Center for the Arts.  Buca Di Deppo.  We ate at the table in the kitchen.  We were the only people there because there was an ice storm.  It was a lot of fun!
5.  Conner Prairie Christmas Experience and Meal.

6.  Its a Wonderful Life Radio Show at Kentucky Center for the Art
7.  Kalidescope at the Galt House

8.  Blue Christmas at Huber's
9.  The Polar Express in French Lick Indiana

10.  Rockette's Christmas Spectacular in Nashville Tennessee

Our Family

The Rockette's.  An Amazing show!

Eating at the Aquarium Restaurant in the Opry Mills Mall.  Really neat place to go. 



11. Believe a Holiday Variety Show in Nashville Indiana.  We had dinner at the Big Woods Pizza Co.  Great meal!  Spent time walking around to all the shops too. 

Dinner at Big Woods Pizza Company was so good!  The calzones were huge and delicious and the pizza was excellent too.

After the show Santa met with the kids and they were able to go on the stage where it was snowing!

12.  A cabin in Gatlinburg and Biltmore.  We Spent Thanksgiving at a cabin in Gatlinburg and then went to Christmas at Biltmore that Saturday.  We saw the Dixie Stampede and went tubing at Ober Gatlinburg.  It was an amazing trip.

Part of the family at Bitlmore

13.  We had a difficult time topping last year and finding a day that worked for everyone.  Mom is an IU fan and she was happy to be able to go to the IU vs Purdue Football game after Thanksgiving.  It was perfect weather for a game and a lot of fun.  After the game we ate at Triple XXX Family Restaurant in West Lafayette.

I have enjoyed everyone of these events.  Its fun to take a little time out on Dec to enjoy a day with the family.  As the kids have gotten older they have tagged along with us.  As much as I loved the Christmas Carol my favorite is a tie.  The Conner Prairie Christmas and the Polar Express.  at Conner Prairie you walk through 1836 Indiana at Christmas time.   You make stops at houses along the way.  It was very cold that evening and snowing which totally added to the night.  We visited a young Jewish couple who had just came to Indiana an were preparing for Hanukkah and playing with a dreidel.  Next to a Christian family that was stringing popcorn by the light of the fire.  We visited the Mayors house for his Christmas celebration.  We sang Christmas carols and looked at the food that would have been served in 1836.  We walked through other houses and seen how they were celebrating.  At the end we went inside and ate a nice meal.  he kids were young but all of them enjoyed it!  It was just a neat experience.  Then the Polar Express last year.  There were a pretty sizable snow fall the night before which cancelled the event.  I prayed ours would not be cancelled.  We survived the drive to French Lick which included a semi full of eggs wrecked and spilled all over the place!  We ate a late lunch at a winery.  We all wore pajamas and boarded the train.  I just cant explain how magical it was.  The Polar Express was read aloud as the train traveled along the snow covered area.   The elves sang and danced with everyone.  The conductor came through.  There was hot cocoa and cookies.  Finally there was Santa who gave the kids a magical bell.

Ok, maybe I love Christmas which made me enjoy all of these events, but I bet most people would enjoy them as well!  Its certainly a fun thing for our family.  

If your parents tell you they don't want anything think outside the box for something to do with them.  Regardless of the time of year there is always something to do with them.  I know a lot of parents that would love nothing more then to spend a few hours with their family doing something rather then receiving a gift they don't need.