Hannah probably won't be happy about this post because she gets upset when she sees Christmas lights or decorations out before Thanksgiving. She wants one holiday to end before another begins. However, I thought it would be fun to list some of our Christmastime traditions.
Annual photo Christmas card
I love receiving photos at Christmas time and so I love sending photos. However, I do not like taking Christmas card photos. Inevitably, someone gets yelled at, someone gets teary eyed, someone gets frustrated and someone gets irritated. Yet, when we get our final product, we look like a happy family.
Christmas Parade
Every year, since Hannah was a baby in a stroller, we have gone to the Christmas parade. We've been so many years now that we know exactly where to park and where to sit. We always see friends, neighbors and acquaintances downtown at the parade. The kids love getting candy and bead necklaces.
Christmas PJs
Every year Hannah and Jacob get Christmas PJs. They always ask to open a present early and we ‘finally give in’ on Christmas Eve. Of course, the early gift is always the same thing….Christmas PJs.
Want, Need, Wear, Read
We started this tradition a few years ago. Since it is easy to overdo it at Christmas, we decided to get the kids 4 gifts for Christmas. We get them something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. It really makes it super easy to shop. I do buy some small items to put in their stocking. It has worked out wonderfully for our family….and the kids never feel like they didn’t get enough.
Christmas Goodies
I love food….big surprise, huh? Anyway, every year since we have been married I have made fudge for the holidays. I remember going to visit my grandparents and my grandma always had a container of fudge on the cabinet. My fudge recipe is super easy and super yummy! We also make cookies and breads, but since I love new recipes I don’t usually make the same things year after year…except for the fudge.
Christmas Lights
Each year we bundle up and climb in the car to tour Christmas lights around town. There is a neighborhood that goes all out…they even have horse drawn carriages that take people around the neighborhood. It is fun to see how people decorate, but dare I say….it is more fun to laugh at some of the things people do to decorate their houses. There is one house that is a must-see each year. There are over 100 plywood cartoon cut outs all over this family’s yard. It is interesting…to say the least.
I love receiving photos at Christmas time and so I love sending photos. However, I do not like taking Christmas card photos. Inevitably, someone gets yelled at, someone gets teary eyed, someone gets frustrated and someone gets irritated. Yet, when we get our final product, we look like a happy family.
Christmas Parade
Every year, since Hannah was a baby in a stroller, we have gone to the Christmas parade. We've been so many years now that we know exactly where to park and where to sit. We always see friends, neighbors and acquaintances downtown at the parade. The kids love getting candy and bead necklaces.
Christmas PJs
Every year Hannah and Jacob get Christmas PJs. They always ask to open a present early and we ‘finally give in’ on Christmas Eve. Of course, the early gift is always the same thing….Christmas PJs.
Want, Need, Wear, Read
We started this tradition a few years ago. Since it is easy to overdo it at Christmas, we decided to get the kids 4 gifts for Christmas. We get them something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. It really makes it super easy to shop. I do buy some small items to put in their stocking. It has worked out wonderfully for our family….and the kids never feel like they didn’t get enough.
Christmas Goodies
I love food….big surprise, huh? Anyway, every year since we have been married I have made fudge for the holidays. I remember going to visit my grandparents and my grandma always had a container of fudge on the cabinet. My fudge recipe is super easy and super yummy! We also make cookies and breads, but since I love new recipes I don’t usually make the same things year after year…except for the fudge.
Christmas Lights
Each year we bundle up and climb in the car to tour Christmas lights around town. There is a neighborhood that goes all out…they even have horse drawn carriages that take people around the neighborhood. It is fun to see how people decorate, but dare I say….it is more fun to laugh at some of the things people do to decorate their houses. There is one house that is a must-see each year. There are over 100 plywood cartoon cut outs all over this family’s yard. It is interesting…to say the least.
What are some of your Christmas traditions?
4 comments:
I FULLY agree with Hannah. It makes me NUTS to hear Xmas songs and such before we even get to T'giving Day. This is not because I'm a scrooge, I assure you. I just get so sick of the music that by Xmas eve, I can stand to hear another note. I think December 1 should start the Xmas stuff. That being said, I enjoyed reading your traditions. Then, I sat here trying to come up with one from our house... We kinda fly by the seat of our pants... One thing for sure is that we are ALWAYS with my family on Xmas Eve and Jims on Xmas Day. Our kids also get 1 gift on Xmas Eve (or maybe 2 depending on how much wine I've had....) The last 7 years, Mom and I have gone in the hot tub once everyone else is asleep. I really enjoy that. Just her and I with some time to chat. I will miss that when we are back in Syracuse........
I agree. It seems that retailers put stuff up just a little earlier every year.
Read my blog to hear about our Christmas Traditions.
I like the "Want, Need, Wear, Read" gift idea. I've always wanted to do the pj thing too.
I think this was Emilee Barnes' idea and our kids love it. When we put out the manger scene, we don't put baby Jesus in. Then on Christmas morning before the kids get up (or on Christmas eve if they wake before you) we put Him in the scene. That is still the first thing they look for when they get up. (p.s. it helps to put baby Jesus away in a drawer so when you unpack for next year the kids don't see Him yet).
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