What do you do for the holidays that you consider a tradition over and over? What is a big deal to you for the holidays to create, and relive, memories?
Growing up we used to go to certain parts of "town" and look at houses all lit up. One night a week I have to be out and about so this year I drive around looking for houses lit up so the kids can see. I hope to keep this up with the boys in the future, we all seem to enjoy it.
A couple years ago we started opening one present Christmas Eve night, always pajamas, so we have nice, new pjs for Christmas morning pictures.
The kids have always gotten a new ornament each year. My tree is more than a little full now, which is fine by me, we will keep on adding. I missed my mom's theme trees she began doing once I was older, so we have a smaller tree that is color-themed. I have decided that is our "Giving Tree" and the presents under it are for someone we feel needs a little more cheer.
On that note of our smaller tree, we give each year. We don't do "charity" because that denotes feeling sorry for someone. We give because we care for someone, be it someone we know or strangers. I was raised with parents who always did for others, I want my kids to grow up with the same core values.
Last year we started reading "The Night Before Christmas" before going to bed, waiting for Santa. This is something I also hope to continue in years to come. We have quite a collection of other Christmas books and movies that I keep adding to. I feel it helps build the spirit as Christmas gets closer.
We have been baking. I am sticking to easy things that little hands can help me with and we will graduate to more complex things as they get older. This I actually did with a friend's mom growing up, each and every year.
I haven't put my mom's Nativity out the past couple of years, or the gingerbread village my mom bought me when I was pregnant with JJ. Little hands make it harder. I can't wait to start putting those out again. They mean a lot to me.
I also loved making ornaments. I remember the foam ornaments covered in silky threads that were perfect for beads poked through on pins. I haven't seen them in stores in years. Now JJ makes Melty beads ornaments and I have plans for a couple others to do with him and I have already posted a couple here that I have done myself.
I'm interested in what others do because some of what we do are not things I grew up with, but things that I felt would fit our family. Please share!
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