Post by pbandjelly on Sept 21, 2016 9:59:31 GMT -5
H and I decided to start our own Christmas traditions with DS at home. Our families won't be able to travel to us, so it will just be the 3 of us. What holiday traditions do you have or do you want to start?
So far I'm thinking we'll open gifts on Christmas morning (growing up, my family did this on Christmas Eve) and new Christmas jammies for Eve.
We "read" the book "Twas the night before Christmas." It's a recording book done by MIL the Christmas before she passed. It was for the first two grandkids but now our children have added on. Christmas Eve I've given DD new PJs and a book. Then Christmas we do gifts. I figure well add on to some traditions as the kids get older (going to shows, Christmas events, etc). I look forward to it, as a lot of my traditions changed as a child based on who my mom was dating. So I'd like to create more stability.
I love Christmas and am so excited to start some new traditions with the kiddo! The weekend after thanksgiving DH and I always go get a tree from a farm where you cut it down yourself and then decorate the house. I also want to start doing new jammies on Christmas Eve. We also always do a holiday lights drive. I think that one will be a big hit with LO this year since he loves sleeping in the car.
Post by gratefulgirl on Sept 21, 2016 11:33:17 GMT -5
My family is terrible at traditions and I love traditions. We use a lot of DH's: stockings on Chridtmas Eve, a special snack-y dinner then. We decorate a live tree and do lights outside. We started doing an Advent wreath on our own and the bigs love it. When they are older I want to have them sleep in front of the tree even though we don't do Santa (DD1 is under strict orders not to spoil it for anyone). It was my one tradition growing up.
For Thanksgiving we did a gratitude tree last year. I liked it, may do it again.
We love coloring on (until 3) or dyeing (after age 3) eggs at Easter.
Post by spicysalmonroll on Sept 21, 2016 13:36:53 GMT -5
H and I are pretty much on our own for holidays, we don't get together with our parents or anything. Traditionally we've done the "no kids" thing like either going to a bed and breakfast or getting take out sushi and a movie. No idea how we will change it up to be more kid friendly lol.
Last fall I ordered really nice stockings with our names on it. And now I'm pissed because they say our names (rather than mom and dad). They were not cheap so I don't want to order new ones. I ordered DS his own that matches ours though.
H and I are pretty much on our own for holidays, we don't get together with our parents or anything. Traditionally we've done the "no kids" thing like either going to a bed and breakfast or getting take out sushi and a movie. No idea how we will change it up to be more kid friendly lol.
Last fall I ordered really nice stockings with our names on it. And now I'm pissed because they say our names (rather than mom and dad). They were not cheap so I don't want to order new ones. I ordered DS his own that matches ours though.
We did stockings with our real names even after having DD. We wish we'd done Mom and Dad too.
My mom always made sure we had little bits n pieces and candy tucked into stockings for Christmas morning no matter what else we had.
I try to watch White Christmas every Thanksgiving like I grew up with, but I might move it to Christmas Eve or Day with my kids.
I desperately want a tree some year, but they are not tiny kid friendly, nor cheap. I have many handmade ornaments. I hung them on my wall last year.
Otherwise... I don't really know. We aren't religious and SO isn't very holiday oriented so, its up to me or nothing happens. I don't love tradition for the sake of itself, but I have some fond memories of childhood and Christmas was often one of the best each year. I would love to give my kids happy memories like that, too.
I have my personalized stocking from when I was a kid and then DD and H have ones I got personalized from etsy. I will have to get DS one.
The past two years, we've taken DD to meet Santa at a Christmas in the Park event. We also took her to a neighborhood that has lots of lights and cut outs of cartoon characters.
We do Christmas Eve dinner and I actually don't want Christmas to be focused on presents for the kids.
Post by penny2103 on Sept 21, 2016 21:55:46 GMT -5
Christmas will be pretty different for us this year. For the first time in my entire life I won't be at my mom's house on Christmas eve. We want the kids to wake up in their own beds on Christmas morning. This also reminds me that I have to check if Pottery Barn still makes the stocking that match the rest of the family's. Have to order one for DD!
Post by frodabaggins on Sept 21, 2016 23:01:43 GMT -5
I grew up with tons of beautiful Christmas traditions and everyone in my life knows how much I love it... Then I converted to Judaism! It's been really hard to give up Christmas, not going to lie. And this year Hanukkah starts on Christmas eve, so I don't know how much my husband is going to want to drive up to see my parents. He's way more strict about observing Jewish holidays even though I'm the one who brought up converting and convinced him! For Hanukkah last year we lit the menorah each night and ate lots of traditional Hanukkah foods - DS LOVED it. Think we'll do the same and get the kids a few presents.
Post by dc2london on Sept 24, 2016 16:11:38 GMT -5
meagpt22,I absolutely love your storybook idea. You've inspired me to ask my gran and my H's grandmothers to do the same for us.
We love the holidays and go all out. We host Thanksgiving each year, so on Sunday evening after the guests go home we make hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows, turn on Christmas music and decorate the tree as a family.
On Christmas Eve the "elves" make a delivery from Mrs. Claus. She sends socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, new toothbrushes, and Christmas movies/popcorn. The elves also bring "Magic pajamas" which contain special powers to help children sleep on Christmas Eve. We also make hot pretzels as a family, and take a walk around the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights. Dinner on Christmas Eve is tapas and always includes shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon.
On Christmas Day we always cook a big, fancy dinner.
Post by dc2london on Sept 24, 2016 16:12:47 GMT -5
Oh, we also always watch all of the seasonal Charlie Brown movies when they air, especially the Great Pumpkin and the Christmas one.
And I have fond memories of dancing in front of the Christmas tree to "Christmas is Here Again" with each of my children so far. Can't wait to do that with DD this year.
meagpt22,I absolutely love your storybook idea. You've inspired me to ask my gran and my H's grandmothers to do the same for us.
We love the holidays and go all out. We host Thanksgiving each year, so on Sunday evening after the guests go home we make hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows, turn on Christmas music and decorate the tree as a family.
On Christmas Eve the "elves" make a delivery from Mrs. Claus. She sends socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, new toothbrushes, and Christmas movies/popcorn. The elves also bring "Magic pajamas" which contain special powers to help children sleep on Christmas Eve. We also make hot pretzels as a family, and take a walk around the neighborhood to admire the Christmas lights. Dinner on Christmas Eve is tapas and always includes shrimp cocktail and smoked salmon.
On Christmas Day we always cook a big, fancy dinner.
Can I come to your Christmas??
Of course I have some time before DS will be able to help, but I love the idea of baking something together on X-mas Eve and will totally be stealing it!
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