Holiday traditions?

[teraiin]

Is anyone planning on starting any holiday traditions this year? Or in the future since our LO's are still little lol (Or you STMs want to share any you have?)

I'd like to do some stuff in just not sure what. Like the pjs, movie, popcorn thing. Or Christmas crafts.... Or filling the shoe boxes...

[ellesea]

So far we've done Christmas jammies and baking cookies. The last two years we've had the in-laws over for Christmas breakfast before we all open gifts, that will probably continue for a while. This year we are cutting down our own Christmas tree. I'm so excited, I've never had a real tree. Ds1 is still not into movies or crafts so those will have to wait.

[ellesea]

Oh I forget out town does a light show that you can walk through in the park. There is also a live Nativity scene that I want to see this year.

[CattyNattyRN]

We don't really have any with just H and I. But we did buy Henry a little nativity set for his room that's infant-safe. I saw a super cute elf on the shelf-ish idea about using "wandering wise men" until Christmas Eve when they find the nativity. But obviously that would be for when he's older. I want to do a holiday movie Christmas Eve and cookies.. That would be fun!

[Deleted]

We'll do a day of making yeast rolls, making a massive Graham cracker gingerbread house as a family, and probably something charity related that will change every year.

Obviously she's not big enough yet, but by next year she'll at least be able to help with the yeast rolls.

[westiemom]

I'd like to do something charity related. I usually take gifts to the children's hospital so I will take DD with me this year.

I also want to do Christmas PJs and Santa in a few years once she understands. That's about all I have thought out!

[bexincanada]

For gifts we'll do something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. Cutting down real tree, and Santa.

[tincupchalice]

We have Tree Elves. They were a thing in my family but we've changed them around to work for us. They come 2-3 times. Right now it's two, might add the third later.

First time is the day after thanksgiving. They'll bring something small (This year is the book polar express since we're going to the polar express train in December) and a letter with tasks to be done in December before Christmas. Things like bake cookies, donate X number of toys, volunteer somewhere, etc.

Second time they come is Christmas eve, when they bring PJs and a family activity. Board game right now, though later it might be movies and cocoa or whatever.

The third time (which we aren't doing yet), is they hide a final tiny present in the tree when it's time to take the tree down. Kids have to help put ornaments away in order to find the present.

[fishbulb]

We cut our own tree, do Christmas PJs (I bought those yesterday at Carter's), and visit Santa. We also go to JC Penney and have Christmas photos taken and cards printed up that I never remember to send out. I usually end up scanning one and posting it on Facebook. That counts as tradition, right?

[jbeans27]

Our traditions our definitely a bit out of the ordinary! We typically go to a country in the Caribbean that my grandparents lived in and we've been going to for 30 years. We have a lot of friends there and while there is not true poverty there are definitely a lot of needs and we always pack a whole suitcase with stuff for our friends and other people on the island.

With that, we also don't do big gifts. Growing up,my gift was typically my airfare somewhere and we're planning on doing the same with our kids.

My husband's family is very different and very into gifts so we're to balance things. This hasn't been a big deal yet but I think might be this year. In a perfect world I'd have everyone donate to the kids travel fund.

[annarose]

I haven't really over thought about creating traditions but here are the things we do during the holiday season:

Get our real tree the weekend after thanksgiving. ( used to be the day after but I have been working that day in recent years)
We do ornaments together. I drink Starbucks and DD1 can drink hot coco while listening to Xmas music.
We have been getting a new ornament for the kids each year
We baked cookies last year with one of DD1's friends and would like to do that again ( we use the cookie press gun which I remember from my childhood)
Watch my favorite Christmas movie since childhood - Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. H loves it's a wonderful life
Mall pictures with Santa
Christmas Eve has been out to dinner with either my family or H's. Not sure about this year since it would be around LO's bedtime. Maybe somewhere local and early bird.......
We host Christmas since we've been in the house. Undecided about this year.
Family grab bags with H's family. 1 for the adults and 1 amongst the kids.

I think that's it. We will also be attending the Zoos Christmas event this year which I'm excited to see

[twocents6708]

For Thanksgiving, we started something a few years ago called a thankful tree. It's some branches in a vase as a centerpiece for our table and we write things we are thankful for and hang on it.

Christmas traditions include baking cookies and taking to neighbors, buying gifts for foster kiddos, and decorating the tree the day after Thanksgiving. We have a big meal with my family and give gifts on the actual holiday.

[snoris]

Yay we do tree on Black Friday as well, usually some charity like a giving tree or something, a new tradition the past few years has been homemade gifts only, we've given oil infusions, built a pantry, made quilts, etc. this is only our second Christmas in our new city since moving and there's tons to do. We shall see!

[snoris]

Does anyone do matching family jammies? I was looking at some but they're pretty expensive!

Adding: I was considering sewing matching bottoms for everyone and just doing solid color tops to match 😂

[teraiin]

Nov 13, 2016 17:22:15 GMT -5 snoris said:

Does anyone do matching family jammies? I was looking at some but they're pretty expensive!

Adding: I was considering sewing matching bottoms for everyone and just doing solid color tops to match 😂

I wanted to but h nixed the idea so fast my head spun. 😂

[twocents6708]

Nov 13, 2016 17:36:18 GMT -5 teraiin said:

Nov 13, 2016 17:22:15 GMT -5 snoris said:

Does anyone do matching family jammies? I was looking at some but they're pretty expensive!

Adding: I was considering sewing matching bottoms for everyone and just doing solid color tops to match 😂

I wanted to but h nixed the idea so fast my head spun. 😂

Same here!

[annarose]

We have the girls matching this year. I know my husband wouldn't be into it. Maybe when one of the girls asks him....