Christmas Traditions

[sugarkissed]

Forgive me if we've already discussed it, but this is the first year that our kids are really aware of Christmas.  Any fun traditions that you plan to introduce?  

Aside from new pyjamas on Christmas Eve, I've got nothing. I'm seeking inspiration.  We also bought an advent calendar last night and DD has been begging me for "Cember" (December) ever since. 

[lilqt3929]

I'm starting to think about this and I'm not 100% sure what I'd like to do, although I've seen a ton of great ideas! This year I am determined to make sure our little family has time to enjoy one another and not rush around everywhere else. I'd like to bake/decorate sugar cookies with DD because she just loves that kind of stuff, this will obviously be before Christmas. I like the idea of new pajamas and a Christmas movie for Christmas Eve and we do have an elf on the shelf we're going to try out this year although I'm not sure how much DD will get it. I am thinking we will start the 3 or 4 things (I cant remember exactly what it is) for gifts, a gift from Santa, and a stocking (just stockings for DH and I). DH and I aren't huge spenders for holidays since we buy things throughout the year too, plus I know she will be getting gifts from others. Growing up my Mom always had a coffee cake and some other special goodies for Christmas breakfast so I'd like to stick with that and I remember waking up in the morning and Santa had left our stockings at the end of our beds (when DD gets a little older I will do that also).

[redfraggle]

We do stockings for St. Nick's night instead of Christmas morning. Usually, it includes an apple, a chocolate, a toy, and a book.

Decorating the tree is always fun. We also do a drive through a local park that has a really nice light display in December. The kids like helping bake holiday cookies and making art for the grandparents.

We go to church as long as the service won't interfere dramatically with our routine. And we usually have some family parties to go to.

[mommabakes]

Christmas lights at the zoo sometime in December, decorating cut out cookies, a Christmas eve night will be spent watching Christmas cartoons, and they'll get a box with new pjs and a book. Christmas morning will be gifts and pastries before heading to my grans.

[Unknown]

We have so many family obligations, but when both girls are a little older I want to take them to see The Nutcracker each year. I love it, so I hope they do as well.

[salemkitty]

Christmas Eve we will drive around look at lights, watch a Christmas cartoon and read a Christmas book. Christmas morning we will have a special breakfast and presents.

We are going to try Elf on the Shelf this year and an advent calendar. We also go to the lights at the zoo. We have already started some Christmas crafts. We also took DS to see Santa and Santa sent elves to deliver a model train for our Christmas Tree.

DS2 is due on Christmas Day so H wanted to start Christmas early. He didn't want DS1 to get 'cheated' bc of the new LO.

[salemkitty]

jnetx, I am well, thank you! as long as I remember that what I want to dono longer matches what I can do

I'm nervous about juggling two Littles. How are you guys doing?

[Deleted]

Things I always watch during December - How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Year Without a Santa Clause, The Rockefeller Tree Lighting, Garfield's Christmas. The girls have seen most of these already.

Things I always go to - NYC, Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. It will be a few years before I start doing this with them, but they LOVE listening to the TSO cds I have. They dance around to it. I've been doing the concert thing since 2010 and it gets better every year. Actually, I was at a concert the day after my FET which brought me the twins, so I've always joked about how they are inherent fans.

Santa comes on Christmas Eve and brings a present to open before bed. I got a realllllly nice Santa suit when the girls were first born at Party City. Santa is bringing light up dragons from Build-A-Bear this year. And once Santa is no longer believed in, the kids still get to open one gift from Mom and Dad on Christmas Eve.

Midnight Mass is a favorite of mine (usually 10pm-12am at my church). My old church used to do a lot with candles during it and it was just so pretty.

I started doing Elf on the Shelf this year. They don't quite get the whole "the elves watch you and report to Santa thing," but they love finding the elves in the morning!

Picture with Santa is a must.

Our Advent Calendar is one of the ones where you move a piece into each day's spot, not the ones with doors and candy.

Cinnamon buns on Christmas morning!

Making Christmas cookies. But they will not be helping this year. I can only envision the mess....sprinkles...sprinkles everywhere!

A Christmas tree in their room. My parents always had one in my room as a child and I love doing the same for them.

[carli]

My DH wants to do a Build-a-Bear every year with DD. It's really low on my list of priorities though. I just don't see making a stuffed animal every year worth the time and money but he's mentioned it the past 2 years and again today, so we probably will at least start the tradition.

I'm trying to do fun things with DD. We made an ornament the other day and my best friend and her kids are coming over to do a gingerbread house this weekend. We'll also be driving through a light display at the lake nearby. And we buy an ornament every year to represent our family and/or any significant things that have happened through the year.

[wowcheezits]

We do St. Nick's here too so DD got a stocking full of goodies and the tree went up that night while she was sleeping.

We also do a different version of Elf on the Shelf where each time a family member will move the elf somewhere different on each other. Like one time when I took a shower someone moved that damned thing right outside the door looking right up at me.

I've been teaching DD Christmas carols and she sings them whenever she hears them.

Every year my mom and sister come over and we'll open presents and have hors d'oeuvres.