Starting a new (inexpensive) tradition for DS

CalinsBride

The other day someone posted asking about whether anyone was doing collections for their LOs. Some people had good ideas, but we are financially strapped right now and can't really afford many collectors items out there right now, or even for the next few years. I really liked the idea, though, so we decided to start a new Christmas Eve tradition. Each Christmas Eve DS is going to get to open one present, and it is going to be Pajamas. I thought that was kind of boring for a kid, though, so we are also going to get him a matchbox toy each Christmas Eve wrapped up with the PJs as well. They're like $0.79, but still something fun to collect and something he can give to his kids if he ends up having any. We picked up a Jeep one for him today

vab1216

Thats great! We also open up one on Christmas Eve..but it can be any present of choice.

rebus82

That's a good one. I like that (and may be forced to steal it!)

Last year B opened PJs and a book (The Night Before Christmas, which we'll read every year now). I think I'm going to continue that, the Christmas-themed book and jammies. I already found him a cute mouse book at the library book sale for 25c (it's in great condition too) so that's getting wrapped up for this year. When he's a little older the Christmas-theme may go away, but I love giving him books, so that'll probably hold over.

groovygrl

Cute idea! We're just doing pjs also but next year I want to start a 12 days of xmas thing where they get something small or we 'do' something each of the 12 days (even as simple as a holiday themed craft that I'd prob do w/ them anyway...). 

When I read the first sentence or two about doing collections & how money was tight, I thought you meant actually taking up a collection (of $) for you kid. HAHA. I was like ummmmmmmreally?

Having had 2 collections growing up that now live in a box (collector spoons from like everywhere we went that were on display on spoon racks in my room- a pretty old school collecting tradition) and bunny rabbits which I was obsessed w/ as a kid, I'm not a big fan of collections really. But now that I think about it, I should hang those spoon racks in my daughter's room or something, we could look at them when they're older & discuss the different plances... 

CalinsBride

rebus82:

That's a good one. I like that (and may be forced to steal it!)

Last year B opened PJs and a book (The Night Before Christmas, which we'll read every year now). I think I'm going to continue that, the Christmas-themed book and jammies. I already found him a cute mouse book at the library book sale for 25c (it's in great condition too) so that's getting wrapped up for this year. When he's a little older the Christmas-theme may go away, but I love giving him books, so that'll probably hold over.

I love the idea of the other gift being a book! That's one we considered too, but you can't beat $0.79 DS will get a book every year for Christmas, though. Last year he got The Night Before Christmas, this year he is getting The Nativity Story.

jnk062602

Good idea.  And don't underestimate the pjs - I think kids get really excited about them in another year or so.

jjoli

We almost do exactly that tradition.  Every year as a kid (now doing with my kid, but my parents still do it too) we open our pajamas on xmas eve so that we are all cute on xmas morning for pictures.  My mom has said that why don't I buy you guys slippers or something now that you are older, we told her hell no it has to be pjs.  We also get a hotwheels car in our stocking every year, I have 20 of them will have 21 this xmas, DH has 4 going on 5 and DD has 1 going on 2.  We do these small tradtions but we also have a collector gift evey year too.  I love our xmas traditions.  My DH rarely had xmas's so us as a family adopted everything that my parents did/do we also go to my parents house on xmas.

monkeyqueen

LMAO!    My Mom started that tradition (the jammies on Christmas Eve) when we were little (it took us quite a few years to figure out that that was what we were always going to get christmas eve) and she STILL does it.... We have TONS of pictures with my siblings and I all wearing the same pajamas (patterns, etc.), except when my brother got too old for jammies... he then got T-shirts....

The tradition I'm starting this year with the kids (because Mom still does the jammies - even for the grandkids) is that each kid will get a new book on christmas eve.....  with any luck, it will help to get them to bed earlier.....you know, so they can read their new book:)

Anyway, LOVE your idea!!!

Mrs.C042807

We started the PJ tradition last christmas too.   Except, it's all 3 of us that get new PJs on Christmas Eve.  I picked them all out and will wrap them all including my own.  

DS will also get an christmas ornament every year from me (and my parents too).  It's something I got (and still do!) every year from my parents and grandparents and have a box full of ornaments for my tree now as an adult.

Dulaney

My mom still gets my 3 sisters and I matching PJ's for Christmas that we get to open on Christmas Eve! I love it!

mommytoprincesses

We have opened one present on christmas eve and it is always pjs!!...Now my daughters do the same thing!! ...My oldest is actually very excited about it!!..Last year we also let them both open new blankets which they loved so I am thinking of keeping up with that too...and now that I have read all of the PP's I think I am going to  add a christmas book that we can read before bed!! love that idea!!!

CalinsBride

Mrs.C042807:

We started the PJ tradition last christmas too.   Except, it's all 3 of us that get new PJs on Christmas Eve.  I picked them all out and will wrap them all including my own.  

DS will also get an christmas ornament every year from me (and my parents too).  It's something I got (and still do!) every year from my parents and grandparents and have a box full of ornaments for my tree now as an adult.

All three of us get new jammies too Except that DH picks mine out, and I pick out his. We all each get a new ornament each year too, but we choose our own instead of having them be gifts, and then put them up when we decorate the tree. I get two ornaments for DS. I want him to have his own collection for his tree when he moves out, but I also want to remember which ornament he got every year so I buy doubles

katie_cj

CalinsBride:

Mrs.C042807:

We started the PJ tradition last christmas too.   Except, it's all 3 of us that get new PJs on Christmas Eve.  I picked them all out and will wrap them all including my own.  

DS will also get an christmas ornament every year from me (and my parents too).  It's something I got (and still do!) every year from my parents and grandparents and have a box full of ornaments for my tree now as an adult.

All three of us get new jammies too Except that DH picks mine out, and I pick out his. We all each get a new ornament each year too, but we choose our own instead of having them be gifts, and then put them up when we decorate the tree. I get two ornaments for DS. I want him to have his own collection for his tree when he moves out, but I also want to remember which ornament he got every year so I buy doubles

Our family does Christmas pj's as well. I love the idea of a book and the ornament idea too.

blushingbrideoct07

I have never heard of this PJ tradition but its really cute.  I may have to start this tradition with my own family.