Holiday Traditions after Baby?

Re: Holiday Traditions after Baby?

• kmh2201 member

  December 2014

  Maybe you could do their favorite Christmas dish (one for each) for the meal.  Also, do they celebrate a different day than on Christmas?  Maybe you can do a smaller celebration on that day, for example:  One thing we do for DH's side of the family is celebrate on Christmas Eve.  His grandma was from Germany, and that's when she traditionally celebrated, so we've continued that tradition.  Also, my grandma on my dad's side made a particular type of roll for all family get-together meals, and I've decided that I'm going to make those for our family meals (DH, LOs, my parents, and my sister) on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

  You could always start something new, like watching a favorite Christmas movie on Christmas Eve or Christmas Night, or drive around and look at Christmas lights in your area.  Maybe find a place to volunteer (e.g., ringing a Salvation Army bell, serving a meal to the homeless, etc.).  Maybe make a keepsake Christmas ornament (this year you could do a handprint).

  Have fun!!

  

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• emberlee3 member

  December 2014

  I like making Christmas cookies with my mom and kids. I always decorate the tree with the kids. DS and I have made DIY nativity scenes the past two years. I think DH and I will have a Christmas date night at home to watch Elf or Christmas vacation, and make that a tradition.

  DS born 8/8/09 and DD born 6/12/12.
  

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• 2chatter member

  December 2014

  Here are the things we do

  Santa

  Lights (drive through a set up or great area)

  Sing to the elves on the front porch every night (my parents always had me be still and look for the elves as a child, so continuing that with a twist).  The elves bring the kids' Christmas PJs and leave them wrapped in the front yard.

  This year we are unwrapping a Christmas book and reading every night.  As the kids sort of think this should be cumulative, this is taking an hour a night.

  Adopt an angel and shop as a family

  Family ornament every year (delivered by our Elf on the Shelf)

  City Children's Parade

  Walk in our town's parade (did this with ECPTA when they were little, now Girl Scouts)

  Bake sugar cookies and refrigerator roll cookies (same as my childhood)

  Decorate a gingerbread village

  

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• kelsz12 member

  December 2014

  A tradition my MIL started for DH that we are carrying on--buying a Hallmark ornament in a designated series for each kid every year. Since this is our first Christmas as a family of three, we bought a family ornament and started a series for DS.

  
  

  Growing up, driving around to look at Christmas lights was something my family always did that I would like to continue. Also when our kiddos get older, I want to carry on a tradition from my family of opening one gift on Christmas Eve (always a game of some sort) and playing it together before going to bed. 

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• MommyAtty member

  December 2014

  It was really important to me that my little family had our own tradition. Not one done by me or DH as children, though we have plenty of those too. So we bought a really beautiful copy of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and read that before bed in front of the tree on Christmas Eve, then put out cookies and a carrot for Rudolph (my family tradition), and wear special new pjs. Though now that I've read it, elves just might be bringing pjs this year. That is so cute!!!

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• DiveFrog member

  December 2014 edited December 2014

  We have managed a good mix of DH's family and my family traditions. However, 2 things we started once we had DD was the tradition of a going out to breakfast, followed by a trip to a local tree farm to pick out and cut down our Christmas tree, and we also go to a special Christmas store and pick out 2 ornaments for our DD that reflect her personality, favorites or interests.  Once DD is an adult she will have a whole slew of ornaments that are "hers" that she can take with her for her first tree. 

  
  

  ETA: These are just the 2 new to both of us traditions we have started so far....We want to continue family traditions of St. Nick's Day on 12/6, and having an advent calendar, baking cookies, reading the night before Christmas before bed on Christmas eve etc. We also intend to add a few more traditions that we have thought of as our daughter and any future children get older and more capable of participating in more activities.

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• Charlotte51 member

  December 2014

  I just wanted to thank you all for these great ideas!

  I am definitely going to incorporate a mix of them throughout the week.  I really like the idea of getting pajamas every year on Christmas Eve - so cute and it will make a great photo op to look at the progression over the years

  Happy Holidays to everyone!

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