So, I feel a little nervous starting a discussion! haha I thought it would be nice to discuss family Christmas traditions (or whichever holiday you celebrate) you do with your kids. I think it would be nice for FTM and STM+ to see what others are doing so they can get ideas to start with their little/littles.
**I did research the board and saw this question was asked on the TTGP grad check in. So, the people who aren't grads might not be looking in there.
Hope this is ok!! ETA Christmas
Re: Holiday Traditions
Since DD just turned 2 this is the first year she can participate more and understand the idea of Christmas (sort of lol).
We haven't locked down any traditions yet but we are doing a Christmas Eve box for her with a pair of pjs, a movie and a snack. After Christmas dinner the family will relax and watch the movie. Christmas Day we will open gifts, have breakfast with my parents and go on a nice hike. For years now my parents and I have done some sort of beautiful hike, usually 5-7 miles. When DH joined out family he took to the tradition and now we bring DD.
We are also doing tons of holiday festivities during the month of December like festivals, tree lightings, Dickens Fair and the Christmas train of lights.
edited for words
We also got a chocolate advent calendar thing that sits on our mantle and he looks forward to that each day. I'm also big into baking and make tins for friends and family each year. We do a box kit gingerbread house, watch all the movies and go to as many Christmas tree lightings, levee bonfires, Santa sightings, etc as we can!
ETA words
As for me, we do the pj popcorn and movie on Christmas Eve. Wake up and OMG OPEN PRESENTS!! Breakfast is happening somewhere in there, and then for dinner I do steaks with roasted veggies. The casserole/ham dinner I grew up with I get plenty of during thanksgiving.
SO, in the spirit of trying not to stress, I am only committing to a few traditions this year and trying not to put extra pressure on myself: 1. watch Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story at some point Christmas weekend; 2. put up and decorate a Christmas tree (tree is up and half decorated, yay); 3. bake cookies with my husband and son at some point; 4. read T'was the Night Before Christmas to my son on Christmas Eve; 5. make time for just the three of us to enjoy Christmas morning together, opening gifts and having breakfast before the chaos of the day starts.
Anyway- I will def be passing that tradition on to my children or letting her keep doing that with my little! Not sure what other traditions we will start but I am a huge holiday person- so I’ll probably just include baby on all the things I already do- decorating the tree, making Christmas cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, singing and dancing to Christmas music, watching every Christmas movie imaginable!
I also like the idea above about reading Twas the night before Christmas on X-mas Eve, such a cute idea!!!
Prior to Christmas we always make sure we watch our favorite movies (Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, Elf), we usually take a night and dedicate it to going to look at local Christmas lights, and we read a Christmas bedtime story each night between Thanksgiving and Christmas (I am book obsessed and we have way too many!)
Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. My dad is from a huge, boisterous Irish family (he has 9 brothers and sisters, and each one of them have at least 3 kids, most of whom are all married with their own famlies now). My Aunt and Uncle still live in the same town where they grew up, and they own a cattle farm and a winery. They have a big party on Christmas Eve for our family, and lots of their friends who they grew up with stop by at some point in the evening as well. We all pile into their little country church for Christmas Eve service (which is ridiculous because our family takes up about 80% of the church, but they have come to expect it ) and then we go back to their house and hang out, drink, and sing songs (we are all pretty musical-everyone can sing, most people can play an instrument). It's the best party, and the most tangible form of Love I have ever experienced in my life! Such a great start to Christmas.
Christmas Day is more low key for us. Presents and breakfast at home, and then dinner with my family. Nothing too crazy.
Married 6.12.10
DS 11.8.12
Baby GIRL! due 7.4.18
Me 39 - DH 41
Married 8/26/07
TTGP #1 Jan '15 -
BFP 9/11/15 - DS born 5/31/16
TTGP #2 July '17 -
CP July '17
Blighted Ovum MC Dec '17
CP June '18
BFP 1/30/19 - EDD 10/13/19
We did break out elf of the shelf this year
Married 6.12.10
DS 11.8.12
Baby GIRL! due 7.4.18
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018