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Well I'm away this week on a course for work. Just me. No hot husband. No cute kid. It's hard. I've never done this before.
Well it's gonna be hard. I'm actually writing this on Saturday night but through the magic of blog land you're getting this on Monday.
Oh so clever I know...
So this week while I'm away and stores are at my fingertips I'm thinking about Christmas traditions. Music, movies, cookie making, and activities that we can do as a tradition yearly.
And I'm wondering what your traditions are???
So while I'm away can you share? For the whole season. What things you do on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. More specifically within your own little families as we don't get to spend Christmas with our extended family. {Though we will get to with our compound family :) } And what do you do through the season to remember what it's all about? What kind of things do you do to remember Christ's birthday? What do you do for your kids to remember that it's a special time of year? Anything and everything.
Share share SHARE!
And don't worry. There will still be a PEEK this Friday!
Will miss you guys!
Can't wait to see what you write!
12 comments:
A few of our favorites... on christmas eve (day) we decorate cookies(sugar cookies, icing and sprinkles)...then the kids pick their favorites to leave out for Santa. We always attend the live nativity pageant in Cole Harbour every year on Christmas eve (it started out as a way to burn a little time in the evening when the kids were so excited but it quickly turned into a time to reflect on the meaning of the season.) After the pageant we ALWAYS go driving around neighborhoods to find the best decorated houses. (another time waster lol!) We also attend the neptune theatre's christmas show every year on Boxing Day. This year is a musical of "A Christmas Carol". Can't wait.
On Christmas Eve day we are usually cooking and baking...cleaning up the house and getting ready for a big Christmas Eve dinner party. If we are in Utah it was at my grandma's house until she passed away...now moved to my aunts house. If we are here in NS we STILL carry on the tradition at our home. We have the big (usually ham but sometimes prime rib) dinner and then the kids get to open a gift from Grandma (always Christmas jammies). Then we get the kids ready for bed...they leave out sugar cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. We read the Christmas story out of Luke and remind the kids what Christmas is REALLY about and then tuck them in!
Christmas Day is usually pretty chill especially if we are in NS. We have nowhere to go and no one to see. But it's nice because we have a huge Christmas brunch and laze around all day! If we are in UT we are running all day to every grandma's and great-grandma's and everywhere else in between. Don't get me wrong...I love being home for Christmas but it's not relaxing at ALL on Christmas Day.
Sorry for the novel. I didn't mean for it to be this long.
For us on Christmas eve we have a potluck family supper before going to see the live nativity pageant. This includes exended families but this year we're thinking of adding some really good friends. We go and look at lights aferwards and then when the kids are all settled in their pj's, they wait for Santa to call...he always does. Then I read to them Twas The Night Before Christmas and send them to bed.
On Christmas morning we read the story of the birth of our Savior and then proceed to open gifts one at a time to savour the moment. Afterwards it's a big breakfast and movies and playing games for the rest of the day until we go over to my sil's for dessert.
A tradition that my daughter and I have is to go see a new release movie at the cinima. Her choice, (hasn't aways been good, think Elf. Of course we have dinner and popcorn. Its been a great experince and will be something we continue.
Now I'm not advicating pirated movies but New Moon has been out for a couple weeks and I am sure you and hubby could get cute little guy to bed early and snuggle and watch it.
Christmas Eve is one of my favorite tradtion-laden times.
Most of the day we just finish up the preparations, spend time together and such. But after dinner we open our Christmas PJ's, get in them, settle down around the Christmas tree and read Luke 2. Then we listen to the opera Amahl and the Night Visitors. Then we eat pumpkin pie, and check the internet to see where Santa is and it's off to bed for the kiddos. Magical.
On Christmas Eve we always go to the Nativity Pageant and then to my Nanny's after to wish her a Merry Christmas. Then when we get home we open one present which like Beckey's kids, is always Christmas Pajamas. The girls usually match and the boys do too. Its fun.
Then on Christmas morning we always take a picture on the staircase as we come down. It's cheesy now because when we come downstairs its not usually at the same time..but we've done it forever. Then we open stockings, have a huge breakfast, and then open presents. Dad ALWAYS hands them out. He feels more important that way or something.
Then, as of recent times Kathy has become the Christmas dinner maker, so we all gather at her place and have a huge dinner followed by naps and family games!
-We have always done some type of service during Christmas. This year Davis and I have been trying to do a service of some kind every week of December.
-Davis and I also last year decided to give out treats to our neighbours and invite them to the Christmas pageant (every member a missionary! Thats what we get for having Davis work as ward mission leader )
-Christmas Eve is at the pageant
-we usually have a little party when we get home from the pageant, with yummy food and egg nog and the pajamma fairy brings us all matching pj's. Still fun even though we are all in our 20s now.
-Christmas morning we HAVE to have the cerimonial bowl of porrige before we open our presents. Parental form of torture, that I will probably carry on. ;)
-We have always done some type of service during Christmas. This year Davis and I have been trying to do a service of some kind every week of December.
-Davis and I also last year decided to give out treats to our neighbours and invite them to the Christmas pageant (every member a missionary! Thats what we get for having Davis work as ward mission leader )
-Christmas Eve is at the pageant
-we usually have a little party when we get home from the pageant, with yummy food and egg nog and the pajamma fairy brings us all matching pj's. Still fun even though we are all in our 20s now.
-Christmas morning we HAVE to have the cerimonial bowl of porrige before we open our presents. Parental form of torture, that I will probably carry on. ;)
I'm bad at doing the same thing every year and I've finally forgiven myself for being traditionless. But I like Christmas to drag out a little more than one morning, so our kids will get their first present on the 23rd. They'll get two more Christmas eve.
We only do 3 presents and a Santa gift and stockings, and that's more than enough if you ask me.
have so much fun!
We always go to the live Nativity Pageant at our church and any other denomination that will have one.
We drive around looking at Christmas lights.
We purge all of the good working toys that no one plays with any more and give them to someone needy.
We play secret santa with a family that might not be able to do all that they want for Christmas.
We do the shoebox Christmas gift.
We read the scriptures together and decorate the tree together.
Well our family (extended) exchanges names on both sides to stay close to one another. We gather together on Christmas, via phone, computer, or in person to exchange greetings.
We get together on Christmas Eve with whatever family is able to make it to the inlaws home and read the scriptures together, play games and open all the presents that are being exchanged between the family and all the gifts that the aunts and uncles give to the children.
Then we come home, open all of the gifts under our tree and the children get to stay up late and play and eat.
The next morning we open Santa gifts, sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and have a wonderful breakfast together. Later in the day we have a birthday cake.
Hope this helps Kristi.
awww Christmas traditions!
This will be our first Christmas as a little family and although we are going to my in laws for the actual holiday it is the pre-Christmas traditions that I really like. For example we had a mini Christmas, with a turkey and everything just last week. Also we bought a special ornament in honour of Noah's first Christmas (it looks a lot like "our first Christmas as a couple" ornament).
But one thing always remains the same, midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Hope Noah will co-operate.
Have fun on your course Kristi! And have fun shopping!
PS. I did a little "peek" over on my blog. Its a "peek" into my home at Christmas. Hope you likes!
i just want to hear your compound traditions.
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