Wednesday, November 26, 2008

A time for traditions...

Holidays are always full of traditions.

I've always loved the idea of traditions - but we don't have very many... I'm always looking for new ideas of stuff to do with the family. Stuff that will be meaningful and lots of fun.

One new tradition we've started is that every year, we cut 4 circular pieces (one for each of us) off of the tree trunk, stain them, put a little hole on the top, carve/burn the year on them and make them into ornaments.

So, the kids will take a physical piece of every one of their childhood Christmases with them when they go off and start families of their own.

Of course we have other little things - watching Christmas movies, getting our annual Christmas picture at Disneyland, leaving cookies for Santa...

But I'm always looking to explore some new options.

I did a little research and found some possibilities that I thought were kind of cool. Thought I'd share them.

1. Exchange gag gifts
2. Play a special card game with the whole family on Christmas Day
3. Hold dinner at someone else’s house each year, be sure to ttrade off
4. Exchange hand-made gifts
5. Put together a family photo Christmas book every year
6. Make a gingerbread house together. Let each person pick out a pack of their favorite candy to decorate the gingerbread house with
7. Make at least one new ornament per person in the family each year to place on the Christmas tree.
8. Have a special Christmas movie night

I would love to hear some of your traditions!

10 comments:

Rick said...

Our only tradition is that at some point in the day a family member or two calls me Scrooge. Actually I just commented here to bring attention to the fact that I was comment #40 on your birthday blog.

VikingMom said...

Traditions...traditions...hmmm, let me think. First of all, I know its a basic one, but I had to fight for it: opening presents on Christmas morning. Apparently Billy's family always opened theirs on Christmas Eve. Working the Drive Thru for all three nights has become another one of our traditions (driven more out of the desire to see Billy during the worst time of the year for us, than community service I admit.) Beyond that, we don't really have any. Come Christmas day we all sigh a sigh of relief and welcome this guy back into our lives that we haven't seen for a long time: Dad.

VikingMom said...

Man, that was a depressing post! Debbie Downer once again.

VikingMom said...

Let me clarify..."depressing post" as in my comment...not your post. Sheesh. You'd think I'd be able to communicate clearly via type. Oh well. (And yes I know, I'm probably talking to myself...or is that writing to myself?)

VikingMom said...

I thought of another one...new pj's on Christmas Eve.

I seriously need to find something else to do other than comment on Heidi's blog today.

Kristi said...

curtis and i dress up like mr. & mrs. clause and then...

VikingMom said...

And then what Kristi? Hmmm? Say it! Say it aloud! :) (Sorry, I was quoting Twilight there at the end.)

johnsonandjohnson said...

and then they make elves.

Zach said...

Wow, you're crazy Laurel. I walked into one when I married Kristi, we exchange PJ pants on Christmas eve. I brought one of my own, coming from my mom's side of the family we do coffee cake on Christmas Morning. Another we started last year is instead of turkey or ham, we have steak on Christmas night (My idea). I think we might steal your ornament idea, I love the idea of keeping pieces of the tree trunk as mementos.
Z

Diane Davis said...

does all of us talking over one another until the volume gets so loud we break out the advil bottle count?