Growing up in my family, Christmas was a big deal. Let me rephrase: it was a production.
This year, we decided to have Christmas at home and keep things simple. It was glorious. Baby’s first Christmas was quiet, stress-free, and very special. Perhaps down the line, we will brave planes, trains, and automobiles to be with grandparents, aunties, uncles, and cousins, but this year was all about our new family. Regardless of where we spend futures Christmases, we’ve started a few traditions this year that we can continue to do anywhere.
Stocking Photo
This year, G’s stocking was as big as he was. It will be fun to snap a photo of him with it each year to see how he grows! (Santa suit optional 😉 )
Family Photo
There is always an abundance of snapshots each Christmas, but I love the idea of an annual family photo by the tree. It’s a simple way to capture the year we are all leaving behind.
Christmas Frames
I also love the idea of holiday frames that will grow and change with our family. I picked up some festive, affordable frames from Target for this: one frame holds a photo of Baby with Santa; the other holds the year’s family Christmas card. Each year I’ll place the current photos over the ones from the previous year.
Christmas Pajamas
Who doesn’t love new pajamas? They don’t have to be fancy or expensive, but it makes Christmas Eve especially fun to go to bed in something nice and new.
Ornament
I like to shop the day-after sales for this. Each family member gets a new ornament to add to our collection.
Outlining the Year Ahead
Instead of resolutions, this year we are writing down our goals, projects, and hopes for the year ahead. Exploring baby sign language, taking a family vacation, and learning how to groom the dogs sounds a lot more fun than resolving to lose 15 lbs, doesn’t it? This list is less goal-oriented and more experience-oriented.
What family traditions does your family share over the holiday season?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
We go to a movie on Christmas Eve and always have cinnamon rolls on Christmas day. G is adorable. 🙂
Thank you 🙂 Both of those sound wonderful! Hmmm…I think our traditions list has room for some cinnamon rolls 😉
We enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home as well. It was pretty perfect. 🙂
I’m so glad! I still really want to come visit TN. It’s on me “someday” list 🙂
We’d LOVE that!!!
We are also doing the new Pjs for Christmas morning and the family photo by the tree. Elf on a shelf has also made its way to our home and my mom buys my sister and me an ornament every year for our tree and it’s something she’s started with Madelyn.
I need to read more about this Elf on the Shelf thing! Older kids seems to like it!
hahaha oh that is so freaking cute! G can actually fit IN his stocking! I love it! Hope you and the fam have a wonderful holiday season!! Happy New Year mama! xoxo
I didn’t try to put him in it but that would have been awesome! Happy New Year to you, Julie!
Great traditions! I love the photo of G next to the stocking!
We have been doing advent calendars for many years. This year the kid got two – one with a small piece of chocolate every day and another one with a small book every day. It made December really special.
We spent Christmas at the beach with my parents & the older kid – it was non-traditional, low-key, and very relaxing.
Happy 2013!
I remember doing advent calendars (the chocolate kind!) as a kid. I’ll definitely have to add that to the list once the kiddo is older 🙂 I’m so glad you had a nice holiday season! Happy New Year!
Love the traditions, you have a beautiful family! We have a couple of traditions. 1. We go visit santa the week before Christmas and then have dinner at Rainforest Cafe and the 2nd tradition has only been in place for a few years. The year my Dad died we couldn’t bear having my Mom wake up alone on Christmas morning so we all spent the night and now it’s something all kids and grandkids do every year.
That is so sweet about your dad. What a great family tradition.