Holiday Traditions

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

Really, it is! We have our house and yard decorated (or at least decorated enough to satisfy a five year old and a three year old), the shopping is 95% done, and the radio is tuned to a local station that plays Christmas music 24-7 from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas day! With all that said and done, it's time to sit back, relax, and think about our holiday traditions...

Okay, okay... Easier said than done (the sitting back and relaxing part) but the real crunch hasn't hit yet, so for the time being I am choosing to believe in my little head that I am going to have time to sit back, relax, and enjoy said traditions. Even if I don't have time to do that, I am at least going to sit down and relax right now and share them with you!

* Ornaments - Each year the kids pick out a Hallmark ornament. They start perusing them as soon as they hit the shelves in like... September or some crazy month like that. Lucky for Big A they have a different John Deere tractor ornament every year. Little A usually opts for a Disney Princess of some sort, this year it was Ariel.

We also get ornaments from my in-laws every year. B and I get one and each kid gets one. We have fun opening the Christmas boxes every year and looking back over all of the ornaments we have. We talk about whose they are, where we got them, who they're from, etc.

* Light Up A Life - This is an evening of music, inspiration and remembrance sponsored by the local Hospice. There are speakers, musicians, candles, tears and TONS of white lights in the huge redwood trees downtown. We bundle up in our warmest clothes and head out for this special evening.

* Lighted Boat Parade - This is parade of boats on the river. All of the boats are decorated with lights and Christmas decorations. It's another COLD evening, but still great family time!

* Christmas Lights - Closer to Christmas we all pile into the minivan, hit up the local Starbucks, and head out to "hunt for Christmas lights" as Big A puts it. We play Christmas music and ooh and ahh over the light displays we find.

The kids and I have another Christmas Light tradition. Around the corner (or a couple of corners) from our house, there is a man who goes all out. I mean ALL out! He includes the entire neighborhood, and it's spectacular. Every time the kids and I go out at night (or come home from Grandma and Grandpa's) we have to drive by and check out the "house with all the lights".

* Shopping For People Less Fortunate Than Ourselves - Since I was a young girl, my family has always worked together to help those less fortunate than ourselves at the holiday times. We used to select three or four families each year to play secret Santa to but recently have been donating to various organizations instead.

One thing I try to stress to the kids is how blessed they are and how much they've been given. We talk about how there are boys and girls out there with no toys, no clothes, not even a toothbrush. We look for opportunities to donate to others and we include the kids in this process. I take them shopping to purchase items for individuals in need and explain to them what we are doing and why. They are still young and have some difficulty fully understanding the concept, but I will NOT give up. I feel very strongly that this is an important value to instill in my children.

So there you have it... I've shared with you some of OUR favorite traditions, what are yours??? How does YOUR family spend the holiday season?