Christmas

[laird6372]

So, I'm curious...How many people are just starting their Christmas shopping? We just went last week and got our ornaments, tree topper, stockings, stocking stuffers, and 2 big presents for the kids. Either this week or next we will be getting the tree. I feel so bad for getting such a late start!

For Christmas, our family started a fundraiser for babies in the NICU, though. So we started that, which is why our Christmas shopping is behind. We got a little busy with that. I think a family tradition may be doing something for charity each year...

I'm wondering what other Christmas traditions we could do? This is our first year "as a family" (meaning, since DH and I got married..We had DS and DD before we got married, and he had SD from a previous marriage, and now I'm pregnant again...lol). I really want to find some good traditions to start with the kids, so they can carry it on...We both have traditions from our families that we like, but some of them conflict...So we want to come up with our own, in addition to the ones that don't conflict from our families. As of now, we have decided that we will have a present opened on Christmas Eve (probably PJs since I see that is a big tradition on this board!), decorating the tree as a family (need to figure out when SD will be at MIL's so she can be on Skype when we do it but we want to start a specific day, so that will probably have to wait til next year), and stockings (though we don't know what to put in them.. Right now, DS has some cars/trucks, and DD has the "A Christmas Carol" Barbie and Kelly)...I think beginning next summer (when SD is here) we will make some handmade Christmas cards from the kids for family. What other fun traditions can we do with the kids? And what menu do you have for Christmas dinner?

Sorry I'm full of questions, but I've never planned Christmas before...We decorated a tree last year, but our actual Christmas has always been at my parent's house (every year for the kids besides this year, and every year but one for me). I just want to make it as special as possible for the kids (DS is 2.5, DD is 1.5, SD is 7)...Especially since this year, DS and DD will only have DH and I, since we are stationed in Japan and no family is coming over here for Christmas (my parents were going to, but since I"m due in Feb, and it's a couple thousand in tickets, they are waiting til the baby is born to come).

[SophiaofLight]

Sounds like you are a military wife. My hubby is retired Navy. I'm so glad I don't have to pack and unpack the decorations everytime we move now.

Actually hubby bought our tree today, he such a big kid at Christmas. But it's outside until Sunday when we will put it up. It's hard to believe it's really only a month until Christmas. We got new lights for inside and outside but have tons of ornaments. We play Christmas music while we decorate the tree. For the kids it might be fun to get them each a new ornament each year as a tradition. My parents did that for me and I still have all of them.  We also do a charity tradition in my Dad's memory. We donate to the local humane society either in cash or call and find out what they need.

Stockings are so fun to do, we even do them for our pets LOL. And hubby and I do one for each other also. Sometimes I think the little things are the most fun part of Christmas.

Another thing we enjoy doing is the Hallmark Channel runs Christmas movies all of December and we turn all the lights off except the Christmas lights in the house and watch the Christmas movies. It's always so relaxing and we enjoy it. Nice way to spend an evening and they have some good movies. With smaller kids ABC Family has a lot of Christmas movies all month long too for the younger ones. Make hot chocolate and popcorn and enjoy.

And we take one night to drive around and look at all the Christmas decorations and lights around town. It's always so pretty to see everything all lit up.  I remember doing it as a kid and it was always a highlight of our Christmas season and hubby and  have continued it.

Spending a weekend making fudge and cookies with the kids is always fun and letting them help decorate the cookies. They always seem to love that.

As for dinner, we don't have a totally traditional one. I do so much cooking at Thanksgiving that I change things up for Christmas. We generally have a ham, fruit salad, potato salad, broccoli with cheese sauce, deviled eggs. And for dessert either pecan pie or sometimes I make a cake or cheesecake. For Christmas Eve dinner we have gotten in the tradition of making a breakfast: waffles or pancakes, eggs and bacon. Easy to fix and a comforting meal.

Hope some of that helps. Wishing you and your family a very happy and joyful holiday season

[Rushn311]

Well we are either buying a real tree(for the first time) this weekend or putting up our fake one. I always start the weekend after Thanksgiving. Then my daughter's tree comes up and she helps decorate it.

After all that comes the inside house decor. Hubby will work on the outside early December.

We like watching xmas movies together, and I was thinking of doing a gingerbread house for the first time. The kids get to pick out an ornament and I also buy them one as well.

Xmas Eve the family comes over to my house and we open all gifts except from Santa. Xmas Day morning the kids open santa's gifts, I make a big breakfast and we watch xmas story all day haha In the evening we go and drive to see everyone's xmas lights and pick up chinese food! :D

[iHEAVENn]

Don't feel bad for just starting your holiday shopping :)

I think it's normal to shop right before/after Thanksgiving. Makes more sense to me..

As for traditions..

Our son is only 2 so we don't have many yet..

the ones we do have are

-Son and Hubby bake cookies together every year

-Son gets to open 1 present on Christmas eve.. (Always something small... but doesn't have to be pjs)

Not many but it works for us :)