Sitting here, working on crochet orders for customers, I decided to take a break. Christmas is coming, and I though I'd share some of the traditions we are keeping, and some we are starting for the first time with our girls. Christmas was always a big deal for me growing up, I have a rather large extended family of aunts and uncles, some near and some far, but there were always a lot of people around over the holidays. We're hoping to create a lot of memories that stick with our children for many, many years to come.
1. "Fred" - our Elf on the Shelf. This will be his second year checking up on our girls. Last year he played a huge role in toilet training our oldest, and hopefully this year he will help to instill a sense of giving in them as well. I found a link on Pinterest about an Elf who brought the children boxes and a letter. The letter contained instructions for the children to fill the boxes with toys they didn't want anymore, or that they wanted to donate to other children who maybe didn't have as much. We are so doing it with our girls this year. Between our 4 year old and our 1 year old, they have tons of toys. Like, Way. Too. Much. I figure we can start teaching them about helping others now, and it will be a natural course for them to follow later.
2. The Christmas Eve gift - pj's. snacks and a movie. I was always allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve, and it's something I'd like to continue with my girls. By turning it into family movie and pj night, it becomes a moment of togetherness that they will (hopefully) carry with them in to adulthood and will pass on to their own children.
3. The 5 Gift Rule - they can ask for 5 things. Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read, and one random gift. We don't focus on Santa gifts as much as some, we refuse to give some random guy credit for all of the awesome stuff ;) so the one random thing will be what they ask Santa for. The rest is all Mommy and Daddy.
4. Family Breakfast - before presents. That's right, we have breakfast as a group before they can open one present. Their stockings are fair game, doesn't matter if it's 4am. Everything else waits until Opa is in from doing the barn work and we eat. Christmas isn't just about presents around here, it's spent as a family. We open gifts when everyone is here to enjoy the fun. Plus, Opa wears the Santa hat and passes the gifts around from under the tree. It's great fun and will teach my girls patience.
5. Donating to a Toy Drive - again, I want them to know that they are fortunate to have parents who can afford to buy things without sacrificing on groceries. They need to understand that not everyone is as lucky as they are, so I will take them shopping for a toy and let them donate it to a toy drive or specific family in need. Maybe we'll grab some groceries for the Food Bank while we're at it. I want my girls to have a spirit of generosity.
6. Cookie baking with Mommy - I went out and bough three aprons, one for me and two for them. While our youngest is still too young to help, she will need the apron soon enough. Our 4 year old is a great helper, and loves to "cook". So we will don our matching aprons and make cookies, and cakes, and what ever else she feel like. I will introduce her to the Newfie "snowball" cookie, and the Dutch Botter Koek (Butter cake). She will know that both of her heritages are fantastic and unique. And that real butter makes the cookies taste so much better :)
So that's a small glimpse into some of our Christmas traditions, we may add more as the years go by. Some may fall by the wayside. But hopefully we will make lots of memories to be taken into lives beyond childhood.
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions? Leave a comment and let me know!!
