Traditions

Ben and I have been married for 5 Christmas's now, and we started several traditions of our own and carried a few childhood traditions into our family. Now that we have our own kids, we are trying to make a few more traditions for our family that make it special for us around the holidays. I grew up with some traditions and even though they may not be anything big to everyone else, it is what made our family special, so that is what we are wanting for our girls.

Since this is our girls second Christmas, even though they are only 18 months old, we carried through with some of our normal traditions. We hope to make more over the years that our girls say are special to them. But for now, here are a few of our traditions.



1. Every year we go look at our local courthouse lights and decorations, and get out to walk around them. Our courthouse is decorated very pretty, with several scenes that are fun to look at. I know as the girls get older they will enjoy the decorations that much more.




2. We also go look at our state capitol. It is lit up very well on the outside and has a manger scene on the front lawn. But the doors are always open on the weekend nights to go inside and see the decorations in there as well. It is so pretty, and is a chance to wonder around and look at the original capital decorations.

3. We LOVE to drive several nights and look at local neighborhood's lights. It is cheap entertainment that includes the entire family.

4. Since our girls were born Christmas jammies are a must, for the girls of course! It makes for some really cute pictures Christmas morning as everyone is still in their jammies opening gifts and looking in their stocking.

5. When Ben and I got married we said that once we had kids we would want Christmas morning to be our family time. We started that tradition our first year just so that everyone would expect it. Up until this year we have stuck to it, enjoying our morning at home with each other before the kaos of driving to 10 different places begins. This year there was some family timing conflicts so we are adjusting this tradition, but next year we are getting right back on it especially considering our girls will be older and enjoy their gifts more.

6. We take a large family trip to Branson the 2nd or 3rd weekend in December. The lights and decorations, and even the atmosphere are awesome there. We enjoy this tradition with my family and Ben's family. It makes for a big group but we have a blast.

7. Sometime during the holiday's we watch "The Grinch", and "The Santa Clause". Ben and I love these movies so much that we actually own them and watch them year round!

8. Sometime during the season my mom and I get together and make Christmas cookies. The past 2 years we got with my niece to make them, and give a few more years my daughters will be joining us as well.

What are some of your Holiday traditions?