What are your family holiday traditions??

Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:25am

Lets cross our fingers and wish you luck this year Andrea! Thank you for sharing:)

Andrea Robinson said:

We have an informal Thanksgiving dinner at our house. When my husband and I were dating we had it at his house usually just the two of us and his brother. The second year we were married it was with more family members, this year will be different. We live in a MUCH SMALLER area, so I think we will have to "crash" someone elses thanksgiving dinner.

Okay, so if your wondering where the tradition is, in all of this? Every year, no matter what, I mess up something!!! Never fails! The first year, way too much pepper, the second year I used pickling green beans! I couldn't figure out what that "smell" was.. Ohh.. I was so upset, but it was soo funny at the same time!

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:29am

Sounds so fun Jacqueline. Thank you for sharing!

Jacqueline said:

On Thanksgiving, we like to see all of our extended family (who all live in the same city making it easy for us!) We have lunch at my mom's house, then an early dinner at my girlfriend's mom's house, and finish up the day with a visit with my girlfriend's dad. It might seem like a lot for one day, but it really isn't. We find it exhilerating!

Sometimes on Christmas Eve we have a party at our house, and sometimes we go elsewhere for a party. On Christmas morning the kids open their stockings as soon as they get up! We put some healthy snack food in them in addition to other things each year making it easier to wait breakfast for after presents. When everyone is awake, we open our presents. The youngest child who can read traditionally passes the packages out, and we open them one at a time.

After presents, the kids play with their new things, and I make a big brunch! We all eat at the table together; then we go to my mom's house for more presents and Christmas dinner later.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:31am

I think this a a cute tradition. I know other families here in Hawaii that does the same thing. Thank you for sharing Jennifer!
Jennifer said:

We do stocking as our family tradition. Everyone and I mean everyone get's a stocking. Parents, pets, kids, and any guests staying with us for the holidays. On Christmas morning it's the first thing you are allowed to open. The tradition has been going on for my husband's family for three generations now.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:34am

Oh what a lovely way to spend the holidays Julie!! Thank you for sharing:)

Julie Jones-Arnold said:

We have a great Christmas tradition that I started when the kids were little.
We traditionally go to my husbands family house for the big Christmas eve family event....however while we are gone Santa drops by and drops off Santa Jammies for the whole family in a big bag. When the kids were little I would get matching pajamas for all three kids and something for my husband and I. Now that they are bigger I try to stay in the same color scheme. The GREAT thing is...the kids love it and are so excited (and still can't figure out how Santa comes every Christmas eve to our house) and on Christmas morning everyone is dressed in cute, Christmas-themed pajamas which makes great pictures! Great tradition that the kids and I love!

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:38am

I'm the same way...got to have cranberries from the can!! And I love sweet potatoes with marshmallow..yummy:) Thank you for sharing Desiree.

Desiree Stanley said:

For the last 8 years or so, we've had Thanksgiving dinner at our house. I prepare the turkey, sweet potatos (with marshmellows OF COURSE), green bean casserole, and cranberries - must be canned cranberries. ;) My MIL brings several other side dishes & other family or guests bring the rolls & pies. Then we stuff ourselves with food, wine, and dessert & settle our behinds on the sofa for awhile.

The day after Thanksgiving I set-up all our Christmas decorations! Including the two trees... I finally caved on this one and we got two pre-lighted trees. I love the no hassle, no mess! And we got some really nice quality trees so they look fantastic! The girls help me put all the ornaments on the trees and we listen to Christmas music the whole time.

On Christmas Eve we have my In laws over to eat dinner & open presents. On Christmas morning, we have a big breakfast & open presents with my mom and our girls then later in the day we go to my dad's and have MORE food and MORE presents!! It is quite a splendid time. :)

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:40am

Valentines is a special time for me as well...my daughter was born in February so when we celebrated, it was in a valentine theme. Thank you for sharing Tara.

Tara Storch said:

Valentines is very special at our house! Tradition here is that I make a "pink and red" dinner! We have ham, strawberries and mashed potatoes (that I put red food coloring in), pink cornbread (yes, more food coloring), cherry 7-up! My kids LOVE it and look forward to it every year! Not the most "nutritional" dinner we have ever had, but it sure it fun!!

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:43am

Your family is so lucky to have you...to have you cook for them too! Thank you for sharing Sandy.

Sandy Culbertson said:

For my family, during Thanksgiving my siblings and parents come to my house and I make dinner for everyone which is a lot of fun for me because I love to cook. On Christmas Eve we go to my grandma's house for dinner and then we go to my parents and exchange one gift from everyone. On Christmas Day I open up gifts in the morning with my kids then we go spend the rest of the day and my parents and my dad makes dinner.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:45am

Thank you for sharing thecoolmom! Happy pregnancy too!

thecoolmom said:

In November, I'm doing NaNoWriMo, but I set aside the day to cook a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I've done it enough years that I have a timetable and get it all done in the morning. However, this year I'll be 7 months pregnant and not able to be on my feet that long, so I'll do ahead some of the food.

We do Advent through the Christmas season as well as read Christmas stories, watch piles of Christmas movies and go see Christmas lights. We also have a smattering of church functions and Christmas parties to attend.

Christmas Eve, we have a special chicken salad my grandmother made and we have sandwiches and chips and dig into the goodie table. We watch "It's a Wonderful Life".

Christmas Day starts with the traditional lining up of the children down the staircase and taking their picture. Then they come down for breakfast of fruit and muffins and eggs. After the grandparents show up everyone opens their stockings. Then we open presents. This is followed by a huge dinner and an afternoon and evening of relaxing.

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 12:49am

My sister folks sets up a train set around their Christmas tree too! Thank you for sharing WaterPixie!

WaterPixie said:

for Halloween time, we have a pumpkin patch that we visit every year. My boys get to pick a pumpkin and we take family pictures here. Last year I started doing individual family portraits, too. This way we have updated pictures in the house and it's a lovely backdrop for the photos!

For Christmas time, we always put a train around the tree. A few years ago we went big and bought the Polar Express train set by Lionel! The boys love helping my husband set it up and we let them take turns running the train each night before bedtime.

We don't really have a Thanksgiving tradition. This has turned out to be the Holiday that we are most flexible on. Sometimes we ditch the family get togethers and just go to Disneyland. LOL!

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Permalink Reply by Jen Dwyer on October 10, 2008 at 7:28am

we're actually starting a new tradition for xmas this year. since all our family moved away...and we're totally ok with that. pretty much we're not gonna leave our pjs all day (except for maybe me when i have to go visit the beau's house). we try it every year but somehow someone messes up our grand plan and makes us move! not this year though! muahahahaaa lol

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Permalink Reply by Anya Clowers, RN on October 10, 2008 at 10:24am

We travel every year in Europe over Thanksgiving. We celebrate that the year was a good one - and we are blessed with the gift of travel!

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Permalink Reply by Cindy O'Farrell on October 10, 2008 at 11:51am

New traditions is always pleasant:) Good luck to you this year Jen:)

Jen Dwyer said:

we're actually starting a new tradition for xmas this year. since all our family moved away...and we're totally ok with that. pretty much we're not gonna leave our pjs all day (except for maybe me when i have to go visit the beau's house). we try it every year but somehow someone messes up our grand plan and makes us move! not this year though! muahahahaaa lol

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