Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas Traditions

In spite of my earlier post, I do love the Christmas season. I love the slow race toward Christmas, the hustle and bustle to get it all done. But most of all, I love the traditions. After all, isn't that what you remember about Christmas from your childhood? I hardly remember anything I received (actually that's not true!) but I do remember our family traditions vividly.

Here are some of ours:

Christmas PJs: I know a lot of families open these on Christmas Eve. We start wearing ours the night after Thanksgiving. Luke has only missed one night in his. He loves 'em.




Mr. Peeks: This elf shows up on our doorstep right around Thanksgiving and stays until Christmas Eve when he returns home with Santa. He reports back to Santa whether the kids have been naughty or nice. The other day I heard Sammie telling Mr. Peeks about some bad stuff Luke had done. Each night, Mr. Peeks hides and the kids find him in the morning. They eat it up.



Coordinating Christmas Outfits for Church:



The Trolley at Thanksgiving Point: This is such a fun tradition, we are actually doing it twice this year. We did it once with our neighborhood friends and we are doing it again the day after Christmas with the Warner clan. A heated trolley takes you through the lights at Thanksgiving Point (for only 50 bucks for the whole crowd!) The kids sing Christmas songs on the trolley and then everyone gets ice-cream or hot chocolate afterwards in the soda shop. It was during one of these trolley nights two years ago when I found the ornaments for my tree!

Ryan enjoying the lights


My girlfriends Susan and Marcie riding the trolley--Can you tell they are sisters?

The Lights at Temple Square:



Making gingerbread houses with Grandma Linda:




The Nativity on Christmas Eve at Grandma Linda's House: This is one of my kids' favorite traditions. In about October, they start deciding what they want to be in the nativity. They think it is like choosing what you are going to be for Halloween.



Finally, the Advent Calendar: This is the bomb (are people still using that expression?) for my kids. This is the same advent calendar we used when I was a kid so it has sentimental value for me.



I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas!

8 comments:

Kelly said...

Those are the cutest pictures ever!!!! Gotta love the Holiday traditions especially the ones involving food and pajamas!

sheryl said...

Will you do my blog! LOL Yours is so much fun. Love your traditions. Love your photos, you look great in your Black dress!

I love the elf idea but I think one tradition I want to stop is wraping gifts after midnight on the 24.

shelby said...

i love their jammies and I love Mr. Peeks waht a cute and clever idea!

lindsey said...

Merry Christmas!!!

Family traditions are the best! I hope you have a wonderful holiday together.

Eliza said...

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for sharing your cute family and your traditions.

Terra said...

Fantastic traditions and adorable pictures! Thanks for sharing!

Jill T said...

Good idea to start wearing the PJ's after thanksgiving so you get more "Christmas wear" out of them...

Laura B. said...

So I'm totally late to comment on this, but I LOVE the elf idea. And the jammies after Thanksgiving.
Not just a pretty face Brooke! Brilliant!!!