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!