Keeping childhood memories alive while making new ones of our own.
Welcome to the chaos! ♡
Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year, but there’s something even more special about it now that I have kids.
Some of my favorite childhood memories are from Christmas, and there are traditions I grew up with that I always knew I wanted to continue when I had a family of my own. Now that I’m a mom, I get to share those same experiences with my son while creating new traditions that are just ours.
Last Christmas, my son was only one, and while I had so many ideas for things I wanted to do with him, the reality was that he was still pretty little. We continued a handful of traditions, but there were plenty of things I wanted to add that just weren’t realistic yet.
This year, he’s getting older, and I’m looking forward to finally doing more of those Christmas activities I’ve been planning!
Between the traditions I grew up with, the ones my husband and I have started together, and the new ones we’re adding with our kids, I’m hoping to make Christmas a season filled with memories they’ll look back on just as fondly as I do.
And I’m sure not everything will go exactly as planned, especially with a toddler, but that’s part of the fun!
Christmas Traditions I’m Passing Down From My Childhood
A Christmas Ornament Every Year
One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was getting a new ornament every year.
My parents did this for us so that when we eventually moved out and had Christmas trees of our own, we’d already have a collection of ornaments to take with us.
I love that each ornament represents a different Christmas and holds a little piece of our childhood.
This was one tradition I always knew I wanted to continue with my own kids. Every year, they’ll each get a special ornament, and someday, when they’re decorating their own Christmas trees, they’ll have years of memories to bring with them.
Picking Out a Real Christmas Tree
Growing up, we always had a real Christmas tree, and it’s something I want my kids to experience too.
There’s something about picking out a tree, bringing it home, and decorating it together that makes the Christmas season feel extra special.
I’m looking forward to continuing this tradition with my son and making our annual Christmas tree outing something we enjoy as a family every year.
Looking at Christmas Lights
Going to see Christmas lights is another tradition I grew up with and one we’ve already started continuing with my son.
I love how something as simple as driving around looking at decorated houses can become such a special family memory.
It’s one of those Christmas activities that doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, but still feels magical when you’re little.
Baking Christmas Cookies
Christmas baking has always been a big part of the holidays for me.
I grew up baking Christmas cookies, and it’s something I want my kids to grow up doing too.
Last year, my son was still pretty little, so there was only so much he could participate in. But as he gets older, I’m looking forward to having him help with more of the baking, even if that means a little extra flour on the counters and a bigger mess to clean up afterward!
I hope he grows up having favorite Christmas cookies that we make together every year, just like I did.
Watching Christmas Movies Together
Another tradition I grew up with is watching Christmas movies together as a family.
Some of my favorite Christmas memories are the simple ones, when everyone is home and we’re spending time together.
I want to continue having those cozy Christmas movie nights with our kids, especially as they get older and start developing their own favorite Christmas movies.
Decorating the House Together
Growing up, decorating the house for Christmas was something we did together as a family.
I want my kids to be part of that excitement, too, whether it’s hanging ornaments on the tree, helping put out decorations, or just being right in the middle of everything while we’re trying to get the house ready.
I hope decorating becomes one of those things they look forward to every year and remember fondly when they’re older.
Christmas Pajamas
Christmas pajamas are another tradition my parents did with us that I’m continuing with my own kids.
There’s something so fun about having special pajamas for Christmas, especially when the kids are little.
It’s a simple tradition, but one I look forward to continuing every year.
The Carlisle Christmas Walk
Another Christmas tradition I grew up with is attending the Carlisle Christmas Walk with my parents.
It’s one of those holiday activities that I remember doing with my family, and I’m looking forward to continuing it now that I have kids of my own.
There’s something really special about revisiting the Christmas traditions I enjoyed growing up, but this time experiencing them through my son’s eyes.
Christmas Traditions My Husband and I Have Started
Our Annual Christmas Shopping Day
One tradition my husband and I have is picking a day during the Christmas season when my son spends the day with my parents, and we go Christmas shopping together.
It’s a chance for us to spend time together, pick out gifts for the kids and our family, and enjoy a little Christmas shopping without trying to keep up with a toddler the entire time!
I love having traditions that involve the whole family, but I also think it’s nice to have a few that are just for the two of us.
Watching Holiday Baking Championship Together
One of the Christmas traditions my husband and I have started is watching Holiday Baking Championship together every year.
With how much I love baking, especially around Christmas, it’s something I always look forward to when the holiday season comes around.
Not every Christmas tradition has to be a big outing or something elaborate. Sometimes it’s as simple as sitting down together to watch a show we both enjoy.
Christmas Eve Boxes
One tradition we’ve started with my son is giving him a Christmas Eve box.
Last year, we did his box at night, but this year we’re changing things up a little!
We’re planning to give it to him first thing on Christmas Eve morning so that he has the entire day to enjoy everything inside.
I think this will work much better now that he’s getting older, and I’m looking forward to seeing him enjoy it.
New Christmas Traditions We’re Starting This Year
25 Days of Christmas Books
One of the new traditions I’m starting with my son this year is 25 Days of Christmas Books!
I’m planning to wrap 25 Christmas books so that he has one to open every day in December leading up to Christmas.
I love the idea of giving him something little to look forward to each day, while also making time for us to sit down and read together during such a busy season.
And the best part is that I’m not planning to buy 25 new books every Christmas! Each year, I’ll rewrap some of his favorites from previous years and add a few new ones to the collection.
I think it’ll be so fun watching which books become his favorites as he gets older, and eventually sharing this tradition with both of our kids.
Starting Our Family Christmas Stocking Tradition
Another Christmas tradition I’m excited to start this year is getting matching, personalized stockings for our family!
With baby girl due right after Christmas, it feels like the perfect time to finally get stockings for everyone. Even though she won’t quite be here to celebrate with us this Christmas, I love the idea of having her stocking hanging alongside ours.
I’m planning to get matching stockings with everyone’s names on them, and I’m hoping these are stockings we’ll use for years to come.
I can already picture our kids growing up seeing their stockings hanging in the same spot every Christmas, and someday looking back at pictures of those very same stockings from when they were little.
It’s another simple tradition we’re starting as our family grows, and one that means a lot to me.
Visiting a Reindeer Farm
One of the new Christmas activities we’re adding this year is visiting a reindeer farm!
This will be my son’s first time going, and I can’t wait for him to see real reindeer.
I think it’s going to be such a fun experience, especially now that he’s getting older and can enjoy more of the Christmas activities I’ve been wanting to do with him.
I’m hoping this becomes another little tradition we look forward to every December.
Riding a Christmas Train
Another new experience we’re planning this year is taking my son on a Christmas train ride!
This is something I’ve been wanting to do with him for a while, and I’m happy we’re finally getting the chance to experience it together.
I love finding Christmas activities that we can turn into family traditions, and I’m hoping this is one we’ll want to repeat every year.
More than anything, I can’t wait to see how he reacts to all these new experiences and make some memories together.
Our Christmas Eve Traditions
Christmas Eve has always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas. It’s one of those days that looks a little different every year, but somehow still feels the same.
Some years we’re baking for Christmas Day, watching Christmas movies, wrapping presents, or running around finishing all the little things we’ve put off until the last minute.
This Christmas Eve is going to be extra special because my husband will actually be home with us for the whole day.
Last year, he was still active duty in the military and didn’t make it home until late Christmas Eve. I’m so thankful that this year we’ll get to spend the entire day together as a family.
Christmas Eve Dinner With Our Extended Family
One of our Christmas Eve traditions is going to church and then gathering with our extended family for dinner.
We typically have a lot of the same dishes every year, which is something I’ve always loved about the holidays.
Our Christmas Eve dinner usually includes a roast, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprout casserole, and a spinach salad with cranberries and goat cheese. And, of course, pavlova for dessert!
The menu might change a little from year to year, but there’s something so comforting about sitting down to those familiar dishes with the people we’ve celebrated Christmas with for years.
Our Late-Night Christmas Eve Tradition
One tradition that has continued from my childhood is staying up late on Christmas Eve with my dad.
Once the kids are asleep, my dad and I stay up finishing the wrapping for their presents from Santa, while my mom works on getting breakfast ready for the next morning.
It’s one of those traditions that might sound like we’re just finishing last-minute Christmas preparations, but it’s become something I look forward to every year.
I love that even though I’m grown up and have children of my own now, I still get to be part of those little Christmas Eve moments with my parents.
Our Christmas Morning Traditions
Christmas morning has always been a big family affair for us!
We start the morning by opening presents with the kids before everyone else arrives. Then, everyone gathers at my parents’ house for Christmas brunch and more presents.
One of my favorite parts of Christmas morning is our brunch. We make a lot of the same foods every year, including holiday French toast, cinnamon rolls, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, and egg casserole, just to name a few!
Of course, we usually add a few different things here and there, but I love having those familiar dishes that everyone looks forward to each Christmas.
Between the food, the presents, and having so much of our family together, Christmas morning is something I look forward to every year.
Our Family Christmas Tablecloth
One of the most meaningful Christmas traditions my family has is our Christmas tablecloth.
Every year, we use the same white tablecloth for our Christmas meal, and everyone who joins us signs their name and the year.
We leave everyone’s signatures exactly as they wrote them, so over the years, the tablecloth has become a collection of handwritten memories from all the Christmases we’ve celebrated together.
I love that we can look back and see who was there each year. It’s a simple way to remember the people who have shared those special days with us.
And now that I have kids of my own, it’s even more special knowing they’ll grow up adding their names to that same tablecloth.
It’s one of those traditions I hope our family continues for generations.
Making Christmas Memories as Our Family Grows
One thing I’ve realized since becoming a mom is that Christmas doesn’t have to be filled with elaborate activities or perfectly planned days to be special.
Some of my favorite traditions are the simplest ones, like baking cookies, watching Christmas movies, or staying up late wrapping presents with my dad.
Last year, there were so many things I wanted to do with my son that just weren’t realistic at his age. And that’s okay! This year, we’re adding a few more experiences, and I’m sure we’ll continue finding new traditions as our kids get older.
But more than anything, I want them to grow up remembering the time we spent together.
I hope that someday, when they’re grown and have families of their own, they’ll look back on these Christmases the same way I look back on mine.
And maybe they’ll even pass a few of these traditions down to their own kids.
Love, Kenny ♡
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