Every Thanksgiving we build our gingerbread houses.
This year my boys are 17, 17, and 15. I wasn't sure if they were too cool to make the houses. BUT....we went to the grocery for the Thanksgiving feast supplies and they grabbed the gingerbread house kits. I smiled and didn't say a word. I have peace that I have given them the warmth of traditions.
Here is the houses we will be putting together. A Village!
I'll be sure to post a picture!
What traditions have you started? Or been part of?
One lucky comment will receive an ebook of any of my Christmas short stories. If you have them already, I will gift them in your name to anyone you would like!
We do Christmas eve with my parents and kind of coordinate gifts for the boys from Mimi and Peepaw and Mommy and daddy. Mom always gets their Christmas eve pjs, this year we're making Olaf blankets to go with Olaf pjs. They'll get Olaf slippers, pillows and stuffed Olaf as well. Then on Christmas day we just hang at home and do Santa gifts and I cook what Chris is in the mood for for the holiday! :D
ReplyDeleteI really love the Olaf theme Tobi! :)
DeleteThat is so great Tonya! Traditions are so important, and sadly I think people easily overlook them nowadays. Everyone is so busy. A lot of our family traditions are kind of under renovation. With everyone getting older and starting their own families, we are adjusting old traditions and creating new ones. For example, we do a lot of our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve. And, our gift exchange between my siblings has kind of disappeared so we can put more focus on the new kids coming into the family.
ReplyDeleteYes, new kiddos tend to do that ;)
DeleteWe watch the parade and have dinner with his Mom. At least we have for the last 18 years...
ReplyDeleteCandi, I took my family to the Macy's parade and we had so much fun. It was amazing!
DeleteLove your family traditions! My family traditions have changed throughout the years because of deaths and moving but the few things that have stuck with me to this day is I will still make the traditional Christmas goodies that my Mama used to make every year before she passed away. On Christmas morning my Daddy always made homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane on the side and sausage balls. I know those are simple food traditions but it makes me feel like they are still around when I do them.
ReplyDeleteI love that Susan! Yes! No matter if they are no longer with us, we can still do our traditions.
DeleteI don't believe we have any traditions left, other than we all try to meet up at my sister's home for Christmas dinner.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one Sandy!
DeleteFrom my parents to my family, Christmas PJ's. That was always the present we would open. Traditions are wonderful. Love yours.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of families who do PJs. I love that! There can be some really comfy ones.
DeleteLove your traditions! We also do a gingerbread house of some type, make homemade Christmas Crackers to pop open at the Christmas Day meal (always a favorite of my boy/girl twins), open ONE present each on Christmas Eve and Christmas breakfast/brunch with my sister and her family. Traditions are so important!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sheri. They are important.
DeleteLove that idea! I might have to try that with my girls. We always decorate on the day after Thanksgiving. Christmas Eve, my girls get to open a gift and it's cozy new Christmas PJs to sleep in. Christmas morning, my older daughter and I sip hot chocolate, no lights on except the tree, and wait for everyone else to get up. These are traditions from my childhood that I am carrying on with my kids. :)
ReplyDeletebrookeb811 at gmail dot com
I LOVE them! You are making special memories for your family.
DeleteWe decorate our tree together. Plus me and one of my cousins get together and start making our Christmas candies/cookies in the first week of December. And we do it weekly until Christmas. Interesting information, my step-dad's last name was Kappes and he's from Eastern Kentucky. I am curious if you're related.
ReplyDeletelusive(dot)tracy(at)gmail(dot)com
Oh! My guys stand over me while I make the cookies...they don't help though! I am not related to anyone in Eastern KY. All our family is in Northern KY.
DeleteI am the end of the line of my side of the family. Our first son was born Christmas eve (11:31pm). We always went to my grandparents house for his birthday and family Christmas. Everyone now comes to our house for his birthday and family Christmas. Its very hard though as our other son and his family are in Maryland where he is stationed but we skype opening presents with all the 3 of our kids, 2 new kids and our 2 grandsons. They all know mom is a big sap and needs to carry on the traditions. ourbutton@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSkyping could be the new tradition. With the way of the internet, it's great we get to actually see family on holidays.
DeleteWe have had pretty much the same meal for Christmas since well forever. Ham, polish sausage, noodles, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, although there may be a new side once in awhile.Also before we all eat, we have this Christmas wafer (catholic thing) we pass around from oldest to ypungest until it is gone. When we open gifts, we let the kids open first, then we adults open one at a time from oldest to youngest.That way we can all enjoy each others gifts. I love traditions. I think I missing a few too. My family loves traditions.
ReplyDeleteThose are great, Jen!
DeleteWe've established a few newer traditions in the past few years. We now have a very large gathering at my sister's house on Christmas Eve day, where we have a big lunch and visit with everyone, and some of the kids are even brave (or is it crazy) enough to swim in the cold pool. On Christmas morning my husband and I have Cinabons fro breakfast. I buy the large ones the day before....yes, the ones that have a million calories. And we enjoy them on Christmas morning. We always have a tree up, and lights on the house. And we also usually meet up with family and walk through the neighborhood in our town where all the houses for blocks are decorated with big, fun decorations. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteLinda! I just bought Cinabons to make this year! I might have a new tradition too. My hubby and I aren't alone yet, but the guys are older and spend more time away from home. We are getting a taste of empty nest syndrome.
DeleteWe've never really had any holiday traditions as a family. The closest we had, was opening gifts on Christmas Eve, then on Christmas morning we'd open the gifts from Santa. My sisters may have their own traditions that they do with their kids, but as a whole, we don't.
ReplyDeleteSanta always comes on Christmas morning here too :)
DeleteTrimming the tree together at the start of the season.Making cookies! Christmas dinner together. As we are older, we have begun the tradition of stuffing each other's stockings, Santa is okay with this. The kids go with their dad on Christmas Eve to a traditional Christmas Eve party. My favorite part is remembering the Lord at grace, as it is his day.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, Teri! My parents/sibling and I have started the stuffing the stocking instead of exchanging names.
DeleteI nno longer do all the cooking because we spend Thanksgiving at my daughter's and Christmas at my son's house. But I still have to bring something that was on the table from when they were children, be it Great-Gram's nut bread, kringle, or a green tomato mincemeat pie.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'm glad your son has taken over...kinda like me :)
DeleteWe always have snacks in front of the Christmas tree. This started when I was young and now my kids are adults. They use to open one gift Christmas Eve too
ReplyDeleteYUM! That is a fun tradition! Anything with food ;)
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