Growing up my family had just a few holiday traditions. In early December we would choose a tree together, put on Christmas music {including the best ever Chipmunks' holiday album on vinyl}, and decorate. My sisters and I would carefully arrange the nativity and line up the Christmas Carolers that represented ourselves on the mantle.
In later years, my Mom and I created a Christmas garland that we adorned with lights, bows, sparkly pine cones, and little present bundles. We painstakingly set up this garland along the railing of the stairs in our 2 story foyer. She always wanted me, in particular, to help her, and would even wait until I traveled home from college in mid-December to put it up.
We would head to Mass on Christmas Eve, and start a fire and put on Christmas music as soon as we returned home. That night before bed, my parents, sisters, and I would give each other the gifts we had picked out for one another. I loved getting a few presents on Christmas Eve.
Mike and I are just now starting to decide which of each of our families' traditions we will keep going, and what traditions we would like to start anew, for our growing family. We will buy a special ornament for each of the girls every year, and I'd also like to get a family ornament yearly as well. Other than that? Not sure. I'd like to try to think of something creative in the coming weeks. That's a challenge for myself...hold me to it?
Here are this year's decorations:
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| Our little tree and stockings |
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| Top: A garland and lights adorning the archway between our living room and dining room Bottom: Lights around each of the windows in our living room |
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| Left: My favorite penguin (Carina steals it often) Right: We're sticking the Christmas cards we receive on the other side of the archway |
What are your holiday traditions?
This week's Toddle Along Tuesday co-host is Kari from The Heart of a Homemaker and topic is Holiday Traditions! Talk about what you do for the holidays, show off photos of your decorations or the kids meeting Santa, whatever :) There are no rules here, except that you link up a relevant post (old or new) rather than your whole blog.
Next week's topic is Year in Review. This will be the last TAT of the year...so summarize! What big things happened in your family this year? Share some of your favorite photos!
