A goal that I set for myself when I started having kids was that I would let myself enjoy Christmas. It can easily become the "dreaded month"; with all of the shopping, wrapping, decorating and perceived "to-dos". Before December arrives, I spend some time thinking about the month. I plan out activities we will do and I also think about what we will not do, depending on our current circumstances. I tend to avoid things that I feel myself dreading (i.e. standing in line to take pictures with Santa). Over the years, we have developed a few traditions that have stuck. These are things that my kids and I look forward to every year. The ideas are simple, although some take a little bit of forethought. Some of our family December traditions are:
* Disclaimer: Most of these pictures are old, taken back in the day when I only took pictures for me, and I have never been much of a photographer... I will work on that!
St. Nick Day: On the night of Dec. 5th, have kids leave out their shoes. St. Nick comes to "check on them" and leaves a treat in their shoes if they have been good.
Gingerbread Houses: Before we moved to UT, a group a ladies would host a "gingerbread house gathering" every year. If you call it a gathering, all the of the pressure to decorate and make things look cute is gone. Kids don't care. Moms are happy. Its great. Also, if you pull a bunch of moms together, things that sound overwhelming are much easier! I loved this tradition so much that I started doing it in my new neighborhood! All the moms bring a box of graham crackers, frosting or candy to decorate with. I bring paper plates and a glue gun. And we hot glue those houses together. Oh yes we do. It is so much easier. Having a few glue guns available is always a good idea. You could glue a bunch before the party, but who has time for that at Christmas!
Snowman Day: Read "Snowmen at Christmas". Make a snowman, if there is snow and watch "Frosty the Snowman". Make a "snowman pizza" for dinner.
Gingerbread Man Day: Read a book about gingerbread men. You can find two book ideas here and here. And then we make them! My oldest son had a great time creating some gingerbread characters a few years ago!
Polar Express Day: Read Polar Express, make candy trains and watch the movie
Reindeer Day: Read Olive the Other Reindeer, make reindeer cookies and reindeer food. Watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.
Candy Cane Day: Hide candy canes around the house or yard to find. For little ones, make candy canes out of pony beads and pipe cleaners. Drink hot chocolate and stir it with a candy cane.
First Day of Winter Celebration ( Dec 21): Have powdered doughnuts for breakfast. Cut out snowflakes and hang them around the house. Go sledding or play in the snow. When we lived in sunny CA, we would go "pretend sledding" on the first day of winter. It was one of our favorites.
A snapshot of our "pretend sledding". Just at the bottom of a great hill!
