I was thinking today about how I want my kids to have a lot of wonderful memories when they look back on their childhood, and how I'm not really providing that. A lot of times I get in the mindset that to make fun memories, all of us have to be there, including Troy. But usually by the time Troy gets home from work, we're all tired, and all we want to do is relax.
I've been asked a couple times recently what Christmas traditions we do in our family, and to be honest, I can't really think of much. We do read the Christmas story in the Bible on Christmas Eve, but that's about it. For so many years of our marriage, Christmas has always been kind of up in the air. Sometimes we're at Troy's parents, sometimes at mine, and one year we were actually at home (although we traveled to Utah on Christmas after we opened gifts). That made it hard to make any Christmas traditions, because nothing was really stable. So this year, I'm going to try to think of some really special, meaningful ones. We'll be attending a Christmas Eve service this year, which I'm really looking forward to. Other than that I'm a bit stuck. We'll probably drive around one night and look at Christmas lights, so there's something.
I've been asked a couple times recently what Christmas traditions we do in our family, and to be honest, I can't really think of much. We do read the Christmas story in the Bible on Christmas Eve, but that's about it. For so many years of our marriage, Christmas has always been kind of up in the air. Sometimes we're at Troy's parents, sometimes at mine, and one year we were actually at home (although we traveled to Utah on Christmas after we opened gifts). That made it hard to make any Christmas traditions, because nothing was really stable. So this year, I'm going to try to think of some really special, meaningful ones. We'll be attending a Christmas Eve service this year, which I'm really looking forward to. Other than that I'm a bit stuck. We'll probably drive around one night and look at Christmas lights, so there's something.
I would also love to incorporate some kind of service into our Christmas celebrations. To me, that's what Christmas is all about. It's the giving, not the getting, and I'd love for my kids to be able to see that, and not just have me tell them.
So, if you're reading this, what's your very favorite Christmas tradition? It can be either one you do with your family now, or one you had as a child.
I'm beginning to think I'm the only one who comments on this blog... but anyway, we started this horrible tradition of having a "sleepover" near the Christmas tree the night we set it up, and we watch a movie together. It's actually kind of fun, and the kids love it, but we ran into a glitch this year because the tree is in the dining room, and there really aren't good sleeping places. So, we watched a movie and had sad sad kids go to their own beds.
ReplyDelete12 Days of Christmas is fun to do.. but you'd have to start now! Just do simple things for someone. Hmmm... other service ideas... Oh! We've been going to this small old folks home every year at Christmastime as a family, and we sing and play violins. We usually go room to room and ask them if they'd like us to sing. Most of them are thrilled to death. Wait, not to death! They're just plain thrilled.
ReplyDeleteMy brother, mom and I always took one day when school was out and baked cookies from morning until night and listened the Christmas music while doing it (Johnny Mathis mostly). It was a yearly tradition and I wish we still did it these days! But, sadly, we're all growed up :(
ReplyDeleteI like all you guys to come home and visit. It makes me happy when we are all together for Christmas having fun.
ReplyDeleteI also love Christmas music. I've been going on Thursdays to Primary Children's Hospital with my friend to play music for the kids there. We have had a lot of fun. We play violin, piano, guitar, and sing.
Going to see Temple Square is always fun. I like the big nativity set that they have set up there. It helps us remember the story better.
Then there is always Mr. Krueger's Christmas that we used to watch every Christmas.
When we were little I liked to be all together to open presents and see everyone get excited. I liked opening them oldest to youngest even though I was always last. I was always thankful for what Mom and Dad did to make Christmas great.
There are tons of good memories.
I love walking around temple square and looking at all of the lights, it is so beautiful! Also we always go up to winder dairy and have yummy hot chocolate and scones. My mom also always made us watch mr. kroogers christmas I always hated that moie but the memories of watching it with my family are the best. And last but not least my favorite tradition is we always get pajamas to open on Christmas eve, so that we were all wearing new stuff for pictures christmas morning. It helped hold me over christmas eve t be able to open up at least one present.
ReplyDelete-Belicia