Christmas Traditions

I have two boys; a 9 year old (DS9) and a six year old (DS6). They are at an age where they have had enough Christmases for our family's traditions to really show themselves.

As we prepare for Christmas this year, I am often asked by one of them if we are going to do certain things that they have come to expect to happen. "Are we going to open a present early (Christmas Eve) this year?" was one DS6 asked when he saw me put some gifts under the tree. "Are we going to put out carrots for the reindeer" DS9 inquired. It got me thinking about all the things we do every year that they will always remember.

Here are the top 10 traditions we follow each year:

1. Opening a gift on Christmas Eve.

The kids each open a gift on Christmas eve that consists of new pajamas and a Christmas story book. They wear the pajamas that night so they will have them on in the photographs the next morning. We read the books before bed.

2. Leave out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

As a token of thanks to Santa the kids leave him and reindeer some traditional treats. Santa enjoys them :)

3. Watching Christmas movies together each week in December.

We watch different Christmas movies each year together as a family. This year we will introduce the kids to the Home Alone series.

4. Decorating a gingerbread house

The kids and I decorate a gingerbread house together each year. After Christmas the kids enjoy eating it.

5. The kids buy me new ornaments

My husband takes the kids to the Disney Store to pick out a new ornament for me to add to my (huge) collection. What I love about this is they tend to choose what they like best and I have token to remember what they were interested in every year.

6. Go to my dad's house for dinner.

I know this tradition can't last forever, but right now I enjoy it. I love our Christmas traditions there and seeing my family.

7. Getting pictures taken with Santa

I keep all the Santa pictures with the Christmas decorations and put them all up at Christmas time. I enjoy looking back and seeing how much the kids have grown.

8. Baking cookies

What fun is Christmas without some holiday treats? We usually bake 3-4 different kinds of cookies each year. We don't have specific traditional recipes that we use. I just look for interesting recipes online.

9. Watching the TV fireplace channel

When we wake up on Christmas morning we turn on the fireplace channel to watch while we open our gifts.

10. New this year: Mistletoe

When I was a kid I remember my grandmother always hung mistletoe. I saw one by chance in a store the other day and decided to add this as a new tradition at our house. It's only been a few days since I put up and it's already a huge hit with the family.

What are some our your family's Christmas traditions? Share them in the comments.