Christmas Traditions

For me, Christmas is a time when we always start new traditions, and continue with old traditions.  I remember when I was younger, my sister, Ginger and I would almost always go stay with our cousins over in Delta, or my cousins, Becky and Alicia, would come to Ephraim.  I remember always being so excited to see my cousins pull up in my parents driveway, that meant we were going over there, or they were staying.  it kind of died off as we all got older, around high school.

I remember when I got married, I was so excited to be a part of Zane's family traditions, and start some traditions of our own.  One tradition Zane's Mom does for the grandkids each year, is buy them a special Christmas ornament from Hallmark.  It's so much fun each year, to see what new ornament the kids will get.  I have documented each ornament my kids have received, with their first and middle initial and the year they received it.  This year, as we were putting up our tree, I decided to document them in a different form and take pictures of each ornament.

Hunter 2007 - Hunter's first Christmas.  We did his room in baby Snoopy.

Hunter 2008 - Hunter was REALLY into fishing his 2nd year.  Everything was fishing, he even went fishing in our 10 gallon fish tank!

Hunter 2009 - SO FITTING for Hunter in 2009!  He was into Thomas everything!!!!  He still is, but last year, that's all he wanted!

Paizlei 2008 - VERY FITTING as well.  Paizlei was our little Christmas baby!  I always wanted to have a baby at Christmas time so I could bring her/him home in a stocking.  By January 8th, we were beyond thrilled to get the release from the NICU doctors, the stocking thing wasn't even on my mind. 

Paizlei 2009 - I LOVE this ornament.  The picture doesn't even come close to showing how beautiful it is.

Zane and I started a new family tradition that includes both of our families.  I'm so excited to do it again this year.  We have Zane's Mom and step-Dad over for breakfast (we are hoping you guys are willing to do it again this year, as we absolutely enjoyed it last year...yes, sad way to do an invite, but, I will make it up to you (: ), then for lunch/dinner, we had Zane's Dad and step-Mom, my parents, my sister, Ginger, and my brother, Mike over.  It will be so much fun this year, being in the new house with TONS of room.  The boys can go downstairs and watch football and BS and the girls can stay upstairs...probably won't work out quite that way, but it's fun to dream.

What are some of your family traditions around Christmas?