I was wondering what traditions you all have during the holidays. Seeing that Kai and I are now a little family, I was going to start a new tradition for us but I am so lost on this. My family isn't exactly the "traditional" type. They do different things each year. I am trying to think of things to do each year for my little Kai. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

The one thing my dad's family does do every year is a white elephant exchange. Any ideas on this would also be helpful. I want to get something outrageously funny this year. muwahahahaha

For me and Jayd it's a real tree every year. No plastic, odorless packed-in-a-closet artificial tree for us. We usually go up to the maple syrup farm but up until a few years ago, we always went to a friends land and cut one ourselves. I take pics and we get all dressed up in snow pants hats mitts and toques and when possible hop on the hay ride too. We will again this year. It's tradition.

Smshy-I started this tradition when my girls were a little older than Kai, and the finances were a little strained. Since we couldn't provide a lot of gifts, I wanted to extend the gift opening time, so we play hide and seek with the gifts. There are family gifts under the tree for them to open and a clue for the first gift from "Santa". As they find each gift, there is another clue for the next gift. They loved it so much they ask to play hide and seek every year. Even as teenagers they get gifts from "Santa" because it is usually a blessing that I receive additional money to get them these gifts. Of course, you'll probably want to wait until Kai is about 3 to do this, and you can help her read the clues.

Clue ex: Here is where you say good night, Look underneath for a beautiful sight. (This was a clue for under the bed.)

That's a cool idea. I'll have to try to remember that for when Kai is older.

Come on folks, no one else has traditions?? or do you just not want to share.

Hmmmm...

The traditions at my house.

1. Until they stop believing in Santa, Write Santa a thank you note to go with the milk and ccokies.

2. Golf balls and reindeer bells!!! Reindeer bells for jingling, toss a few golf balls on the roof for the sound of Reindeer hooves and you have instant big eyes!

3. Stockings get filled with Santa stuff and placed in bed with kids after they go to sleep, kids get to open those gifts when they wake up to give Dad long enough to make coffee and pry his eyes open for the day

4. We do Christmas light drives during the week before Christmas, every night to look at all the pretty houses

5. Christmas day we do Christmas Carol sing alongs.

That's basically my list. Of course I only have one that still believes, lol and he's 12, so I'm running out of kids to do this stuff with. What a bummer.

Rob

3. Stockings get filled with Santa stuff and placed in bed with kids after they go to sleep, kids get to open those gifts when they wake up to give Dad long enough to make coffee and pry his eyes open for the day

Rob, that's also a tradition I started when mine were born, but it will be a tradition until my kids are no longer home, even though they do know about Santa. I think even when they are older they enjoy those childhood traditions.

12 and still believes? How did you pull that off with older siblings in the house. My daughters 4th grade teacher indirectly spilled the beans with a comment she made and my smart little girl picked right up on it! She was 10 and her 18 month younger sister found out at the same time.

LOL,

# 3 Still happens, and like you it will always happen because, I still need my coffee.

How did I keep the 12 yr old from being informed. Well I told the girls if they spilled the beans they all would stop getting Santa presents, they are fully on board with keeping Ole Santa alive!

Rob

1- Bake cookies and let her decorate them. It is a mess, but the pictures and fun are priceless. My son is 5 now and we love to do it.

2-Drive around and look at lights.

3-You live where it snows, see if you can find a sleigh ride that isn't very expensive.

4-Have her help make X-mas Cards. Give some red and green paint on a white card and you have inexpensive and beautiful X-mas cards.

5-My favorite tradition is getting up X-mas morning and making my son's favorite breakfrast.

we have batches of traditions.
I love it.
We bake treats
Walk the neighbourhoods at night looking at the lights.
We always watch a few christmas movies
we do some craft's
I host a open house to friends and neighbours
Christmas Day I have family for dinner
and a new one we started is reindeer bait.
seed cereal and sparkles sprinkled out side

You guys are awesome! So many great ideas. I dont mean to sound like I am going to steal them but I just have no idea about this kind of thing. You guys are kind of like a part of my family so . . . best place to start.

Hey use my traditions to your hearts delight. I wouldn't consider that stealing, I'd call it sharing.

A friend of mine always has pizza as her Christmas Dinner. I was astounded! She has a big family, 6 kids I think. She said, I just got tired of all the fuss. So, I buy some frozen pizzas, and then Christmas day, in goes the pizza. Now with me on my own, I can see how that might make for a good tradition! I mean, do I want to be slaving the whole day away in the kitchen for just me and my two kids?

One thing we do is open ONE Christmas present before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning the kids get up and hit the stockings. Breakfast follows while the kids eye the tree. We read the Christmas story, the kids fidgeting the whole time, terribly. And then they are let loose on the tree. It's not a big tradition, but it makes a difference.

And I'm thinking more and more that Pizza really sounds like the Christmas dinner of choice!

Charity

Pizza for Christmas huh. That would be different. We always have the big dinner somewhere, depends on who wants to clean their house the next day. This year I am thinking it will be just me and Kai. The whole "entire family in one house" thing is kind of getting old. It'd be nice to have a nice, quiet christmas this year.

We do the lights , make cookies, make ornanments and make bird feeders for the relatives. . and they are so eay to make ! If it snows we go out and walk the neighborhood.. . Xmas eve we spend with my moms side of the family exchanging gifts then home to get the cookies ready for Santa. . Carrots for the reindeer. . prepare the Xmas breakfast so that we can place it in the oven while we open gifts . . . Then once we wake up we go upstairs and wait for everyone to get by the tree and then we start the gift process. . We moslty just sit back and watch the kids open their gifts . . I love it !

My uncle has this omelette recipe that you put in the oven for holidays. I dont usually eat it cause I dont like eggs but it's a great idea. You use 6 eggs and a whole carton of egg beaters or something like that and then add cheese and whatever else you like in your omelette and then put it in the oven until it's done.

Amanda, that's the first I've heard of putting carrots out for the reindeer.