Christmas Traditions (Christmas Week, Day 2)

So glad you stopped by today!  Today is Day 2 of my premature Christmas week...

Today it's all about traditions.  Such a HUGE part of this holiday season!  We're a family rooted deep in tradition and I married a precious man whose family is the same.  I couldn't wait to start a family and make our very own traditions and I'm so excited to share those with you today!

RANDOM ACTS OF CHRISTMAS KINDNESS

My most favorite Christmas tradition is RACK'ing.

We're all about random acts of kindness all throughout the year, but there's just something about paying it forward during the holiday season that seems so magical.  It's what the season is truly all about...doing things that make others see how great our God truly is!  More than anything, I want my boys to know how important it is to GIVE. I don't want them growing up expecting to recieve.  I want them to know how amazing it feels to make someone else happy.  How fulfilling it is to help others in need.  We started this tradition about 3 years ago and it gets better and better every year.  My boys truly jump at the chance to "RACK".

You can read more about our RACK'ing HERE and HERE.

OPERATION SHOEBOX

In keeping with the spirit of giving, every year my boys go shoebox shopping, too.   I love that they get so excited about stuffing shoeboxes full of surprises for less fortunate kids.  They just wish they could be there when those kids open their boxes.

ADVENT CALENDARS

Anything in the form of candy is always a bonus for my boys and they LOVE their yearly advent calendars.  My sweet school nurse at my old school gifted these to the boys one year and we've continued the tradition ever since.  I used to LOVE these as a kid!!!!

A MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS

Speaking of advent calendars, this Christmas devotional advent is such a special tradition.

If you don't already know about it, you should.  It's the perfect way to teach your kids about the true meaning of Christmas!  The boys have their own tree in their room and they love to add their advent ornaments to it every night after our devotional.  And I love that I have a box full of handmade ornaments from some of my sweetest friends :)

BLACK FRIDAY

Yes.  I consider this a tradition.  This is a tradition I only share with my mom though.  And really, we aren't the shoppers who wake up early to score good deals.  Black Friday, for us, is more of an excuse for us to get together and eat more than we should.  We justify those eating binges by walking off our calories through little shopping spurts.  If we find a good sale, that just sweetens the deal.  But we're really just in it to spend time together...and eat.  A lot.

NORTH POLE BREAKFAST

We started this little tradition about 4 years ago and my boys look forward to it every year.  This is their "official" start to the holiday season.  Our elf, Elfabet, brings the boys a delicious breakfast of hot chocolate with mounds of marshmallows, strawberry santa hats, and snow covered donuts.  He also brings the boys a few Christmas goodies too...Christmas jammies, a movie, a book, socks...and anything else he can find in the Target dollar spot ;)

SANTA LETTERS

The boys are finally at the age where they can write their own Santa letters, but in the past we've "written" them together and then mail them out.  When we lived in the Dallas area, there was the cutest little Santa mailbox where we took pictures with Santa.  Since we've been here, we've been dropping them off at Macy's :)

GRINCH DAY!!!

via Raining Hot Coupons

Grinch Day started when I was teaching 1st grade and I decided it would be fun to have a Grinch Day at home with my family, too.  We wear our Grinch tees {Wal Mart has a huge selection}, drink our Grinch Punch, snack on Grinch licked candy canes, and watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  My Grant says he loves this movie because the Grinch's heart grows and that makes him "happy cry".  Bless.

HOLIDAY BAKING

This is definitely a family affair.  Okay, so I do most of it, but all 3 of my boys like to help with the baked goods this time of the year.  From cookies for Santa to edible goodies for our teachers at school, we love us some holiday baking.

CHRISTMAS CONESThis is definitely one of my boys' favorites.  Decorating their very own {edible} tree.  Green tinted icing, sprinkles, and M&M's...their favorite snack.  Daddy and I are just there to lick the icing off the spoons and clean up their messes ;)

UGLY SWEATER PARTY

This is definitely one of our most favorite "adults only" traditions.  We host an Ugly Sweater Party every year and every year our friends knock it out of the ballpark.  We provide all the food which means I'm usually up late the night before and in the kitchen the whole day of.  Thank goodness "ugly" is the name of the game!  We hang out...eat..drink...exchange white elephant gifts...and save a little room for reindeer games.  I love celebrating the holidays with our friends!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Of course, the obligatory drive through the most decked out neighborhoods is always on our list of holiday fun.  We always stop for hot chocolate before we get started and then we turn the AC on full blast to get the full effect of what it means to be cold in December :)  It's hardly ever cold enough here to enjoy a piping hot cup of cocoa while looking at lights, so we make our own winter...and that lasts for about 2 minutes before I'm all, "it's SOOOOOOO cold!!!  Turn that thing off!!!!!"

PICTURES WITH SANTA

We've come a long way from their first "brother" picture with Santa to now.  Hahahahahaha.

MAKING REINDEER FOOD

No matter where we are on Christmas Eve, we like to whip up a batch of reindeer food {oatmeal and glitter} and spread it on the lawn so the reindeer can find their way to the house.  This is just fun...and really, REALLY messy.  Landon has already asked me when we can make a batch this year.

ONE GIFT CHRISTMAS EVE

On Christmas Eve, we all change into our jammies after service & we each open 1 gift.  Since Santa brings the boys all their gifts...and he doesn't bring any for mom & dad...we each open one from each other on Christmas Eve...and then play with it before it's time to go to bed.

SANTA'S MAGIC KEY

Before heading off to bed on Christmas Eve, we make sure to set out Santa's Magic Key.  We've always had a chimney, but we like to give Santa options.  After all, there's no telling how many cookies he's had before he gets to our place.  Shimmying down the chimney might not be a feasible option at that point :)

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

When we tuck the boys in on Christmas Eve, we read this version of the classic to them before saying goodnight.  The anticipation of Santa's arrival is palpable.  Reminds me SO much of my childhood!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

Early on Christmas Eve, we all bake a birthday cake for Jesus.  I let the boys ice and decorate it and it always turns out, well, special.  The first thing we do on Christmas morning...BEFORE opening up gifts...is celebrate Jesus' birthday. 'Tis the reason for the season after all.  We sing happy birthday to Jesus and eat birthday cake for breakfast.  I absolutely adore this little tradition.

POSSIBLE DREAMS

This has become one of my most treasured Christmas traditions.  Every year Adam's mom buys all the wives a Possible Dreams Santa.  She really puts thought into each one and they all reflect something about our lives.  I've opened 9 of these and Adam had several before we got married.  We were really big into playing poker a few years back and she got us the neaest set with Santa, a reindeer, and an elf playing Hold 'Em.  Ha!  This was last year's Santa in honor of our spirited dog.  I absolutely LOVE that she continues the tradition year after year!

CARROLL FAMILY CHRISTMAS CAROLS

Spending Christmas in Indiana with all of my husband's family is always magical.  They have such amazing traditions.  One of my favorites is singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve.  Everyone dresses up and we all sit around the living room at Aunt Cynthia's in our very own spot...it's the same spot every year.  Before anyone can open up gifts, we sing a few rounds of Christmas carols.  I just LOVE it!

CARROLL FAMILY DRINK

On Christmas Eve, the Carroll family drink is served.  This is the only time of the year we have it.  I don't really know what's in it...except the raw egg and bourbon...but I can tell you that it's amazing.  And I make sure my glass is always full :)

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

When we spend Christmas in Indiana, Christmas Day is spent at Aunt Cynthia's.  We head back there for a breakfast of the most amazing cinnamon rolls, the fluffiest eggs, sausage, and FUN!  When breakfast is over, we all open our Christmas crackers.  I had never seen these before I married into the family 10 years ago and now I can't imagine a Christmas morning without them!!!

AIRPORT FUN

This is where you can usually find us either on Christmas Day or the day after, so I consider this a tradition.   And I'm not just saying this, but I don't mind it at all.  The most important thing about Christmas is the people who I spend it with...not WHERE I spend it.   We like carrying extra candy canes from our RACK'ing and handing them out at the airport....or treating people to coffee...and just spreading holiday cheer however we can.  As long as we're together...even if it's 30,000 feet in the air...I love being with my family.  We just feel blessed to have two families who love spending time with us as much as we love spending time with them!

As you can see, I love traditions :)  I'd love to hear yours, too!

I'll be back tomorrow with a little tour of our Christmas decor!