First family Christmas

[candy cane]

Although it's my son's first Christmas (he will almost be a year old), I'd like to start family traditions of our own.

Any suggestions? cheesy

[kelly ann]

I think theres a thread for traditions on here somewhere...have a look!!
I remember my daughters first xmas....it was the best xmas ever!!! Remeber to take plenty of pictures!!:)

[Annette1990]

How sweet...my daughter was only 5 months old her first Christmas. But it still was alot of fun even thou she was more interested in the wrapping paper and not so much the gifts...*L* We also do the classic tradition of leaving out cookies and milk for Santa (we also leave a carrot out for rudolph)... I also buy her an ornament every year and usually something that pertains to something she may have liked that year...like when she was going through her Dora the explorer phase I got her a Dora ornament etc...her first Christmas I got here a baby's first ornament it's a soft little bear that says baby's 1st Christmas on it...I always mark the ornament with the year if it isn't already on it. And last year we did this idea...it was alot of fun.
http://mymerrychristmas.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6537&highlight=reindeer+food
The possibilities of starting different traditions are endless really.

[Minta]

There are several things that you can turn into traditions for you and your family. Some of the more common ones that I could think of are:

1. Picture taken with Santa
2. Pick out a new ornament for your son, as he gets older let him pick it out.
3. Put up a small Christmas tree in his room.
4. Read Twas the Night Before Christmas and / or the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve.
5. New PJ on Christmas Eve
6. Magical Christmas Elves
7. Buy a special plate and glass for Santa's milk and cookies.
8. If you do not have a fireplace - Place the Christmas Key on door knob outside the door on Christmas Eve for Santa to use.
9. Reindeer food.
10. Go looking at Christmas lights - either drive around or walk around your neighborhood.
Things to do when he gets a bit older:
11. Build gingerbread houses
12. Baked cookies and have him help decorate.
13. Each Year buy a new family Christmas movie to watch together
14. Make Christmas Crafts or decorations

There are so many more things to do. The key thing is to find something that you all enjoy doing together. Have fun!

[Holly11]

I wrap Christmas themed books up for our children. Different nights from Thanksgiving to Christmas (not enough books very every night yet) they will take turns unwrapping one book and we will read it together. We read the Christmas Story from Luke on Christmas Eve. Try to add a few different books each year so they never know what they will unwrap. I "borrowed" this idea from a friend. It's a great family time each night of the season.

[trackrebel]

I like the idea with the books...have to continue collecting them....and we will be able to do it as well!!!

[ohchristmastree]

ohhh i have one! Go round on christmas eve night in a car or on foot and take hot chocolate or something you like to drink and look at all the christmas lights! At the end you could say something like I think i just saw santa sleigh and we better get home! We did this with my 1 year old cousin a while ago and she loved it!!!

[rodmonster]

There are several things that you can turn into traditions for you and your family. Some of the more common ones that I could think of are:

1. Picture taken with Santa
2. Pick out a new ornament for your son, as he gets older let him pick it out.
3. Put up a small Christmas tree in his room.
4. Read Twas the Night Before Christmas and / or the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve.
5. New PJ on Christmas Eve
6. Magical Christmas Elves
7. Buy a special plate and glass for Santa's milk and cookies.
8. If you do not have a fireplace - Place the Christmas Key on door knob outside the door on Christmas Eve for Santa to use.
9. Reindeer food.
10. Go looking at Christmas lights - either drive around or walk around your neighborhood.
Things to do when he gets a bit older:
11. Build gingerbread houses
12. Baked cookies and have him help decorate.
13. Each Year buy a new family Christmas movie to watch together
14. Make Christmas Crafts or decorations

There are so many more things to do. The key thing is to find something that you all enjoy doing together. Have fun!


Holy Mackerel!!
When did you put cameras up in our house!
We have all of those and few more!
Wow!
I am not nuts after all!
=)

[candy cane]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Minta]

Holy Mackerel!!
When did you put cameras up in our house!
We have all of those and few more!
Wow!
I am not nuts after all!
=)


LOL!!!! Well if you are nuts then so are we!!!

[joyful]

I started the ornament tradition with all of my kids and when they got married they had
ornaments to help start their decorating.

Also, I would make a paper chain out of red and green construction paper. We would start it the day after Thanksgiving and they would love taking a link off the chain every morning and seeing it getting smaller. They could relate to the shortening of the chain easier than saying how many days until Christmas. They now do the chain with their children.

I also did the Christmas dinner Christmas eve when my children were small. It gave them something special to do Christmas eve plus it gave me freedom to enjoy Christmas Day with my family. If anyone got hungry Christmas Day all they had to do was get in the fridge and heat up some leftovers. LOL, and of course throw their paper plate away.

[Minta]

Joyful - I love the paperchain idea. I may have to borrow idea that from you and do that with my kids this year. Thanks!

[Wenceslaus]

Oh, I thought you meant this kind of First Family Christmas (http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/holiday/whtree/):tree: cheesy

[trackrebel]

reading the actual Story about Christmas....I mean with Joseph and Maria trying to find a place to sleep in Bethlehem....I will do that this year a few times before Christmas, so my daughter starts to learn a bit about Jesus.

maybe going to church

have a family gathering on Christmas Eve....or a week earlier

go out and get the tree together....as long as it is a real one...:D

decorate it together....tho this one might be a bit hard with a 11-month or so old...:D