THE GRINSTEAD FAMILY

TRADITIONS

As Allie & were putting up our Christmas decorations, I started thinking about traditions. We have lots of traditions in our family. Some are new & started when the kids were born. Others date back many years to my childhood or even further. Here are some of my favorite Christmas traditions:

• Putting up our Christmas trees and other decorations on or a day before Thanksgiving.
• The gold angels that float when the candles below are lit. This was always on my grandma Marge's desk when I was a child. Several years back, she passed it onto me to share with my children.
• Reading Twas the Night Before Christmas to my kids before bed on Christmas Eve.
• Black Friday shopping with Mandy & Kim. Oh what fun we have!
• Enormous stocking for Santa fill. My mom quilted the stockings for us. They are beautiful. The oversized stocking came from Scott's childhood.
• Waking up on Christmas morning in my bed & waiting for the kids to wake up & see what Santa left for them. They have TONS of unwrapped gifts waiting under the tree from Santa. They also have a few from us.
• The star on top of my Christmas tree. Jake picked this out when he was about 2. It isn't pretty, but I love it.
• Watching Elf & A Christmas Story with the kids.
• Reading the kids Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree. My mom read that book to me when I was little.
• My sentimental tree. I have ornaments that the kids made over the year, I have ornaments that adorned my mom's tree when I was growing up & even a few from my grandmother's tree. I love that tree!
• My Hallmark ornaments. I have the "mom" ornament from every year since I became a mom. I also have TONS of Wizard of Oz ornaments and many other.
• I love all of the holiday baking that I do. Many of the recipes are ones that my mom used to make for us & many came from my grandmother, aunts or other relatives over the years.
• Setting cookies out for Santa on my plate that reads "Cookies for Santa" and leaving him milk in my mug that reads "Cocoa for Santa". What a great gift from my dear friend Cris.
• My Christmas CD's. We play them when we bake.
• I love my white ceramic tree with the colored bulbs. My mom & most of my aunts had similar ones in their houses as I grew up. I knew I wanted one for my kids to love too. My grandma Dot gave me one for my bridal shower. I love that thing & now my kids do too!
• Appetizers on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day & watching a Christmas movie together.
• The old broken Rudolph stuffed toy & Santa candle. Those were always on the end table at my mom's house. She says they were from her childhood. Mom told me she is ready to hand those down to me this year! I can't wait!!
• Opening just 1 gift on Christmas Eve (usually the kids open their new PJ's).
• Steak & shrimp either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
• Being with family. We usually spend Christmas Eve/Day here at our house & we really enjoy that. Sometimes my parents or siblings join us, other times it is just us. We travel to our extended family the weekend before & the weekend after to celebrate Christmas too.

I am glad I am able to share these traditions, old and new, with my children. I can't wait to see what traditions they continue with their families & the new things they add!