We have a family tradition every year in which we buy an ornament for each of our children and one for the family. We pick out these ornaments along with our Christmas cards at Hallmark. I try to pick out ornaments that best describe each child that year. It has been fun to take each ornament out during the holidays and reminisce why we bought each ornament and it is a great reminder of how the kids were that particular year.
This year for our family ornament we chose the cookie baking ornament because that is another family tradition we have grown to love. I got the King-Fu Panda Bear for my oldest son because of the “goofy-ness” of the character. This year he is quite the ham. Frosty is for my middle child for the fun loving character he is and my son loves Frosty so much that he would have watched him all year long this year if we would have let him. Then the cute little deer represents my daughter playing dress up. She has truly come out of her shell this year and is a pure joy to be around. There is plenty of drama to be had by this little girl though, she is not all sugar and spice.
It is our hopes that one day we will be able to have a great collection of ornaments to pass down to each of the children when they move out on their own and will one day be able to share these memories with their family.
What holiday traditions do you share in your home?
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We also have a tradition of getting a new ornament every year – I’m hosting my very first linky party where I share the rest of our traditions – come visit! ;)
http://1wonderwomanwannabe.blogspot.com/2009/12/family-christmas-traditions-share-thon.html
I am doing likewise with my kids, have yet to get a “family” ornament however. One thing my mom did for a long time with my sisters and I that I am starting this year with my kids is making each of them an ornament each year. I blogged about them if you want to check it out.
We do the jammies on Christmas Eve thing as well as each get a new book. That was one of my favorite traditions growing up. I want to make it a tradition with the kids starting next year (my oldest is only 2) to do Operation Christmas Child with them. I got clued in about it a little late to make it happen this year. Oh, and I plan to start a Jesse Tree with them next year. So many good ideas. I better get em organized so I don’t forget all of them next year!
We do the same thing for our kids, it’s a tradition I grew up. For my 4-year-old this year, I got an ABC chalkboard ornament because he loves preschool and learned his letters this year. For my one-year-old, I got an oven mitt “love to cook” ornament because her play kitchen is one of her favorite toys right now.
I also get a special ornament for each of my sons (I have two). Instead of one resembling their personalities I get one that marks a milestone. This year I got a school-themed ornament for my youngest as he has just started “big school”, and for my eldest I made an ornament out of a little swimming Smurf (he learned to swim this year) and I added some little wire spectacles that I made (he got glasses this year too).
We started that tradition this year. Well it sort of started last year but not intentionally. This year we bought them on our family trip to the mall. My 2 y/o got Elmo, and my 7 month old a little lamb. For our family ornament we get a picture frame ornament and put a pic of the girls in it. Our girls will have a great collection of ornaments to take with them when they grow up. Some of our other traditions are new jammies on Christmas Eve (which is from my childhood), having only 3 gifts (plus stockings), and our church’s candle light Christmas eve service. I am really enjoying starting traditions for our young family. But I am also focussing on keeping them simple.
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