Let’s Talk – Christmas Traditions
Today I’m joining Andrea and Erika for this months Let’s Talk series and we are sharing Christmas traditions.
Also joining Sarah and Victoria for Day 2 of their Christmas link up sharing Christmas traditions! Hop over and see all the fun prompts they have planned each day through the 15th.
Every year at this time it seems like a question along the lines of family traditions arises and I’m always stumped. I don’t know if it is because I grew up in a family without too many big traditions or if the fact that my kids are spread apart in age has something to do with it, but compared to some families our traditions just seem to fall short. What I do know, is this time of year we all see each others faces more than any other time and that is my favorite tradition! So let’s talk about a few things we have done for years!
We bake lots and lots of treats to giveaway to friends! My Meme always did this and it is something I totally adopted. It is not an easy task but I absolutely love doing it every year. My little lovebug has taking a liking to it as well so she helps me for sure. While I make several things the most coveted by those receiving are my Meme’s chocolate cookies. The trick is to giveaway more than you eat!!
Our Christmas season ALWAYS begins the first Friday in December when my friend Sarah host the most amazing holiday party. We have seriously been going to this party for at least 10 years I think. Sarah makes all the food herself and let me just say, Keith is not easily impressed but he will do everything in his power to make it to this party!! It is always such a fun time to see my fave girls!
Ohhhh….the Elf on the Shelf. What a love/hate relationship I have had with this booger. I absolutely loved finding creative ways for BJ (yes really) the elf to come visit each day but at this time of year when things get crazy anyway it was definitely something I had to plan as the kids got older. I think we have been doing the Elf on the shelf for at least 5 years but I think the little miss has finally given it up. I’m half relieved and half sad.
While some years this has been hard to fit in, we try really hard to ring the bell with the McBertys every year. The kids have come to really love this one and Carly is already asking when we are going to do this!
We also volunteer at the annual food drive and try to find other ways to spread some Christmas cheer to our friends and family.
Some years we head out to do something special like watch the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular!
We look at Christmas lights! I really only have this last little bug that wants to do this with me but I’ll take it. She has been begging to do a Christmas light scavenger hunt so I’m hoping maybe I can talk her siblings into this and we can all head out into our pjs (yes, Jordan…even you!!) grab some hot chocolate and take two cars and have a little family battle.
We spend Christmas Eve every year with the Janac side of the family. I always wanted to be part of a big family and this one does not disappoint! Everyone is not always able to make it but there is typically a good crowd and Keith’s Nanny Jane would be so darn excited with the number of great grandkids she has. Two new babies have been born this year and there are now 23 great grandchildren!
Christmas Day is spent at our house with all my babies. For the past few years we have started the tradition of having brunch with Keith’s mom and sister as well. I make a breakfast casserole and we all eat and open gifts and have mimosas. Remaining in our pj’s has been pretty much mandatory.
There are always games and lots of coffee too! Last year we played Bean Boozled and I think it was my biggest laughs of the entire year!
On the day after Christmas we head down to my hometown to finish off Christmas with my mom, grandmother and my brother’s family. We spend the day hanging out, eating lots of food and then typically hang out by the fire until the wee hours telling lots of stories about our childhood and the kids over the years and laughing like crazy.
Oh…and did I mention the tamales? We have had tamales at Kielman Christmas my entire life. I seriously cannot think of a Christmas without them.
It has not always been simple to make sure we have great family time. Keith and I are both from divorced families plus I am divorced. My Bigs some years have had 7 Christmas gatherings! I’m so grateful all of us have a strong love for family which has definitely helped it all come together every year. There has definitely been a lot of compromising and I just encourage everyone it is worth it. So what if Christmas day is not the day you are all together. Making the time to be together, all together and have that undivided time to reconnect is such a blessing.
What are your favorite family traditions?
Be sure to come back tomorrow to link up with Katy and me for Spiel the Beans and share your favorite holiday movies!!
Click the image for all my faves!
Let’s Get Social
Love this so much!! Look at hose bell ringing beauties, on Saturday, I gave the lady at Hobby Lobby ringing the bells a hug too!! Your decor is gorgeous and Sarah hosts one heck of a party, look at you beauties!! Love reading abut your traditions. Hope this Monday back goes smooth and sweet!!
Those tamales look delicious. Love learning about your traditions…I also enjoy the Cmas pictures in shorts.
You totally have more traditions than you give yourself credit for. Okay, I kind of love that you have an older elf too. This is year number…5 (I had to count)(how is that possible) for us too and those older elfs are so stinking creepy compared to the newer ones! Also I think I have at least another 3 or 4 (oh God please not 5) years to go before Em is over it.
Love this ! I've noticed with my kids it's not the big things we do but it's always those little things they remember and want to do again and again each year. Hoping you have a wonderful holiday season !!!
You have a lot of wonderful traditions! Last year we got the kids Beanboozeled and both of my kids screamed and were NOT excited to play it. Hahahaha. They kept asking if it was the real game. I love the tamale tradition and yes to staying in PJ's all day with lots of coffee and treats. Have a wonderful Monday!
Sounds like you have some fun traditions! I do have to say that having divorce in the family makes it super hard — especially when my ex is such a booger. But I don't think my girls have gone with out once! LOL…….I do agree that I don't think you have to celebrate on a particular day. What difference does that make? My family has a very hard time with that one. This year we will celebrate at our beach house for the first time! Waking up there on Christmas Day is going to be so weird but we are all excited. My oldest and her husband live over there and we are starting new traditions with them!
PS……I would just like to say that I am SO GLAD that creepy elf wasn't around when my girls were little. I am also glad that pinterest and blogs weren't either! LOL talk about making a person feel inadequate as a parent! I would have been in a permanent depression! LOL
I get it, girl. We don't have loads of traditions either. Both my hubs and I are from divorced families so it can get out of control. We learned to say no to some things and yes to others. Last year I started hosting my mom, her husband, and brother for Christmas breakfast. We go see some lights. And do a few other things but we aren't dripping with branded traditions over here! xoxoxoxoxo
I think your Christmas season sounds wonderful, so many meaningful activities and time with family. That's really what matters most!
What a fun post! It all sounds lovely! I especially like the sound of tamales! And the Rockettes show is the best! I can't wait to take my boys.
So much Christmas fun!!and such good and giving too!
I really wish I had taken my son too when he was younger! I actually have seen it 3 times but once at Radio City music hall and that was so amazing!!
Definitely what mattes most to me Kellyann. I have a hard time every year staying focused on that and not letting the busyness of the season get to me.
That sounds perfect! And I saw those pillows you were talking about at Pier 1….super cute!
Haha…we had the best time and my husband was the only one who refused to play! There was lots of spitting and running to the sink. This year I bought the pie in the face game. 🙂
Me too Kimm….heck I guarantee they don't remember half of what they have received over the years.
Last year our elf showed up each day encouraging an act of kindness….he actually showed up in Carly's classroom one morning thanks to an amazing teacher. It was fun!
Haha…yes Deena shorts at Christmas is quite typical around here!
First day back after a long holiday is always so exhausting isn't it? I'm bushed! Hope you had a fabulous holiday with your family.
Breakfast on Christmas morning is probably my fave! So many years we rushed the kids through opening their gifts so we could get dressed and head to my moms. I always felt so guilty because she was alone until we arrived. Thankfully things have kind of fallen into place now.
This really is such an amazing time of year….as long as I don't get myself all worked up and crazy. 🙂 Hope you had a super holiday!
Yes, we got some! LOVE!
You will love Pie in the Face! I got the game Speak Out and can't wait to play! 🙂
You have such wonderful traditions! I love that you volunteer with your kiddos too!
Looks to me like you have some great traditions going!!! Christmas Eve at my house has become a tradition in our family and I try to do a new theme every year. I'm stumped this year. And I'm getting texts going Aunt Crystal, what's the theme??? Lol. I obviously need to step up my game. 😉
I love the Christmas baking and giving away your treats! And I love that there's a set date for a friend Christmas party! That's something I would look forward to every year too!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
So…what have you decided? What theme are you going with this year? I wish I was able to host Christmas!
I can hardly wait for the baking marathon this coming weekend Sarah! Thanks again for hosting the Christmas linkup!
Christmas Shirts and appetizers!! One year we did pajamas and I even made my little 83 year old dad where Christmas pajamas. Last year was hats. I am always surprised how everyone comes in what I tell them! Lol. It's really my favorite night.
Why can't you host Christmas???
By the way I think having your kids serve with the food bank and just teaching them to serve in general is so great. I really dropped the ball on that with my boys.
So fun! I love the pajamas idea. Our family is so small and I always have to go to Wharton for Christmas and will continue to have to do that while my Mamaw is still alive. Not sure the Janac side would go for this. haha
Thank you Lana! I did not do so much with my older two and am so glad we live in a community where there are so many opportunities to serve!
Well you are doing the right thing for the season your family is in now and that's what is most important.