I can’t believe we are almost a week away from Christmas and the most wonderful time of the year!! This season is flying by and all of the fun festivities will be over before we know it. I love this holiday so much and everything that comes with it mainly because of all the traditions. I love creating specials memories my kids will look forward to each year and carrying on traditions that Adam and I both loved from our own childhood. I shared some fun Christmas date ideas last year, but this time I wanted to share traditions for you to enjoy with the whole family and to bring back year after year. I hope this helps you plan a few new fun things this season and if you have a tradition that is your favorite I’d love you to comment below so I can add it to our list! Thanks so much for stopping by.

| FAMILY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS |

-kick off December with a Santa Breakfast [our elf on the shelf returns and brings the kids each a holiday prize. the kids open christmas pajamas to wear all month long and we eat our favorite belgium waffles with all the fixings]

-have a family advent calendar or count-down calendars for each child to look forward to every morning

-decorate your home for the holidays [it’s fun to make it a special night when you put up your tree or go and buy one. I have also started to add a decorated tree into the kids rooms and they love it. Turn on christmas music or watch a holiday show while you’re getting the house all ready]

-teach a family night about the true meaning of christmas and introduce The Giving Manger that will be out all month long for everyone to add the straw into the manger with each act of service they do. [you can read the nativity story or set up your nativity as part of your christmas decorations]

-find a way to serve another family during the holidays and make sure the kids are involved

-host a Hot Cocoa Night with friends [where you have a hot chocolate bar and everyone brings a different christmas cookie to share. you can go see the lights after or go caroling]

-send out Holiday Cards to all your friends and family then put together treats or something special your family likes to make to give as gifts to your neighbors.

-plan a fun day to visit Santa [let your kids take a photo on his lap dressed in their Christmas outfits then go see a christmas movie and enjoy dinner out at your favorite place. we also had the kids write letters to santa and drop it at the special north pole post box]

-have a gingerbread house contest [buy the house kits and all of the extra toppings you want then let everyone go crazy making their best house. you can serve gingerbread cookies for everyone to eat play christmas music. display the houses all season long]

-plan a family date for ice skating [i grew up going ice skating outside and then taking a carriage ride to see all of the lights, but we love taking our kids to an indoor rink by us that isn’t cold at all and they have the best time]

-enjoy what your city has to offer for the holidays [find out the best activities going on in your city and plan the things you want to go to. The symphony usually has great christmas concerts or the local ballet puts on the Nutcracker or the holiday tree lighting with fireworks or the marina by us does a holiday boat parade.]