We put up our family tree the week after Thanksgiving. We play Christmas music and have Andes Mint Hot Cocoa and Cookies together.
We start our Advent readings that correlate with our calendar. The kids enjoy putting the correct person or animal or symbol in the little pockets of the calendar.
We sit down and make out our baking list and each of the kids choose 1-3 kinds that they want to help make. This year our list included:
- Spritz Cookies (Ladybug)
- No-Bakes (Busy Bee)
- Reindeer Noses (Bookworm)
- Imperial Cookies
- Peanut Butter Temptations
- Almond Butter Cutouts (Ladybug)
- Oreo Truffles (Ladybug)
- Peppermint Pattie Cookies
- English Toffee
- Almond Biscotti
- Walnut Crescents
- Ande's Mint Cookies
We celebrated Christmas with our Family Fellowship group as well. We give each family homemade gifts. This year I gave them each a sampling of my Christmas baking and a bottle of homemade Vanilla Extract. My husband taught the lesson this time and it was on the Uniqueness of Christ, it was a great lesson for the season and we sang some carols with it. We had a good meal and wonderful fellowship. The Lord has really provided for us with this group. I am so thankful for these amazing Christian families.
We go to a neighborhood in our community that really goes all out with lights and displays. We drive through and listen to Christmas music and choose our favorite displays.
We visit our great group of friends in Ohio for a week. They are really more like family. We have been friends for over ten years. We started out the homeschooling adventure together. Now we are all in different phases of life but the fellowship is better than ever. They are truly my brothers and sisters and our relationship has proven to be Christ affirming and edifying. Whenever I feel low these women are my PEOPLE! They come visit us at the lake every summer, we ladies have our retreat in February and we are truly there for eachother. My hope is that you all have people like that in your lives. Okay, done with the sentimental!
On this visit we went to the Creation Museum and went through the living Nativity- very cool. We have a Christmas Party with all six families each year. Our menu this year was:
- Rob & Rosie's Ham
- Steve's Mashed Potato Casserole
- My Sweet Potato Casserole
- Sandy's Green Beans
- Sandy's Corn
- Karen's Cabbage Casserole
- Karen's La Comedia Salad
- Susan's Fruit Salad
- Rolls
- Deb's Kringla and Krumkaka- sp? Norwegian yummies!
We exchange gifts and stories and laughter. We close the evening with carols. On the day of the party, the guys always go to the air force museum while the ladies cook and fellowship. We moms always make sure we have time out together. The last couple years, we've gone out to breakfast. One new thing we did this year was to go to inner city Cinncinatti and help a friend with an outreach program. The kids that came were very blessed and it was nice to see Christ being shared with the community.
On Christmas Eve we have my whole side of the family over for a nice sit down meal. There are 14 (soon to be 15) of us. Our menu included:
- Fried Ravioli with Sauce
- Shirley Temples
- Soda, Milk, Juices, Ice Water
- Brown Sugar Glazed Hams
- Creamy Herbed Potatoes
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- German Green Beans
- Glazed Carrots
- Fluffy Fruit Salad
- Buttercrunch Salad
- Papaya Chutney Dressing
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Herbed Dinner Rolls
- Blueberry Cheesecake
- French Silk Pie
- Banana Cream Pie
- Cookie Tray
We open gifts, fellowship and play games. It's always a good time.
On Christmas Morning we open gifts and have breakfast beside the tree.
Brad and Busy Bee's big gifts were Red Wings hockey tickets! They are very excited!
Ladybug was thrilled with her IPod Touch!
Bookworm finally got her laptop. I thought she might get up and start singing, "Oh, Happy Day".
We put Baby Jesus in the manger and move the wiseman closer to the stable. We stay in our pajamas most of the day. We work on a new puzzle and play with the new gadgets, toys and technology. In the afternoon we get out all the ingredients for a smorgasbord:
- Prosciutto
- Capricola
- Salami
- Summer Sausage
- Black Forest Ham
- Honey Turkey
- BBQ Glazed Chicken
- Brie
- Boursin Cheese
- Norwegian Havarti with Dill
- Colby Jack
- Pumpernickel
- Ciabata
- Honey Wheat
- Assorted Crackers
- German Potato Salad
- Cucumber Salad
- Deviled Eggs
- Papaya Chutney
- Cream Cheese with Onion and Chives
- Herb Butter
Sometimes we visit my mom's in the late afternoon for cookies and cocoa and sometimes we just stay in and watch a Christmas movie or take a nap. It's a very relaxed and peaceful day. We make sure the kids are mindful of Jesus' birth and its meaning throughout the day.
We try to get a sledding/skiing day in before we visit my in-laws for our Chritmas with them. This year the girls have a sleepover planned with a friend from volleyball. I have a little shopping trip planned with a friend for some after Christmas deals before the visit. The kids enjoy playing with cousins and celebrating together.
Then we come home and everyone helps take down the decorations and pack them away for next year. We listen to carols for one last time and put those away until next year.
What traditions do you and your family value?
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