One thing I looked forward to after learning I was pregnant right before Christmas last year was celebrating the holidays with a little one. Friends have told me that Christmas is so much more special once you have a child, and now I can see where they’re coming from.
With the holidays comes traditions, and I’m looking forward to continuing holiday traditions from when I was little and new creating ones with Owen.
One family tradition I plan to continue with Owen involves my white ceramic Christmas tree. My late Aunt Patricia made a tree for both my brother and I when we were little. My mom used to put them in our bedrooms at Christmastime. Needless to say, it’s one of my most treasured possessions.
Since Owen isn’t sleeping in his own bedroom yet, the tree will assume its usual position on our entryway table, but next year I intend on displaying it in his room. I hope this tree will be passed on for multiple generations to enjoy.
A new tradition Brad and I decided that we want to implement is making a special ornament with Owen each Christmas. Since this is his first Christmas, we wanted to make a salt dough ornament of his handprint.
Here’s how I made the ornament:
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
Combine 2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/2 cup salt. Add 3/4 cup luke warm water. Mix together. Knead for 5-6 minutes. (I recommend wearing gloves while you do this because the salt can dry out your skin.)
Roll the dough out with a rolling pin.
Press hands into dough.
Note: You may want a little help with this with infants. Brad held Owen and I pressed his hands into the dough. Also, make sure you wash your baby’s hand off afterward because the salt can dry their skin out.
Use a round object to cut out the handprint. I used a biscuit cutter.
Make a hole at the top. I used a wood skewer.
Place on a cooking sheet with parchment paper.
Bake for 2 hours.
I wrote Owen’s name and “2014” on the back of the ornament, followed by a coating of Mod Podge to help preserve it.
Here’s our dapper little man with his handprint ornament. Isn’t he festive in his plaid bodysuit and black cord pants?
Perhaps I’m biased, but can you say baby model?
Macy’s has festive kids clothing in lots of bright colors and patterns. Dressing up for the holidays doesn’t always mean wearing reds and golds, but how adorable is Owen in this plaid button-up? He looks like a little adult!
I had to include a spit bubble shot because it’s Owen’s newest party trick.
While I was at it, we decided to try to get some photos with Jack and Owen. This one best represented this portion of the photo shoot.
Jack is eyeballing the treat Brad is holding, and he’s clearing looking forward to devouring it, while Owen has moved on to one of his favorite hobbies — chewing on his fingers. But doesn’t it look like he’s intently looking at a piece of art and saying “Hmmm…”?
I can’t wait to make a Christmas ornament each year with Owen.
I’d like to come up with some more traditions for our little family so share some of yours with me in the comment section.
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Gina says
December 10, 2014 at 7:18 AMOne of our holiday traditions is making and decorating gingerbread men. This year, my mom is here to do it with my three kids, just like she did with us growing up.
Gina says
December 10, 2014 at 7:19 AMI tweeted:
https://twitter.com/MoneywiseMoms/status/542654799175774208
Anne Marie says
December 10, 2014 at 7:44 AMOur favorite is making gingerbread houses – Owen may be a little young this year, but next year he will love making one or at least attempting to make one!!
Brittany says
December 10, 2014 at 7:49 AMGreat idea! My husband and I have decided to do a small gift bag/ basket with a new pair of Christmas jammies, a favorite movie snack for each one and then we will reveal the Christmas movie to watch with it while we’re all snuggled up! !
Emilie K says
December 10, 2014 at 7:52 AMMy cousin and I have made pioneer woman’s cinnamon rolls every year for the last 4 years a couple weeks before Christmas to give out to family and friends. I always freeze a pan and my little family enjoys them on Christmas morning!
Lara says
December 10, 2014 at 8:01 AMlove these! We do them too. Our tradition each year is breakfast with Santa, and it’s at Macy’s!
Ashley says
December 10, 2014 at 8:08 AMOMG that last pic of Owen is to die for! I love the hand print ornament. What a great gift idea for the grandparents!!!
Debbie says
December 10, 2014 at 8:31 AMYour son is adorable. I especially like that you dressed in traditional plaid for Christmas. He could not be any more handsome. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Roxanne Workoff says
December 10, 2014 at 8:38 AMWe make Swedish Tea Rings every year as a family. I’m hoping my son will continue the tradition with his children. When my children where small we made cute wreath ornaments using baby food lids.
Alice Jackson says
December 10, 2014 at 9:11 AMWe have a few holiday traditions, two of which go back to my childhood and the other is new and specific to our family. Since I was a young child, my Mom had me and my three older siblings frost cut-out cookies – out of four kids, I’m the only one that has kept up the tradition and now that I have a 6 year old, she and I frost the cookies together. For Christmas Eve, for whatever reason, we ALWAYS get pizza, it has to be pizza, nothing else will do and this dates back to when I was a preteen. A new tradition for our family is that my husband has been asked for the last few years to play Santa on Christmas Eve. So my husband dresses up like Santa, our 6 year old is in the back and we drive him to the houses that have requested him – our daughter gets a huge kick out of it. And everyone always asks “Well then doesn’t that mean she knows who Santa Claus is?” No, we’ve told her that Santa has dads, uncles, grandfathers to help him out but it is a secret and nobody ever knows when they are going to get called upon until the suit arrives on the doorstep.
Your little Owen is adorable by the way!
Sarah Beth says
December 10, 2014 at 9:13 AMWe always go through Christmas in the Park. It a lighting display of sponsored by local businesses in one of our parks. This year we went to breakfast with Mrs. Claus at a local church and will be adding that to our yearly traditions!
Sarah Trout says
December 10, 2014 at 9:14 AMI have three girls and we love taking pictures on christmas morning in our pjs before opening presents!
Jessica says
December 10, 2014 at 9:31 AMChristmas jammies are a must. I start shopping Christmas jammies in September, until I find the perfect ones. After church Christmas Eve, my daughter gets to take off her Christmas dress and change into footie jammies and basically it’s the most cozy and adorable ever. We did it when we were kids too, so it’s something I look forward to every year!
Brie says
December 10, 2014 at 9:33 AMCute! I love the ornament idea and your little boy is so handsome. My mom had suggested I create some sort of ornament for my son (8 weeks old) for his first Christmas. Her idea was to paint his hands or feet and transfer his handprints or footprints onto an ornament, but I’m a little wary of using paint with him. I like your idea better. 🙂
My favorite tradition is driving around and admiring Christmas lights. With a little one now, I’m excited to experience Christmas as a mom … probably even more so next year when he’ll know what’s going on!
Myra Crawford says
December 10, 2014 at 10:10 AMThanks for the creative idea! A great way to include our child on the tree his first year.
Liz says
December 10, 2014 at 10:14 AMIs that 1/2 cup of salt? It just says 1/2 salt. This would be a fun project with our almost 5 month old! My favorite tradition is baking cookies together. The result afterwards is pretty delicious too!
Lindsay says
December 10, 2014 at 10:25 AMWe made salt dough ornaments with our daughter last year, too! Haven’t found the perfect idea for this year…yet. One of my favorite family traditions is going to get the Christmas tree. =)
Jennifer says
December 10, 2014 at 10:45 AMWe are expecting our first child in March so I have another year to think about some of the traditions we want to start with our little man. I am looking forward to continuing some that my husband and I grew up with and starting a few new ones like decorating gingerbread houses and incorporating community service and giving. Love your idea of making an ornament each year. My late father saved every ornament my brother and I made in school and proudly displayed them each year surrounded by his beautiful antique ornaments.
Chrissy says
December 10, 2014 at 11:05 AMWhat a great idea! I bought some of the kids with a playdough like substance but the didn’t turn out great. I’ll have to give this a try.
Ashley Bee says
December 10, 2014 at 11:41 AMOur Christmas traditions include staying at our own house for Christmas Day (no traveling!), eating cinnamon rolls after opening presents, driving around the city looking at Christmas lights, and putting up the Christmas tree with Christmas music playing. 🙂 It’s the best season, isn’t it?
Rachel says
December 10, 2014 at 11:41 AMThat sweet boy! I love the salt dough ornament idea. What a great thing to do together each year! I kind of wish I had started something like this earlier. I like to make Christmas treats with Forrest’s help each year to deliver to family and friends–he loves helping me bake, and he’s always so excited to drop them off at people’s houses.
Hannah says
December 10, 2014 at 12:53 PMSince I was little, my sister and each open one present from each other on Christmas Eve and save the rest for Christmas morning. It was always such an exciting teaser for the next day!
Brittany says
December 10, 2014 at 12:54 PMWe inherited some pieces of a Christmas village so we’re going to make a tradition of setting up that stuff together. Also, we put a small tree in my daughters room. We may open up one present on Christmas eve! I wanna do an advent calendar when Zoey is older and Elf on the Shelf!
Bridget Taylor says
December 10, 2014 at 12:59 PMI like this idea! My kids are grown, but I bought them an ornament, usually Hallmark, each year. First the ones that said first Christmas, then daughter or son. When they moved out, I gave them their ornaments to put on their trees.
Natalie @ Being Mrs. Olson says
December 10, 2014 at 2:57 PMI love this idea! I’m going to be a first-time auntie to twins and this a fun affordable idea.
Valerie says
December 10, 2014 at 4:56 PMEvery year the kids each make a little foam craft that we glue onto a plain, red, felt tree skirt for our second tree. They always enjoy seeing what they made when they were little.
heather says
December 10, 2014 at 5:03 PMWe bake a lot of Christmas cookies and decorate them as a family.
Sarah @ Sarah's Daybook says
December 10, 2014 at 7:55 PMSo many great traditions at my house! Christmas Eve, Chinese food, duh. Well, I don’t know if that’s just my area that does that, but we have been doing it every year. Christmas Day: my mom videos Christmas morning. I know that this isn’t anything groundbreaking, but, as amazing as my mom is, she’s not the most “documentative” parent. It’s the only consistent video of my siblings and me. They’re 16 and 17 years older than me, so I love that I have those in my back pocket to watch later. Every year my mom does simple stocking stuffers: jelly beans for my brother, chocolate covered pretzels for my sister, and Lindor truffles for me. Along with something small, like stationary or something. Love me some Christmas! I wholeheartedly agree that simple is best.
Natalie says
December 10, 2014 at 9:41 PMOur favorite family tradition is driving around our town at night to see the Christmas lights as a family!
Natalie says
December 10, 2014 at 9:41 PMtweet https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/542871494741999616
Stephanie Phelps says
December 10, 2014 at 10:19 PMThese ideas are awesome but your little one is so adorable! One thing we do is go out with hot chocolate and get the tree together and then decorate!
Stephanie Phelps says
December 10, 2014 at 10:20 PMI tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/542881466519404546
anna pry says
December 10, 2014 at 11:37 PMwe have a tradition of stringing popcorn garlands to decorate our tree while we watch Christmas movies together [email protected]
anna pry says
December 10, 2014 at 11:37 PMI tweeted https://twitter.com/thepryfamily2/status/542899599053045760 [email protected]
lynn gragg says
December 10, 2014 at 11:44 PMA new family tradition for you would be when owen gets a lil older you could always start elf on the shelf!! Me and my husband actually don’t have any kids yet and we jus married in September but we starting hiding the elf for each other this year!
Nikki says
December 11, 2014 at 6:06 AMGreat post! We have a 2 year old and did the same thing for her first Christmas (we made 4 ornaments and gave them as gifts to her grandparents and godparents!)
Our tradition(s) start at the beginning of the month. We have an activity advent calendar that we really enjoy. It has everything from Writing a Letter to Santa (day 1) to coloring pictures, baking cookies, singing songs, etc. We also have an advent bunting, with pockets for each day, that we hang. Not only are there fun little gifts, but also ‘giving’ ideas as well. We want her to understand the true meaning of Christmas, so we have activities like ‘Read the Christmas Story of the Birth of Jesus’, ‘Let’s donate our unused toys’ or ‘Bake a cake for Jesus’ birthday.’ (This has also been a great way to work on her numbers!)
While our daughter is a very young 2 and we realize that she doesn’t quite get it, we’ve enjoyed the daily Christmas joy she’s experiencing!
Michelle says
December 11, 2014 at 11:02 AMOh. My. GOSH! Can that boy get any cuter?!? Okay, our Christmas tradition is making my grandmother’s Hungarian Nutcake. An all day project that I’ve now gotten my mom, two of my cousins and three aunts involved in. A totally fun “baking day”!
Thanks for this opportunity! A Blessed Christmas to you and your family!
Elle says
December 11, 2014 at 1:37 PMWe love to drive around a certain area near me at night that tends to go all out with beautiful holiday decorations and lights. It’s become an exciting trip each year.
Elle says
December 11, 2014 at 1:38 PMTweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/543112158037671936
Lisa A. says
December 11, 2014 at 1:48 PMMy favorite tradition is making, decorating and (of course) eating Christmas cookies!
Lisa A. says
December 11, 2014 at 1:50 PMTweeted: https://twitter.com/lisanne624/status/543115569441288192
Rebecca says
December 11, 2014 at 3:32 PMWe read Scripture and open our presents on Christmas eve night.
Brooke Breon says
December 11, 2014 at 3:57 PMOur holiday tradition is to open one present Christmas eve – it is always new cozy pajamas and snacks for a movie. Then we watch It’s a Wonderful Life together in our new PJs! 🙂
Cindy says
December 11, 2014 at 5:58 PMOpening gifts on Christmas morning. Then playing games.
Cindy says
December 11, 2014 at 5:59 PMhttps://twitter.com/benz1171/status/543177757967286272
Danielle says
December 11, 2014 at 10:36 PMOh, I was just thinking about doing something like this for the holidays as gifts. Such a great idea.
Awesome giveaway too 😉
Danielle says
December 11, 2014 at 10:38 PMI tweeted https://twitter.com/CoffeeBrkDiary/status/543248348828819457
Jessie C. says
December 11, 2014 at 10:47 PMOne of my favorite traditions is baking sugar cookies together, kids love decorate cookies and we also make gingerbread house.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
Jessie C. says
December 11, 2014 at 10:48 PM-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/543250381891842048
OFG says
December 12, 2014 at 12:07 AMTaking gift cards to the firefighters to thank them for their service.
OFG says
December 12, 2014 at 12:08 AMTweet: https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/543268775525507073
Mami2jcn says
December 12, 2014 at 8:07 AMThe kids and I make a gingerbread house together.
Mami2jcn says
December 12, 2014 at 8:10 AMtweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/543392375742423041
Elena says
December 12, 2014 at 11:57 AMwe bake cookies and share them with friends
Elena says
December 12, 2014 at 11:58 AMtweet: https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/543449414551863296
Julie Wood says
December 12, 2014 at 1:15 PMWe always love making Gingerbread House together as a family while listening to Christmas music! We also make our Holiday Cut Out Sugar cookies! It is so much fun to make these every year!
Julie Wood says
December 12, 2014 at 1:16 PMTwitter entry
https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/543469394219630593
tina m says
December 12, 2014 at 3:26 PMwe purchase same pj every Christmas and take a silly photo.
tina m says
December 12, 2014 at 3:30 PMhttps://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/543502115037925377
Kelly D says
December 12, 2014 at 10:20 PMMy kids and I enjoy decorating the Christmas Tree together and creating new ornaments every year.
Kelly D says
December 12, 2014 at 10:22 PMtweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/543606670174486529
Jenn @ EngineerMommy says
December 13, 2014 at 2:08 PMLOVE this idea… so adorable and easy to create a cute family tradition!
LaTanya says
December 13, 2014 at 4:48 PMgoing to the CHristms parade
LaTanya says
December 13, 2014 at 4:48 PMhttps://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/543884983283089408
Tara O. says
December 14, 2014 at 12:47 AMMy daughter and I love to drive around drinking hot chocolate and looking at Christmas lights! We do this every year!
Lisa Brown says
December 14, 2014 at 12:20 PMI don’t have traditions right now, no kids, just my husband and i. we do have a nice christmas dinner for two 🙂
Lisa Brown says
December 14, 2014 at 12:21 PMtweet https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/544180276096540672
D Schmidt says
December 14, 2014 at 5:31 PMOur favorite holiday tradition is to make Christmas cookies together while listening to Christmas music.
D Schmidt says
December 14, 2014 at 5:32 PMTweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/544257949766406144
Michelle HIser says
December 14, 2014 at 7:41 PMI absolutely cannot wait to make these with the little ones. My own children and my preschool class. Thank you for sharing these Christmas traditions. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas season!!!!
steve weber says
December 15, 2014 at 1:50 AMWe attend a candlelight service at church and then go out for a fancy dinner after on Christmas Eve.
Rebecca Graham says
December 15, 2014 at 3:51 AMWe make Christmas cookies for the neighbors.
rachel says
December 15, 2014 at 10:08 AMWe always watch “White Christmas” while wrapping gifts or decorating!
Nicole Dz says
December 15, 2014 at 1:42 PMEvery year we get the family together and make ugly Christmas sweaters and have a contest. It is a lot of fun.
Nicole Dz says
December 15, 2014 at 1:43 PMTweeted – https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/544563390254161920
Anne says
December 15, 2014 at 4:04 PMI generally have a hard time at the holidays so I don’t keep a lot of traditions, but one thing my spouse and I seem to do every year is exchange one gift on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas morning, we “surprise” each other with another gift or two. It’s fun to spread the gifting over the two days.
Anne says
December 15, 2014 at 4:09 PMI tweeted about your salt-dough ornament tradition (and your sweet little boy!) and the Macy’s giveaway:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/544599597302423552
Thanks.
Swati says
December 15, 2014 at 9:02 PMYour son is adorable. When we celebrated first christmas with our son last year, we also decided to get a special ornament for him every year. Our little tradition…
Melissa M says
December 17, 2014 at 11:56 AMWe drive around on Christmas Eve looking at lights.
ANGEL JACKLYN says
December 17, 2014 at 1:03 PMWE’RE PRETTY TRADITIONAL… DECORATE THE TREE TOGETHER & HAVE HOLIDAY DINNERS
ANGEL JACKLYN says
December 17, 2014 at 1:05 PM2ND ENTRY TWEET https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/545277991082016769
Denise N says
December 17, 2014 at 1:49 PMWe to have traditions. We do the advent calender, and a real tree. I think we need to start the ornament tradition
Heather says
December 17, 2014 at 6:14 PMWe don’t make ornaments with our kids each year but we do buy an ornament for them each year. It’s fun pulling them all out year to year. 🙂
Angie says
December 17, 2014 at 8:05 PMSo glad I found this before buying the baby foot ornament kit I saw at the store the other day! Our family also does PJs and socks every Xmas. We watch our favorite Xmas movie while decorating the tree. And we always sing carols together Christmas night before and after dinner.
Erika says
December 17, 2014 at 10:51 PMI like driving around to look at Christmas lights, baking cookies, and watching old movies by the glow of the Christmas tree. 🙂
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
Madeline says
December 18, 2014 at 6:29 AMAfter opening presents with our kids, we have our whole family over for Christmas Day lunch. It’s my favorite tradition!
Madeline says
December 18, 2014 at 6:36 AMTweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/545542977549262848
Gina M says
December 18, 2014 at 3:32 PMMy favorite tradition is baking cookies together!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
Gina M says
December 18, 2014 at 3:34 PMtweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/545678499147960321
erica best says
December 18, 2014 at 5:18 PMthis fun ideal i love it
erica best says
December 18, 2014 at 5:19 PMhttps://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/545702217970622464
maria cantu says
December 19, 2014 at 11:34 PMFamily getting together to decorate the christmas tree.
Georgia says
December 21, 2014 at 6:22 PMNo big traditions, just a big dinner and we love it!
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Georgia says
December 21, 2014 at 6:23 PMTweeted
https://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/546808107129901056
Matt says
December 22, 2014 at 3:32 AMDecorating cookies with my mom! I really cherish any time I get to spend with her now that we’re both getting older and see each other less often!
jose benavides says
December 22, 2014 at 4:10 AMIts a tradition for us to take pictures every morning on Christmas eve and day ..
Tari Lawson says
December 22, 2014 at 6:20 AMOne of our favorite little family traditions is sitting by the Christmas tree for about 15 minutes a night listening to Christmas music.
Cynthia C says
December 22, 2014 at 6:47 AMOur tradition was baking and decorating holiday cookies together.
Cynthia C says
December 22, 2014 at 6:53 AMTweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/546996173538881536
Margaret Smith says
December 22, 2014 at 7:53 AMOne of our traditions is that we decorate gingerbread houses together. We usually make two and wrap them both in clear display bags. One we keep for our table centerpiece and the other, we choose someone to get each year. Can be a relative, neighbor, friend, etc.
Thanks so much and happy holidays.
Margaret Smith says
December 22, 2014 at 7:54 AMTweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/547012207876505601
Thanks again
Estelle S says
December 22, 2014 at 8:22 AMThis is a neat idea! When my kids were younger we usually bought kits to make handprint ornaments like this, but this is cheaper and much more special because it’s truly homemade!
Kari says
December 22, 2014 at 9:26 AMWhen our kids were little, we used to all pile in the car, play Christmas music, and ride around looking at all the pretty Christmas lights. Our kids are older now (14-21) and we haven’t done that for a few years but I think we might have to bring back the tradition this year.
Sandy Klocinski says
December 22, 2014 at 11:21 AMWe make traditional dishes for our holiday meals and include foods we ate growing up. I ask for recipes from relatives to keep our family food traditions alive.
Sandy Klocinski says
December 22, 2014 at 11:22 AMhttps://twitter.com/Attea2d/status/547064522025205760
Jacquelyn Cannon says
December 22, 2014 at 1:38 PMOur Christmas traditions are cooking dinner and baking gingerbread cookies for my immediate family, opening grab bag gifts and watching Christmas movies with the family.
Cathy Truman says
December 22, 2014 at 2:40 PMWe get names from the Angel Tree and purchased toys and clothes for the Angels, they pick out toys and
clothes they like and we take them to the Salvation Army for the names we have gotten from the tree.
Stacey K says
December 22, 2014 at 3:34 PMWe have a family cookie exchange and find that is a great way to start off the holidays.
Stephanie V. says
December 22, 2014 at 3:59 PMI take my little one to pick out an ornament for our tree each year so when he gets older he sees which ones he picked at all the ages.
tvollowitz at aol dot com
paige chandler says
December 22, 2014 at 6:23 PMOur family trims the tree with popcorn every Christmas Eve.
ELIZABETH C. says
December 22, 2014 at 6:48 PMSpeaking of ornaments…. my sister is very creative so she takes pictures of all the kids every year & she makes us our own ornaments to hang on our tree. Very pretty!
Kiara says
December 22, 2014 at 7:41 PMOne of our holiday traditions is making different kinds of cookies on Christmas Eve.
[email protected]
Crystal F says
December 22, 2014 at 8:03 PMThe only real tradition we have is baking for Santa on Christmas Eve. We choose something different each year to make him. My girls and I are making him cupcakes this year. Thank you!
courtney b says
December 22, 2014 at 8:27 PMdrinking eggnog and opening our gifts on xmas eve while listening to xmas music!!!!
courtney b says
December 22, 2014 at 8:28 PMtweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/547201592848830465
Barbara M says
December 22, 2014 at 8:30 PMMy sis and I have a great new tradition.
Each holiday season we see a Christmas play!
thank you
Barbara M says
December 22, 2014 at 8:30 PMTweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/547202151723053056
Mary Jenkins says
December 22, 2014 at 8:53 PMI made my daughter’s “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament out of salt dough because I didn’t have the money to buy one! It didn’t store well, unfortunately. I sure wish I had it hanging next to all my much pricier ornaments. It would be a testament to how far we’ve come!
Theresa Smith says
December 22, 2014 at 9:35 PMWe did this with your recipe with my five year old granddaughter and my 4 month old granddaughter. Their names are Kaitlyn and Maddie. These will be with us forever. What a great idea!
mickeyfan says
December 22, 2014 at 9:51 PMWe do the same menu every Christmas Eve (soups, etc) and watch A Christmas Story.
Lisa says
December 22, 2014 at 10:02 PMNow that my girls are older we actually buy a special ornament each year that has meaning.
Lisa says
December 22, 2014 at 10:02 PMHere is the link to my tweet:
https://twitter.com/dreamingsaving/status/547225419993210880
Daniel M says
December 22, 2014 at 11:48 PMmake lots of cookies and swap with the neighbors
Shirley martinez says
December 23, 2014 at 1:06 AMThis will be my daughter’s 2nd Christmas and I’ve deciced to create keepsake ornaments with her picture and something special inside.
amy pugmire says
December 23, 2014 at 2:50 AMWe take the kids to breakfast with santa every year. They have tons of fun activities and a yummy breakfast.
amy pugmire says
December 23, 2014 at 2:51 AMtweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/547298299078639616
beth shepherd says
December 23, 2014 at 9:55 AMWe love to make candy and cookie for family together.
Linda G says
December 23, 2014 at 10:59 AMWe like to attend our local Santa parade every year.
Anastasia Falling says
December 23, 2014 at 11:10 AMOur only real tradition is to get everyone bundled up in the car and to drive around town and look at all the lights and holiday decorations 🙂 We love to admire all the beauty and hard work that people put int to their holiday decorating 🙂
Anastasia Falling says
December 23, 2014 at 11:15 AMTweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/547423501595181056
Bruce says
December 23, 2014 at 11:21 AMBirthday cake and singing “Happy Birthday” on Christmas
Becca says
December 23, 2014 at 12:44 PMMy favorite tradition is taking a family photo every year. It’s fun to watch the kids grow up!
Terri Moore says
December 23, 2014 at 2:45 PMThe ornaments from when my children were little are my favorites! Another tradition is to save all the photo Christmas cards you receive and keep them in a Christmas decorated photo album. I have done this for years and put the family ones together so you can see how the kids have grown each year. It is a precious memory keeper.
Lauren Olivia Wood says
December 23, 2014 at 3:07 PMWe always bake together as a family: staples like Fruitcake Cookies and Lush Cake are made in our kitchen with all 13 of us putting in our input!!!
Lisa V. says
December 23, 2014 at 4:53 PMWe like to go to Denny’s for dinner after Christmas Eve mass.
Robin says
December 23, 2014 at 4:57 PMMy son always helps me hang ornaments on the tree.
Taryn T. says
December 23, 2014 at 5:15 PMOne of the traditions that I love is finding small presents for the kids advent calenders, and then watching their surprise each morning when they find them!
Ed says
December 23, 2014 at 6:52 PMWe share oplatek ( a Polish wafer ) by breaking a piece from each person’s wafer before the Christmas feast!
Donna Jacoby says
December 23, 2014 at 7:43 PMMy favorite Christmas tradition is, after wrapping the last of the presents on Christmas Eve, we each can pick one present to open. After that, we turn off all the lights–and light the tree to watch the movie marathons and enjoy the magic of the season. Thank you for the giveaway!
Erica B. says
December 23, 2014 at 8:26 PMGet a new holiday movie each year.
Beth Klocinski says
December 23, 2014 at 10:03 PMDecorating the holiday cookies the weekend before Christmas. All the kids help out and we have a great family day.
Donna Jacoby says
December 23, 2014 at 10:06 PMI tweeted–https://mobile.twitter.com/DonnaJacoby2014/status/547588626251792385.
wendi says
December 23, 2014 at 10:35 PMwe love doing the advent calendar it makes for so much needed time awareness lol
wendi says
December 23, 2014 at 10:38 PMhttps://twitter.com/wblack1125/status/547596922350231553 my tweet ty
Tammie Venne says
December 23, 2014 at 11:40 PMI bake with my daughter each year for the holidays
Tammie Venne says
December 23, 2014 at 11:44 PMhttps://twitter.com/sweepingmommy1/status/547613483203047424
Brittney House says
December 23, 2014 at 11:55 PMWe like to get several gifts and play games as a family to win the prizes.
krystal wethington says
December 24, 2014 at 2:35 AMEvery year we go to the CHRISTmas light show a few counties away.Its always so pretty and we love it every year.
joe gersch says
December 24, 2014 at 4:22 AMour tradition is baking cookies on Christmas eve
Kim H says
December 24, 2014 at 6:57 AMwe have a number drawing and a gift that matches the number!! [email protected]
Tracy Melhinch says
December 24, 2014 at 8:39 AMThe biggest tradition we have is the week before Christmas, on a Saturday, we have a huge family cookie baking day! We have been doing it since we were young(I am 47 now) Now are the kids and grands are included as well. My Mom gets a bit stressed with so many in her kitchen..but we all have a great time,and lots of fun and yummy cookies to take home.
Tracy Melhinch says
December 24, 2014 at 8:44 AMhttps://twitter.com/TMelhinch/status/547749457576857600
Kathy Pease says
December 24, 2014 at 9:17 AMwe like to bake goodies baskets for family and friends on christmas eve
Kathy Pease says
December 24, 2014 at 9:18 AMhttps://twitter.com/klp1965/status/547757977390698496
Jennifer Barr says
December 24, 2014 at 9:33 AMWe get new Christmas pj’s every year
angie says
December 24, 2014 at 10:11 AMOne of our traditions is to got to a local park and enjoy nature on the Winter Solstice. You can find so much life, even when it seems like everything is dead.
angie says
December 24, 2014 at 10:12 AMI tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/547770668709072896
Melissa says
December 24, 2014 at 11:23 AMWe decorate the house and tree, every year the youngest places the star on top of the tree! 🙂
ColleenM says
December 24, 2014 at 12:39 PMOwen is adorable! Have a great Christmas with your little guy.
sarah hirsch says
December 24, 2014 at 12:43 PMmy favorite holiday tradition is having a big family dinner
Alexandra C. says
December 24, 2014 at 12:45 PMOwen is so stinkin’ cute! I absolutely love making the home made ornaments! Yours look great =)
Alexandra C. says
December 24, 2014 at 12:49 PMhttps://twitter.com/FluffToBuffAZ/status/547811127707828224 2nd ENTRY TWEET =)
Jane H says
December 24, 2014 at 1:24 PMEvery year sionce our children were very little, my husband would read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. Our oldest is now 30 and he still reads it but now it includes grandchildren.
Merry Christmas.
Meghan says
December 24, 2014 at 1:36 PMwe always make treats to share and watch movies together, but i’d like to add to our traditions!
Rosie says
December 24, 2014 at 3:12 PMOur favorite tradition is to decorate our Christmas tree with everything edible! We string popcorn and cranberries, make and decorate gingerbread men and sugar cookies, wrap in saran wrap and hang, candy canes, pouches of gold coins, popcorn balls, seek out treats in the store. It is fun to snitch a cookie – from the back of the tree, of course! and it is almost as fun taking the tree down, the dreaded “End” of the holidays, as everything still tastes great! and makes for good snacking!
Kerry says
December 24, 2014 at 3:24 PMWe always go to church Christmas Eve and come home after mass and open our gifts. Santa always comes while we are at church:)
Kerry says
December 24, 2014 at 3:34 PMtweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/547852745554685952
Anthony says
December 24, 2014 at 3:56 PMour favorite tradition is watching Christmas movies on Christmas eve together
Becky Moore says
December 24, 2014 at 7:26 PMwe read the story of Jesus’s birth on Christmas Eve Eve and then ‘Twas the Night before Christmas’ on Christmas Eve.
Tabathia B says
December 24, 2014 at 7:57 PMWe usually make a gingerbread house, leave out cookies and milk for santa and we make gingerbread cookies
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
December 24, 2014 at 7:58 PMtweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/547919166380855296
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Pamela Lloyd says
December 24, 2014 at 8:25 PMFamily time and catching up on what everyone has been up to all year.
T Michelle Trump says
December 24, 2014 at 9:17 PMWe love to get our pajamas on and drive around and look at Christmas decorations and then stop for hot chocolate.
shawna says
December 24, 2014 at 9:17 PMBaking and driving around looking at lights.
T Michelle Trump says
December 24, 2014 at 9:20 PMI tweeted as @tmt121172 on 12/24/14
Laurie Emerson says
December 24, 2014 at 10:28 PMOur family makes Christmas fruit ornaments every year. We put whole cloves into oranges and use cut cinnamon sticks for a star on top. They smell so good hanging in the kitchen and our children have so much fun making them.
Stephanie Larison says
December 24, 2014 at 10:28 PMBaking and decorating sugar cookies with my daughter is our new tradition. I remember doing it and loving it with my mom. We also put the fake tree up the day after Thanksgiving.
Beverly Metcalf says
December 24, 2014 at 10:44 PMI love the hand ornament, that is a great idea. We like to make lots of cookies for Christmas. Thanks.
Sonya Morris says
December 24, 2014 at 10:52 PMWe really don’t have any other than going to mass on Christmas Eve. I decided a few hours ago that next year we will start a tradition of wearing matching Christmas pjs and slippers.
Sonya Morris says
December 24, 2014 at 10:54 PMLink to tweet:
https://twitter.com/catholicfanatic/status/547963317352800257
Thank you!
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
Tamara says
December 25, 2014 at 12:01 AMWe like to open a family gift on Christmas Eve, and save the rest for Christmas morning. It’s a fun tradition for us!
Tamara says
December 25, 2014 at 12:05 AMTweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/547980798155300864
MARIA simon says
December 25, 2014 at 12:17 AMOpening gifts on Christmas morning then go to mass
Sarah L says
December 25, 2014 at 1:44 AMGoing to Christmas Eve service, coming home to hot chocolate and opening one present.
Thanks for the contest.
Sarah L says
December 25, 2014 at 1:51 AMhttps://twitter.com/slehan/status/548007865076961280
Betty C says
December 25, 2014 at 2:00 AMWhen my children were growing up we always made candy cane cookies to hang on the tree. Of course, someone always tried to eat them and they really didn’t taste like cookies.
Betty C says
December 25, 2014 at 2:05 AMTweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/548011222759915520
Angela Ash says
December 25, 2014 at 3:23 AMI used to make a different ornament every Christmas and my mom would hang it on the tree. She enjoyed them and now that I’m older I like looking back at all of them and seeing the date so I know how old I was when I made them.
Deb K says
December 25, 2014 at 3:36 AMOne of our traditions is to open presents on Christmas Eve!
Deb K says
December 25, 2014 at 3:38 AMTweet!~
https://twitter.com/Deb55106/status/548034924658589697
joni says
December 25, 2014 at 4:12 AMOn Christmas morning, we place a lit candle in a cupcake and put it in front of the manger and sing Happy Birthday to baby Jesus.
joni says
December 25, 2014 at 4:18 AMhttps://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/548044800839417856
Rachel V says
December 25, 2014 at 4:20 AMOur kids all write letters or a paragraph about each other. They place them in each other’s stocking to be read on Christmas Eve before they exchange gifts with each other.
Karen Deva says
December 25, 2014 at 5:16 AMOne of our holiday traditions is baking cookies together. We make pepparkakar, a Swedish ginger cookie, and cut out shapes with cookie cutters and decorate the cookies.
Karen Drake says
December 25, 2014 at 6:39 AMWe always watch a Christmas Story on Christmas Eve, it is our favorite holiday movie.
saralynns2 says
December 25, 2014 at 7:36 AMMy favorite tradition is Christmas eve church service and then driving around town looking at Christmas lights after 🙂
Steve Singer says
December 25, 2014 at 8:42 AMWe would pick out ornaments at a store like Things Remembered and have the kids names & the year engraved on them .This way they will have enough to start decorating their tree when they move out.
Michelle Tucker says
December 25, 2014 at 9:37 AMInstead of a huge Christmas dinner we have about 20-25 appetizers that everyone brings over. Always a hit and a lot less stressful. Everyone loves this tradition in our household.
Michelle Tucker says
December 25, 2014 at 9:38 AMtweeted https://twitter.com/iiiyadirf/status/548124801278410752
DanV says
December 25, 2014 at 10:49 AMWe have a bug family brunch
DanV says
December 25, 2014 at 10:50 AMThat’s a big family brunch
Amanda Sakovitz says
December 25, 2014 at 10:53 AMwe have a yankee swap on Christmas Eve!
Amanda Sakovitz says
December 25, 2014 at 10:53 AMtweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/548144355769606144
gina says
December 25, 2014 at 11:05 AMWe like to bake cookies then leave some out for santa with milkand carrots or something for the reindeer .
Sherry Conrad says
December 25, 2014 at 11:15 AMOn Christmas Eve while we went and looked at lights, Santa made a super duper extra early pit-stop with pj’s, snacks, a game & or movie etc to make the waiting easier. 😀
Thomas Murphy says
December 25, 2014 at 12:34 PMEvery year my family decorates the tree together.
Thomas Murphy says
December 25, 2014 at 12:34 PMtweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/548169650660724736
heather s says
December 25, 2014 at 3:33 PMWe bake cookies for the neighbors
Nataly Carbonell says
December 25, 2014 at 4:25 PMWe love baking cookies and eating them with hot cocoa ^_^
Nataly Carbonell says
December 25, 2014 at 4:26 PMtweet: https://twitter.com/um_lil_cutie/status/548228224434843650
Tina Reynolds says
December 25, 2014 at 4:29 PMwe bake cookies
Vicki D. says
December 25, 2014 at 4:32 PMThe only holiday tradition we have is getting together with our two sides for Christmas. My husband’s side is usually Christmas Eve. My side is usually the following weekend. Last year, I made cookies and the kids loved frosting them. So, I plan on doing that again. Maybe that will become a tradition.
Heather M. says
December 25, 2014 at 5:14 PMMy whole family comes to our house on Christmas Day to see what my kids got from Santa.
Annette says
December 25, 2014 at 5:56 PMOne tradition that I like is donating toys through various organizations.
Annette says
December 25, 2014 at 5:56 PMhttps://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/548248867355889664
doug gerard says
December 25, 2014 at 6:15 PMWe used to have that same ceramic xmas tree…my mom made it in 1965 in her ceramic class.
I tweeted too and thank you for the opportunity to enter P.S. your ornament is cute!
Sand says
December 25, 2014 at 6:32 PMWe bake cookies from around the world and give them as gifts.
Amy Deeter says
December 25, 2014 at 7:09 PMon christmas eve,we drive around looking at christmas lights and than come home and my 2 children each pick out a christmas movie to watch.
Amy Deeter says
December 25, 2014 at 7:44 PMi tweeted.https://twitter.com/amy16323/status/548269901748899840
Megan Filzen says
December 25, 2014 at 9:02 PMI love to bake christmas themed cookies and cakes. They really make it festive!
Megan Filzen says
December 25, 2014 at 9:05 PMTWEETED https://twitter.com/mfilzen7/status/548298271366455296
Debbie b says
December 25, 2014 at 9:15 PMwe always selected one gift to open on Christmas Eve!
Leela says
December 25, 2014 at 9:17 PMBaking Christmas cookies with my kids.
Debbie b says
December 25, 2014 at 9:17 PMi posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/548301344789250048
Denise L says
December 25, 2014 at 10:45 PMOur family always has the youngest child place the Baby Jesus figurine in the Nativity Scene on Christmas Eve.
Denise L says
December 25, 2014 at 10:47 PMtweet – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/548324092474978305
Rajee Pandi says
December 25, 2014 at 11:21 PMwe decor christmas cards
Rajee Pandi says
December 25, 2014 at 11:21 PMhttps://twitter.com/momsfocus/status/548332684158582784
Lindsey H says
January 5, 2015 at 1:44 PMSanta always brings a movie that the family can watch together on Christmas night!