Christmas traditions

It being that time of the year and all, traditions become all important to some people.

I look back fondly at the sort of traditions that I had growing up. Decorating always started with the tree. Once we had gotten the tree we put it up and then my mom put the lights on--usually around ten to twelve strands, we liked a bright tree. Then my brother and I spent the next couple of hours hanging our ornaments in just the right spots. Christmas music played in the background and it was always fun to see a beautiful tree when we were done. After we had placed the last ornament my mom and I would put the garland on-shiny silver garland we used year after year, no tinsel for us cause Mom hated the stuff and the cats ate it and that was never pretty.

As I got out on my own, well I was with Nick, we started the tradition of finding a tree in the mountains. That was always fun and refreshing to go find the perfect tree. We would decorate it but I got tired of putting on all the ornaments I had as a child. We went minimalist with lights and strings of beads. Nick started putting the Christmas cards in the tree as we got them and that seemed to be the perfect way to display them. Once the Turbo was old enough to start putting his ornaments on the tree we started having more ornaments. This year we watched a Christmas movie while we decorated. A nice tradition getting revived.

Another tradition we have is to watch A Christmas Story at least once on Christmas Eve--during the 24 hour run on TNT(or TBS, I'm not sure which). Nick has an affinity for that movie which is a whole other post (later I promise). I like to watch the standards-Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Charlie Brown Christmas, etc. It is fun sharing them with Turbo. Bruiser is not interested yet.

As for Christmas Day we don't have any set traditions except we have decreed that we won't go anywhere. The kids deserve to play with their toys, not rush from one place to another. We do Christmas Eve with Nick's folks and then go look at Christmas lights, then home to leave out Christmas Milk and cookies and carrots for Santa and the Reindeer. The next day everyone comes to our house for brunch and my mom brings her gifts then. I spreads out the gifting for the kids and they can appreciate what they get.

I guess we have more traditions than I thought. What do you do that are tradition at your house? Do you want to change them or make new ones. I think we need a few more at our house but it still feels like Christmas here.