Christmas Traditions

As we embark on our first Christmas as a family of 4 (Brinkley counts too), I think back on all of the traditions we had as a family during the holidays.  Jason and I want to create new traditions for our little family while keeping the things from our family that are near and dear to our heart.

Here are some of my favorite childhood traditions:

• Candlelight Lord's Supper at church on Christmas Eve
• Picking out an angel tree child at church and shopping for them
• Putting change in the Salvation Army Red Kettle
• Driving around looking at Christmas lights
• Reading The Polar Express on Christmas Eve
• Making chocolate teddy bear cookies, decorated like each person in the family as well as Santa
• Leaving cookies out for Santa and spreading Reindeer feed on the roof for Santa's crew
• Watching all kinds of Christmas movies, favorites include: White Christmas, Rudolph, Frosty, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version), Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone 1 and 2, Prancer, Small One, Muppet Family Christmas, the Garfield Christmas Special, Christmas Vacation, and many cheesy made for TV movies that were recorded on VHS throughout the 80s and 90s.
• Reading the REAL Christmas story
• Decorating for Christmas during Thanksgiving break
• Eating tamales on Christmas Eve
• Writing letters to Santa
• Christmas pajamas
• Visiting with family
• Sending and receiving Christmas cards (I loved rushing to the mailbox after school during the month of December to see whose Christmas card we received that day!) 

Speaking of Christmas cards, here is ours from this year.  Should have put the date on it... oh well!

I am always up for new and different ways to celebrate the holidays.  As the Hallmark commercial says, "Traditions are for keeping us together!"  What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?  I would love to hear from you!