Since Jonathan and I have been married nearly a year and a half this will be our second married Christmas and I am super excited to be spending it in our first home. Here are a few things Jonathan and I did last year at Christmas and some things that have always been done with our families.
Picture Ornament: Our first Christmas I got a picture ornament to hang on the tree and wrote "2008" on the back. This year I bought another one and put "2009" on the back. I want to keep doing this because in 10, 15, 20+ years how funny will it be to look back at Christmas family photos of the past?!
Hand Painted Ornament: I painted this ornament to celebrate our first Christmas in our new house. I think I am going to keep making an ornament each year to commemorate a special event in the year so that at Christmas we can remember how blessed we are!
Photo Albums: This is something Jonathan's mom always does and I love the tradition. Every year Hallmark comes out with a new holiday photo album and she buys one for her and Jonathan's dad, my sister in law and her family, and for Jonathan and I now too! It makes me remember to take a whole bunch of pictures because I'll need a lot to fill the album and then when Christmas is over they get packed up and only taken out again the next year. It's a super fun way to remember the holiday FUN!
Christmas Eve Service: My parents are divorced so Christmas Eve is time with my mom's side. We all go to the candle light service and then go home and do our secret Santa exchange. Since my mom is remarried there are a total of 7 kids between my mom and step dad so the gift exchange is a must and super fun because we try to guess who has who!
Donating to a Family: Jonathan and I are not extravagant people by any means and we rather buy each other a few gifts so that we can spend more money donating gifts to families in need that live in the area. This is something we feel VERY strongly about. Neither one of our love languages is gift giving so it's not that big of a deal to us to spend more money on a family or kids in need rather than on each other. (Don't get me wrong, we buy each other great Christmas gifts but we just like to keep ourselves in check...if that makes sense?)
Travel / Memory Tree: This one if pretty simple. When we travel we pick up an ornament to remember the trip by. Not always a huge vacation (sometimes it's just a date night hence Travel / MEMORY tree) or a huge memorable event but fun none the less! Here is a picture of the 5 we have so far. This is a separate, smaller tree in the front bedroom that you can see through the front window :)
I hope you enjoyed our start at traditions!
8 comments:
I love that Travel/Memory Tree idea. I've never came across it before! ... I have lots of travel stuff so no problem finding ornaments to decorate mine with.
You have a beautiful family. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with anything that your hearts desire :)
Cheers,
Marica
Cute, I love the idea of a "picture" ornament! Thanks for sharing.
You have such great traditions!! I love the picture frame idea, the photo album and the fact you give to others.... My hubby and I do that one every year too!
P.S. cute sock monkey.... reminds me of my childhood.... :0)
Summer
I love the idea of having a holiday photo album each year
I love your traditions! :)
Didnt know you blogged! Pretty neat! Love all the special touches in your Christmas traditons!:)
Do you mind sharing where you got the frame ornament? I need some to put my girls pics in for the tree
what fun traditions! Last year was my first Christmas being married and I thought that was super excited and this Christmas is our second Christmas, but FIRST in our new house, just like you guys!! :) Congrads!
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