Traditions...

This morning in one of my many "mommy" emails that I get from different websites they were talking about holiday traditions with your family. Which of course I LOVE this idea, there are so many things I want to pass on to Bo! I thought I'd list a few from the webiste as well as some from our family and friend's families.

*Of course the traditional letter to Santa and I like the idea of a letter from Santa! I got this idea from a friend years ago...Along with a letter from Santa, he would also send "reindeer food" asking the children to help put the food out so the reindeer could fuel up during their stop. You take birdseed and glitter and voila..."Reindeer Food". On Christmas Eve you go out and spread it in the yard before the kids go to bed.

*On Christmas Eve we always left out cookies and milk for Santa. Another thing you can include would be carrots for the reindeer. Of course Santa eats the cookies, but you can either cut or chew the carrots down to look like the reindeer actually ate them and toss them out into the yard for the little ones to find on Christmas morning.

*We were also allowed to open one gift that night. I'm planning to do this with our family, but the gift everyone will open will be Christmas Pajamas to wear that night.

*Bake a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve! This is also a great time to read the Christmas Story from the Bible and help the children understand the real meaning of Christmas!

*One father had told his little girls how Santa wouldn't come if he could hear the girls awake. After they settled down he went outside with some jingle bells and stood below their window ringing the bells. It eventually caught on with the neighbors and every year the parents would agree on a bedtime and once they were settled in bed one of the parents would go from yard to yard ringing the bells.

*Attend a Christmas program at church. Most churches have a program sometime during the month of December. I attended my first Midnight Christmas Eve service while Jarrod and I lived in NJ and I must say it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. This might not be the best service for little ones, but if you can attend one I would highly recommend it.

*Leaving "Santa's boot prints" by the front door or fireplace. You can do this with baking powder, flour, etc...

*Watching old Christmas movies...this is a must! I'm 30 years old and still watch Frosty and Rudolph!!

*Another that I loved and will definitely do...After kids have settled down to bed, pop popcorn and make hot chocolate, put it in the car, then wake up the kids to ride around looking at Christmas lights. They recommended doing this on a Friday night since they could be cranky the next day. Personally I don't think I would wake a sleeping child, but maybe after bathtime and pajamas surprising them.

*Getting involved with a charity. This is such an amazing time of year, what a better way to show love and giving than to get involved helping others. This year we will be doing Operation Christmas Child, we will be filling shoe boxes with items such as toys, candy, crayons, toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks, etc... The boxes are shipped across the world to children in need. Think about it...you can find all of these things at the dollar store, so even though you may be enduring tight times with our current economy you can still send something to a precious child for less than $10.

I thought these were such fun ideas, I had to share. I know when my parents read this they are going to say "this is SO Casey". I can't help it, I have always loved Christmas ever since I was a little girl. Not much longer only 47 days left!