Christmas Holiday Family Traditions

Traditions add meaning and character to family holidays. In our home, 
it just wouldn't feel like Christmas without our advent candle lighting ceremony, or if we skipped the midnight church service on Christmas eve. The good news is that even if your current holiday season lacks special traditions, it's never too late to create one. Select a family activity, 
do it once or twice and declare it "a new family tradition" !

An Amazingmoms reader from West Virginia, suggests a family meeting
after Thanksgiving to form a wish list of traditions. 
  "We pass a candy cane, whoever has the candy cane gets to speak. 
   We choose at least one favorite activity that we've done previously 
   or would like to try this season." 
Remember that sometimes kids need encouragement to get past the 
"I don't know" step. You may need to have a list of questions handy. 
After the list is complete the Thompson's add the event into their 
calendar right away. If it's difficult for you to plan that far in advance place the list on the refrigerator as a reminder.

Follow these quick tradition tips:
If it's Christmas cookies they want and time is short,
  use store bought refrigerator cookie dough. Really, it's okay! 
  The decorating and time together is what matters.
    Click here for a Cookie Painting Kit
 
Purchase a Gingerbread Kit . The kit comes with everything
  you need for a good old fashioned treat. We suggest that you buy
   a bit more candy. Other than that, it's a ready made tradition!
   You supply the Bing Crosby and egg-nog. 

Craft kits are a great thing for family time that's fun and easy:

Window Decorating

Beaded Snowflakes

Candle Decorating

Read a Christmas story every night for the last ten days before Christmas.

Pile everyone in the car, put on some carols and drive around to see 
  the lights. It's a 1/2 hour  Memory maker.

Adopt a Christmas tradition from around the world. Use this link to
  learn about Christmas customs from several countries.
  Learn a new name for Santa, special recipes, games, parades
  and more...click here >>

Time savers from our readers
   
Order gifts on line, they do the shipping for you!
Don't write long notes on your cards this year.
Hire a teenager who needs some extra cash to 
  address the envelopes.
Hire that same teenager to help with wrapping.
 Gift bags are fast and easy!
If you want to volunteer but can't find the time.
  Take your children to pick out a gift to donate
  to "Toys for Tots" or a local "giving tree".

Click here to order holiday paper goods -- 
they are a great time saver to keep around the house.
Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah & 
New Years Party Packages!