Our Family Christmas Traditions

We have been very busy around here. December has been full of family and fun. Here are some of the things we have been doing.
Christmas lights at Temple Square:

Although Olive loved riding Trax and seeing the lights it was pretty chilly and she was ready to leave.

But she still had fun pointing out all the sparkling things to look at.


Playing with cousins at the family party:

We ate way too much food, exchanged gifts, sang silly versions of Jingle bells, donated to the angel tree and had a blast. Here is Olive performing Pablo the Reindeer at the talent portion.


We decorated gingerbread houses:

Olive was fine watching while she ate a steady stream of sweets.

I think it turned out cute.

One new tradition we have done this year is a Christmas mailbox. Every evening before our bedtime routine, there is a special (small) surprise waiting in there. I am imagining that as our kids grow up they will also get the occasional treat, special message or letter, and be able to write notes or leave things for each other in there. Olive LOVES her mailbox.

We have also started a collection of Christmas books. We read one (or a few) every night before bed.


We have gotten a lot of our non extended family traditions already checked off but not all of them. The next 2 evenings are going to be extra busy so we thought we would try and squeeze most of them into one night. So this evening we are going to: deliver neighbor gifts, eat shepherd's dinner, have our family nativity night/lesson, drive to see Christmas lights, and open our new Christmas story. Then more family dinners with both extended families, acting out the nativity, a Christmas movie and new Christmas PJs. I am so excited for Christmas, but I feel like it is coming too fast!