Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Traditions

It's only two weeks until Christmas, so I thought I'd use this time to share some of our family's traditions. My "children" are 21, 23 and 26, but they still want things done the same way every year. Many of our traditions were started by my mom when I was a child, and I'm guessing that my children will pass some of them on to their children someday. I hope they will add some of their own new traditions as well.

The season begins when we drive to Cassens Tree Farm to choose and cut down our Christmas tree (or trees this year!). As a background to the festivities, we play our family's favorite Christmas CD, Amy Grant's The Christmas Collection. The rule is it can't be played until after Thanksgiving, so we can really appreciate it. So on the day after Thanksgiving this year, Amy made her yearly debut as we made the drive. 



Some years, it's cold and snowy and my kids hide between trees and pelt each other with snowballs. This year was warm and sunny, so they had to make do by swatting each other with dried weeds.


After a short search, we found a tree that everyone could agree on.


It didn't take long to find a second, smaller tree. Why is it that it takes forever when it's bitterly cold outside, but on a warm, sunny day we found our trees in record time?


And while my husband pays for the trees, we visit another favorite, the stuffed bear that sits inside the barn, year in and year out. 


Both trees are nestled all tight in the bed...


And we head home with Amy Grant singing It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. And it is!


10 comments:

Sunny Simple Life said...

I love that all your big kids still go with you. Mine are the same. We go to the same lot every year and keep our traditions the same as well. They would have a fit if I changed anything.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful tradition! Keep it going as long as you can! We gave up on live trees years ago here in the desert, they would be so dried out by Christmas......it got dangerous.....

It is cool to see your grown children keeping the tradition strong!

Kris said...

Nice!!! A good lookin' bunch you have there!

Mecky said...

That is nice that you are keeping your traditions alive. We stopped doing so many things once the kids got older.
I don't have Amy's Christmas music on cd yet. I have it on tape but don't have a tape player anymore. It is such a good one, I really have to get it on cd. I haven't heard it is years. Her's and Steven Curtis Chapman's Christmas cd were always my favorites.

I hope you show us the finished trees soon!

Red Rose Alley said...

How funny...I just did a Christmas tree post today too. Don't you just treasure family traditions? Your pictures of the family are wonderful, and it sounds like it was such a special day. Oh, "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" is one of my favorites.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

magie said...

It is lovely to keep the family Christmas traditions going. When I was living in Canada, my family and I would always go to a Christmas tree farm to cut down our own tree (they would usually have either hot chocolate or spiced apple drink there as well). Nothing beats a cut tree at Christmas!
Have a fun time decorating them :)

Melanie said...

Love your tradition!! What fun, looks like everyone is really enjoying themselves! Traditions are important, you are giving your kids memories that they well have all of their lives!

My Vintage Mending said...

I love it. Just so similar to what we do as a family. These are great pictures. Smiles..>Renee

camp and cottage living said...

I love keeping family traditions alive. You're so fortunate all your children are able to still make it home together!
Blessings-Kimberly

Shirley Hatfield said...

Your pictures of the kids made me miss my children when they were younger...now they are 35,34,31,28 and 23. We had some fun family traditions, but now I decorate the trees by myself, and they have their own trees to trim. How life goes by! =D