For us, the holidays have always been full of joy and FAMILY! Our usual routine was to spend Thanksgiving with our mom's side of the family and Christmas at home with our Dad's side.
Our memories are full of food, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and gifts. Always something going on, always someone to see. It was magical chaos and we often find the holidays feel a little too quiet without it.
Our formal Christmas celebration always took place on Christmas Eve, which included fancy outfits, Catholic Mass, a big meal and presents with extended family. Christmas day it was rare for us to change out of our pajamas as we enjoyed a slower pace at home.
Among these most treasured memories is a list of our favorite family traditions.
Caroling
Our mother would organize a horse and sleigh to drive us around with our extended family as we sang Christmas carols to our neighbors. Sometimes we couldn't feel our toes after an hour in the sleigh, but the hot chocolate and children scream-singing "Silent Night" helped offset the cold!
Songbook // bells // hot chocolate
Picking Christmas Tree
This was always an event in our family. We could walk around the nursery for HOURS trying to find the perfect tree. When you have six people weighing in, its not always easy agreeing on the right one. Negotiations tended to be shorter the colder the weather...
Decorating Christmas Tree
Once a decision was reached, we would spend a night at home decorating the tree together. Our father has a very particular way of stringing the Christmas lights -- its very important to tuck them deep into the tree to get the best results :)
Our tree was always decorated with personal ornaments collected throughout the years, and our mom would add something new each time. Every ornament was branded with permanent marker on the bottom to avoid fighting and attempted seize of other's ornaments.
tree skirt // nutcracker ornament // mouse king ornament
Baking Christmas Cookies
The baking gene seems particularly strong in our sister Cassidy these days. The rest of us mostly just enjoy her creations :) She's been creating some super special treats lately. You can check them out on @sugarandsassbycass
YUM!
Midnight Mass
There is something so special about the Midnight Mass service Christmas Eve. Just those words evoke the aroma of incense and sounds of bells.
Decorating wrapping paper
If you haven't caught on already, our mother was very crafty. Each year we would create our own wrapping paper with paints and sponges. You always knew which presents were from us under the tree!
wrapping paper // finger paints // holiday sponges
The gift of giving
Each year we would pick lists of toys off the trees at our Church and go shopping for families in need. It was such a gift from our parents to include us in this tradition and to remind us what the season was truly about.
As our family grows and changes, so do our traditions. What are some of your holiday traditions, new and old, that you cannot wait to do this holiday season?
