What's in a Tradition?

Last year I was so excited to go as a family to cut down our own Christmas tree for the first time ever.  It was going to be a new Tolman family Christmas tradition. So imagine my surprise when, as I announced our plan to go cut our tree this year, all the kids complained that they didn't want to go.

The reason?  Because it wasn't our tradition.  Emmie particularly waxed nostalgic for our poor old Christmas tree that she missed desperately last year with the addition of our live tree.  So out came the dusty Christmas tree box from the garage to bring back our old tradition.  

You should have seen how funny the kids were as they shaped our artificial tree.  They were having a great time remembering years past when we set it up together.  Emmie was thrilled that she was tall enough this year to open up the taller branches.  And they equally loved looking at the eclectic array of ornaments, many with their names on the bottom, that they have received, one at a time, over the years of their lifetimes.  {Jack was bugged that he had fewer than Josh--not liking that he has been on this earth a shorter time than Josh.  He wants the count to even out.}

I guess it really isn't about the type of tree we set up.  It's more about creating memories with our kids that will last a life time.  That is a great thing about this time of year.

What other traditions are we continuing?

**Reading one of our favorite Christmas stories together each night.  So far we have revisited {on the dates they were read}:

1st--Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect

2nd--The Elves and the Shoemaker

3rd--Shall I Knit You a Hat?

4th--The Race of the Birkebeiners

5th--The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomy

We look forward to reading many more before the season is over.

**Putting up the Nativity story, one figure at a time, on our advent calendar.  You would be surprised at how much fighting goes on with this tradition to make sure everyone gets an equal amount of turns hanging up a figure.  Josh even wants his turn!

Watching our favorite Christmas movies together.  Love this shot of Dad and his girls watching the Grinch.

Still looking forward to baking for the neighbors, singing carols {by ourselves and along with our Christmas CDs}, delivering secret santa gifts, playing in the snow {if we have to have snow, we at least want it before Christmas so we can enjoy the spirit of the season together.  Will it ever come?  We sure hope so--just not on my concert day next Saturday!}, drinking lots of hot chocolate, watching the mail each day for Christmas cards {hint, hint}, and just enjoying the spirit of the Christmas season together.

What are your favorite traditions?  Here's to a great season full of the true meaning of Christmas!