Holiday Family Traditions 2023
The holiday season is now upon us, and while it can be a wonderful time of the year, it can also be a source of stress and anxiety, especially if you're tasked with planning and organizing holiday events. But don't worry, I'm here to help!
First things first, it's important to remember that the holiday season is all about spending quality time with your loved ones. It's not about trying to outdo yourself or others with fancy decorations or expensive gifts. So, take a deep breath and relax!
To make your holiday planning more manageable, I'm happy to share some of my favorite holiday traditions that you might find enjoyable. These include baking and decorating cookies, watching classic holiday movies, and going on a holiday lights tour.
But let's be real, even these seemingly simple activities can sometimes be stressful, so I have made a list of our family's yearly traditions.
Remember, your family just wants to spend time with you, so don't feel like you have to do everything alone. Enlist the help of others, delegate tasks as needed, and do group activities with friends. And most importantly, enjoy the holiday season and all the special moments it brings!
Family Matching Pajamas:
LazyOnes is one of my favorite companies, especially for holiday pajamas. They offer an amazing Black Friday sale and are known for quick shipping. One year, when I was in a bind and needed to order last minute, I knew I could count on them to deliver on time. Overall, they are a fantastic company to shop from.
I have used the matching Pjs two ways in the past. Firstly, we wear them during all special events like decorating trees, making gingerbread houses, and the night before Christmas, so we make good use of them during the holidays. Secondly, we include them in their Christmas box, or their elf leaves it for them when he returns home to the North Pole. My kids still wear the PJs long after Christmas because I am a rational human being :). Either way works, and you can choose which way will work for your family in creating holiday memories.
Advent Calendar:
Some years I do activities every day, and then I do something once a week or only on the weekend. Do whatever you need based on your stress level. One of the tools that I live by is the Advent Prep Club. This is membership helps me plan daily activities for my family.
Here are some of the activities we do every year.
Holiday Movie Nights
Gingerbread Houses
Meet Santa
Drive to see the lights
Yearly Hallmark Series Ornaments
Christmas Concerts
Sugar Cookie Decorating
Each of my Kids holiday shop for their siblings with their own earned money
(In our family, my kids use their own money to buy gifts for their siblings during the holiday season. My kids earn money through good grades (not based solely on final scores but also on work ethic and extra reading hours) and through sports and extracurricular activities. Our family has had many professional athletes, and hard work in sports and extracurricular endeavors should be rewarded. This approach also teaches our kids the importance of balancing their passions with their work and helps them understand why we can't always do everything all at once.)
The Polar Express Train Ride:
This used to be one of my most cherished traditions. We always did the Polar Express train experience when we lived in Kansas City. We preferred the St. Louis location because it was superior in every way. The experience was fantastic, with a complete dinner package, character walkabouts, a beautiful train ride, and the train's location when it left the station. Since the train was elevated, it gave us a sense of flying. We've been to several Polar Express trains, but St. Louis Union Station will always be our favorite. There are so many Polar Express locations. Click on the link to find the one nearest to you.
This year we are headed to the mountains in Pennsylvania to try a Christmas Village train. I will lt you know how that goes! We are so excited!
Christmas in New York:
Since moving to the East Coast, our family has cherished a beloved tradition. Every year, we plan a Christmas weekend with my sister who lives in Manhattan, and each year is different. There is so much to do in New York City, and I highly recommend adding it to your list if you're within driving distance. I will provide details of this year's trip and share our beautiful adventures during the holidays there.
Elf on the Shelf:
Yes, this Elf visits our house every year, too! It creates lots of family memories but also causes nightly stress. We have reduced the stress of the Elves coming and destroying our homes by gifting them a little kit to use. We love Crafty Holiday Helper and could not survive without it now. It helps you plan cute activities for your Elf or Elves to get into each night, making a parent's life much easier. It reduces the creativity you have to use when you are already overloaded. My kids look forward to seeing our elves, Leonardo and April (Yep! Named after Ninja Turtles) every year!
Gingerbread Houses:
Let's talk about Gingerbread Houses for a minute. As a COOKIE BAKER, I must admit that I buy the $14.99 Gingerbread house EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Why? Making Gingerbread stiff enough for houses is not that easy. Also, I don't want to eat something that my kids' grubby little hands have been ALL over. Here's what I do, and it works out great. If you want to be a Martha Stewart or Pinterest mom, make adorable gingerbread cookies with your kids. Save them in a ziplock or make them the same night as decorating. If you do it on a weekend, you can eat the yummy, soft, fresh gingerbread cookies and let Michaels provide the stiff cardboard gingerbread houses.
Christmas Trees in Kids Rooms:
I enjoy decorating Christmas trees in my children's rooms. They don't have to be large or extravagant, but I love having lights in their room at night. I always use fake trees since I don't recommend having a real tree in a child's room. (As a child, I once watched an episode of Rescue 911 where a dry Christmas tree caught on fire, and I have never been the same! haha!) This is also the perfect place to hang their yearly Hallmark Keepsake ornament.
Sugar Cookie Decorating:
It's perfectly fine if you're not a baker! If baking cookies stresses you out, there are still other ways to enjoy the experience of decorating them. You can order DIY kits from a local baker in your area or purchase cookies from bakers like me who sell them during the holiday season. If you prefer to stick to the cookies you know how to make that are not sugar cookies, go ahead and do so - it will make for a less stressful experience. Alternatively, you can skip the baking altogether. Remember, there's no need to feel pressured to do something that doesn't bring you joy!
Building a fort and reading Christmas Stories:
It's no secret that kids adore building giant forts, and my own children are no exception. So why not gather up some sheets and construct a cozy fort for your little ones to enjoy? Once you've built your magical hideout, turn off the lights and grab a flashlight along with some Christmas books. Spend some quality time reading together and creating cherished memories.
Going to see Holiday Lights:
Going on a holiday lights tour can be an enjoyable experience. However, it can also be overwhelming if you don't know where to start. Before you go, it's a good idea to do some research to find the best neighborhoods or streets to visit. This will help you plan your route and avoid aimlessly driving around. One great thing about this activity is that it is budget-friendly, as you are only paying for the gas.
If you are willing to spend a bit more, you might consider going on a guided holiday light tour. This will guarantee a magical and immersive lighting experience. Moreover, it can be easier to find the best neighborhoods with lights.
Holiday Movie List:
We love snuggling up with a blanket and watching our favorite movies. Here are some movies we enjoy watching with and without the kids.
Family Holiday Movies:
Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas
Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas
Noelle
Arthur Christmas
The Polar Express
Home Alone (1 & 2)
Jingle Jangle
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Polar Express
Olaf's Frozen Adventure
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Christmas Chronicles
The Santa Clause (ALL)
Deck the Halls
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jingle All The Way
The Four Orginal Christmas Classics
Adult and Funny Holiday Movies:
The Family Stone (Adult)
Love Actually (Adult)
Four Christmases (Adult)
The Holiday (Adult)
It's a Wonderful Life
Fred Clause (Adult)
Bad Moms (Adult)
ELF (Adult-ish, pre-teen)
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Deck the Halls
Office Christmas Party (Adult)
