Fun Holiday Traditions MyLifeandKids.com Page 1

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Welcome! Hi, my name is Anna, and I had three kids in three years. Then I quit my job, bought a minivan and started wearing mom jeans. My goal is to share my stories, make you laugh, and help you feel better about your crazy, messy, fabulous holidays! You can find me at My Life and Kids.

Let's Celebrate! My mom was really, really good at holidays. Even though the days get longer and darker, I can remember our house getting brighter, cozier and happier during these months of the year.

But once I became a mother, I realized just how hard (and exhausting) it can be to make the holidays special.

Make them Special, but Don't Kill Yourself! Luckily, you don't have to be elaborate or over-the-top to make the holidays magical for your family.

I've compiled a list of simple holiday traditions you can start with your family. Take what you like from this list - and make them yours!

Wishing you a magical holiday season! © Copyright by My Life and Kids 2013. All material, images and text are copyrighted property and should not be sold, posted or published elsewhere. Thank you.

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Table of Contents

*** Be Merry and Bright

*** Thanksgiving

***Christmas

***Hanukkah

***Give Back

***Winter

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Be Merry and Bright Do you want the holidays to feel "Merry and Bright" for your kids?

Then BE merry and bright.

You don't have to have fancy decorations. Your kids don't need elaborate gifts. You don't need to host amazing parties or make every decorated cookie on Pinterest.

All your kids need to feel special during the holidays, is YOU.

Smile a little more. Have a little more energy. BE HAPPY.

Your kids will notice, and your happiness will be part of their holiday memories.

This is not me. That is not my husband. Those are not my kids. I didn't make that snowman. But doesn't this family look Merry & Bright? Exactly!

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Thanksgiving Make the Placemats

Three years ago, I realized that I didn't have enough placemats for Thanksgiving dinner (that my husband volunteered to host while I was 8 months pregnant.) I didn't want to buy new ones, and I really didn't want to drag my two little kids out the day before Thanksgiving. So I cut up brown paper bags, gave the kids some stickers, markers and Bingo dotters, and they made the placemats. Our table wasn't beautiful, but it was memorable. And now they do it every year.

Gobble! Gobble! Even Steven's family has a special turkey platter that makes the rounds every year. Whoever is hosting dinner serves the turkey on the platter.

Hit a Restaurant

Who says you have to celebrate Thanksgiving at someone's house? Your tradition could be to go to a restaurant every year. Just be sure you make reservations - you'd be surprised how many people dine out for the holiday.

Get Active

We always try to take a family walk or hit the gym on Thanksgiving morning. It's a refreshing way to start the day - especially since we know we're going to be inside eating for most of the afternoon and evening.

Movie Night

Grab some friends and catch a movie on Thanksgiving night. Or you can host a movie night at home - eat leftovers and watch your favorite flick.

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Eat Pie for Breakfast

I loved this tradition from one of my readers, Jodi.

"We have pie for breakfast on Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings. After eating all the holiday foods, no one is hungry for dessert, so we get it over with in the morning."

How genius is that?

Thankfulness Leaves

There are a gazillion (maybe even more) thankfulness activities you can do with your kids. At our house, we write one thing we're thankful for on a paper leaf every day in the month of November. We hang them up in our kitchen, and by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, we have a ton of leaves! I've seen some people decorate a Thankful Tree, I've seen paper chains - I'm sure a quick Pinterest search will give you lots of ideas.

Pies, Pies, Pies

I come from a long line of pie-eaters, and the women in my family traditionally get together the day before Thanksgiving to make pies. If your family doesn't like to bake, you can grab your friends and bake your pies together before the big day.

This is my family's secret pie recipe. You can click here for the full instructions.

Plan Your Shopping

I don't venture out every Black Friday, but I must say it's an experience everyone should have at least once.

My mom and I used to spend our Thanksgiving night poring over the ads, deciding on our route and setting our alarms to be leaving the house by 4 am.

Some of my friends wear matching T-shirts or hats on Black Friday. Get creative and have fun with it! (Just don't get trampled at Wal-Mart.)

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Get Crafty

My mom is known for her craft supplies. And every Thanksgiving, she'd bring them out after dinner, and we'd make some type of craft. Usually it was an ornament to hang on the Christmas tree. Always - it was something memorable - and a little more fun than sleeping on the couch.

Say What You're Thankful For I know - it's such a cliché, but I absolutely LOVE this tradition. Every single year, we go around the table and say what we're thankful for. It's cheesy - but a little magical too.

Say One Good Thing

Some years, my mom would put everyone's name into a hat. We'd each draw a name out of the hat, and say what we were most thankful for about that person. (When I was younger, I'm pretty sure my mom rigged it so that my brother and I would draw each other's names.)

Give Your Guests a Marker Stephanie at Binkies and Briefcases keeps a dry-erase marker in her bathroom and encourages her family and guests to write what they're thankful for on the bathroom mirror. It's such a cute idea, you really need to see it on her blog!

Start a Gratitude Group

It's super simple to start a private Facebook group. Invite your closest friends or family members to a Gratitude Group on Facebook.

My mom, my sister-in-law and I have a private group and every night, we share three things that we're thankful for about our day.

It's a great reminder of what's important in life. And it's a great way for the three of us to stay connected.

Surprise Your Guests We had a casual Thanksgiving at my parents' house last year. And just as we were about to sit down for dinner, my mom waltzed out wearing a vintage ball gown and pearls. She thanked her guests for coming and led us in a prayer. You don't have to wear your old prom dress, but sometimes it's fun to surprise your guests with something unexpected.

Have a Signature Dish

Pick a dish you love and call it your signature dish. It might be carryout from your local deli or a recipe that's been passed down through your family for years.

My signature dish appears to be making some type of huge mistake while preparing dinner. Last year I left the bag of giblets inside the turkey. Several years ago, I shattered a glass pyrex dish all over our food. Pick your signature and stick with it - just try not to injure anyone.

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Christmas Bake Cookies With Friends

I love to bake. I love it even more when it includes my friends (and wine). Organize a cookie-baking party at your house (or invite yourself over to a friend's house with a big kitchen.) Bake a few of your favorite recipes together and everyone gets to take home a sampling.

Make a Gingerbread House

We made our very first gingerbread house last year. It was a total disaster as far as I was concerned. I had to use a glue gun to get it to stay together, and it looked absolutely awful when we were finished. (Read more about that here.) If it were up to me, we'd never do it again.

But the kids loved it and talked about it for weeks. So I'm afraid it's become part of our tradition.

Caroling

I have never done this, but someday I will. (Even though I'm a terrible singer.) Grab a group of friends, drink some hot adult beverages and walk the neighborhood. Okay - I just talked myself into it - we're doing it this year! Neighbors - don't say you haven't been warned.

Night-Time Walks

Our neighbors could win awards for their exterior lighting during the holidays. Every year, we bundle up the kids after dinner, I pop some popcorn, and we take a night-time walk to see the lights in our neighborhood. The kids love to see the lights - and it's pretty special to talk a walk in the cold after dark!

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Visit Santa - or Don't I like to visit Santa, but my kids are terrified of him. One year we only made it to Santa's door. One year we forced our kids onto his lap and laughed at the pictures of them crying.

Visiting Santa can be a fun tradition - but you're probably not doing any long-term harm by not taking your kids.

Elf on a Shelf

I mean - seriously. This elf thing is absolutely adorable. There are entire blogs devoted to different ideas for your elf, so you don't even have to be creative about it - you can just follow their instructions.

And if your elf is a little naughty (like mine) - you can submit his picture to elfshaming.com

Holiday Books

My kids LOVE Christmas books, and every night they each get to pick one to read before bed. They only come out in the month of December and are packed away on January 1st - which makes them even more special.

Christmas Music

I'll be honest, I start listening to Christmas music on November 1st. But some people (like my husband) won't turn it on until December. Tune your radio to all Christmas all the time or download your favorite Christmas music to create a playlist you can listen to everywhere.

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Advent Calendars

It really wouldn't be a traditions book without mentioning Advent calendars. They're so fun, and there are so many varieties! Last year, we had three going (I don't think any of them made it past the 20th of December.) You can make one or buy one. Give out presents or candy each day. Do a fun activity each day. Or just have your kids open the window or move the candy cane to the next day. No matter how you do it, the daily countdown definitely adds to the anticipation of Christmas!

Set Your DVR

There is just nothing like a good Christmas movie. And I don't like to miss a single one. I love the classics (like Miracle on 34th Street), I love the kid ones (like A Charlie Brown Christmas), I love the funny ones (like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) and I even love the Lifetime ones! (A family is driving to a big city for Christmas and their car breaks down in a small town where they're stranded for 10 days because the mechanic can't work on their car. Someone gets kidnapped accidentally, but it all turns out well because they fall in love... Amiright?)

Set your DVR on December 1st and don't miss a single one! One night a week, we have movie night with the kids to share our favorites with them.

Get Out Your Santa Cams

You call them smoke detectors? In our house, they're Santa Cams, and they work like a charm.

Christmas Toys

We have a few toys that only come out during the month of December. The kids look forward to playing with them all year long, and it's a great distraction when I donate a lot of their old toys to make room for the new ones arriving in Santa's pack.

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Take a Holiday Picture

Don't you love the pictures you get in the mail every year? Everyone is adorable and happy. The moms look thin and rested. The kids look well-behaved. The dads look like they're living their dreams.

Adorable.

I try to send these types of pictures, but unfortunately they don't exist in my world. Our pictures usually look something like this...

But I still send them every year - you know - just to make the other moms feel better.

Christmas Night

Host a low-key party on Christmas night. Invite everyone over for dessert and games after the big day.

Decorate the Kids' Rooms

When I was growing up, I always had a small Christmas tree in my bedroom. I can still remember lying in bed, seeing the twinkling lights and being so excited about the holidays.

My mom has continued the tradition and decorates a small tree for my kids' rooms every year. The ornaments are laminated pictures of themselves that have been taken throughout the year. The kids LOVE their trees, and I love the memories they bring back from my own childhood.

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Christmas Tree Campout

Have your husband camp out with the kids next to the Christmas tree. Sleeping bags, popcorn, hot chocolate - and a night off for you!

Start a Holiday Village Display

My mom started a village for me when I was a little girl. Every year, I'd get to pick a new piece to add to my set.

When we were first married, I loved setting up our village every year. It brought back wonderful Christmas memories. But it's put away indefinitely ever since my house started being run by toddlers (who like to kill the village people.)

Special Ornaments When I was a little girl, my grandfather started making ornaments for every member of the family. On Christmas Day, he'd pull out brown lunch sacks, and we knew we were getting our Christmas ornament. They were detailed and sweet, and he put the year on each one. Now that I'm an adult, I love hanging every single one on the tree - and remembering this tradition. While I'm not as talented as my grandfather was, I still try to either make or buy a special ornament for each child each year. I write their name and date on the back, so when they're ready to decorate their own trees (SOB!) they'll have a box of ornaments and memories to take with them.

Video Chat

My parents live far away. And my brother and his family live even further. When we're not able to be together around the holidays, we always make time to Skype. My parents like to read Christmas books to my kids, and my brother and I always open our gifts to one another over the computer. It's not the same as being together, but it helps!

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Decorate, Decorate, Decorate

I can't talk about Christmas without talking about decorations. I'm a decorating nut around the holidays. I like to see a little Christmas in every room. (Even Steven likes to say that it looks like Christmas threw up in our house.)

You don't have to have elaborate, expensive decorations to make the house feel festive. Have your kids cut out snowflakes, collect pinecones from outside, hang a few strands of lights in the kitchen - BOOM - instant Christmas.

Decorate the Tree Together! When I was growing up, we put on Christmas music, popped some popcorn and spent all evening decorating the entire tree. Now that we have little kids, this tradition is somewhat modified.

We put on Christmas music, pop some popcorn and spend about 20 minutes decorating the tree with our non-breakable ornaments.

After the kids are in bed, Even Steven and I finish it up and gaze lovingly into each other's eyes. Okay - not really. I finish it up and Even Steven watches television.

But there's something special about that 20 minutes we spend decorating the tree together.

Include Your Friends and Neighbors

On our first Christmas Eve in our new neighborhood, our neighbors brought us a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls.

Every Christmas Eve day, they make homemade cinnamon rolls together as a family. On Christmas Eve evening, they deliver trays of rolls to their neighbors, friends and family with instructions on how to cook them on Christmas morning.

Now, we enjoy fresh-out-of-the-oven, homemade cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning. (Clearly, we are never, ever moving.)

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Christmas Morning Supply Kit On that same note, I like to put together Christmas morning supply kits for my neighbors and friends. I decorate a paint can (like this), and fill it with Christmas morning essentials: a CD of my favorite Christmas music, scissors, trash bags, hot chocolate and Advil.

Date Night! My friend Amanda has a favorite Christmas tradition, that I think I'll adopt!

"Christmas is one of the few times I can get my husband to go shopping with me! I like to take full advantage and get expensive coffee and pretend like we are just dating again. I love that tradition."

Shopping Trip

This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas traditions. My mom, my friend Erika, her mom (Connie) and sometimes Erika's sister Shaina meet in a city for a weekend of shopping in November or December. We all share a hotel room, we shop till we drop, and it's so much fun. We usually wrap up our Christmas shopping, and did I mention that it's so much fun?

We've all been having babies the last few years, so we've had to pause this tradition. But we're all looking forward to starting it up again (next year, ladies??)

Don't Forget the Dogs

My friend Allison makes homemade dog treats for the neighborhood pups every year. Isn't that so sweet? (Perhaps Big Hairy Dog should go and live with her.)

What's Your Chia Pet? Even Steven has gotten the same Chia Pet for Christmas every single year for the past 14 years. On our first Christmas, I bought him what I thought was the perfect gift: a Chia pet. It sat in his closet unopened and untouched for an entire year. Until I wrapped it up again the following Christmas. He acted just as surprised as he did the first year he opened it. And then it sat on his closet shelf unopened for an entire year again. This has happened for the past 14 years.

By now, he probably knows he's getting it, but until he actually takes the thing out of the box and grows it, it will be under the tree every single year.

Special Gift Tags

Back in the olden days, we used to send cards as Christmas cards. They weren't pictures of your family or postcards or e-cards. They were greeting cards with pretty pictures on the front and handwriting on the inside.

My great-grandmother, my grandmother and my mom used to save their Christmas cards every year and use them as gift tags the next year. They'd cut the cover off the card and tape it onto a package and write a message.

I try to do this as well, although it has gotten tougher and tougher as everyone switches to photo cards.

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Christmas Eve Where is Santa?

Even Steven and the kids love to track Santa's progress on Christmas Eve using NORAD. I secretly think Even Steven likes it more than the kids, but that's okay...

Game Night

When I was growing up, we had a rotating Christmas Eve party on my mom's side of the family. Now that we live out of town, Even Steven and I decided that Christmas Eve in our house would be game night. We have friends over, play games, eat chili and relax before the next day's festivities.

Gifts

My brother and I always got to open our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve night. Now, we let our kids open their gifts to each other on Christmas Eve too. They take their new toys to bed with them - and sometimes it keeps them in their beds a little bit longer on Christmas morning (which makes me very happy).

New Pajamas

Whether they're matching or not, new pajamas have been a part of my Christmas Eve for as long as I can remember.

Now that I'm a mom, I get my kids matching pajamas every year. I love seeing them all come downstairs in their new PJs on Christmas morning.

I would love to dress the whole family in matching pajamas, but this is the face my husband makes every year when I suggest it.

The Night Before Christmas

Every Christmas Eve we gather next to the tree in our matching pajamas and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's the perfect way to end an exciting day.

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Hanukkah Latke Taste Off

Make your latkes as a family! Children of all ages can pitch in – older kids can peel potatoes and babies can help hold down the food processor! Everyone takes part in eating the latkes!

Find a new latke recipe to try out each year and compare it with your traditional latkes. Or, add a new ingredient like carrots or apples! Vote on your favorite latke!

Dreidel Dreidel! Everyone can play this game! Take turns spinning the dreidel.

Depending on the Hebrew letter the top lands on, you win all of the candy (gimel), half of the candy (hey), none of the candy (nun) or you have to give one back (shin.) Play for gelt (chocolate coins), Hershey Kisses or even pieces of fruit!

Jelly Donut Day Make your own jelly donuts or take a trip to the local donut shop. Make it a Jelly Donut Party! Eat your donuts for breakfast, for an afternoon snack or as an after-dinner treat. See who can get the most (or least) amount of jelly on their face!

Have everyone in your family write (or you can help them write) eight things they are most grateful for. Then, read them at a time of day when your family is altogether.

This can be done with family near and far – invite out of town family to Skype while you read your lists!

Latke Man: The Superhero of Hanukkah! Everyone loves a superhero! Have the younger kids in your family draw a picture of what they think Latke Man (or Latke Woman, Latke Mom, etc.) looks like.

Encourage everyone in your family to dress up as a Latke Man for dinner.

Make a list of eight special people in your life to call to wish a Happy Hanukkah! Tell them how much you love them, too!

Make a Menorah Bring out your craft supplies and make menorahs out of construction paper. You can use foil for the flames. Hang them in your windows for the 8 days of Hanukkah.

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Game Night: Pin the Flame on the Candle Help your kids make a large menorah out of cardboard. Depending on their ages, they can participate in drawing, cutting and/or decorating. Also cut out paper candles for the pinning!

The winner gets to open their present first that night… or receives a few pieces of gelt!

Go On a Gelt Hunt Jewish people can go on candy hunts, too! Parents can hide gelt around the house and the kids can go find it. Or hide clues around your house for each child that will lead them to their gift for the day!

Hanukkah Party on Christmas Instead of the standard movie and Chinese food on Christmas Day, invite your family and friends over for a Hanukkah Party! Play games, sing songs, eat, light the menorah and enjoy your time together.

Encourage everyone to bring their family menorah and set them all up on one table. Everyone can light their own menorah to make it even more special.

Theme Nights Create a theme for each night of Hanukkah.

Dedicate one family member to each night. Instead of getting a gift each night, give each person all of their gifts on their special night.

For the remaining nights, have a Game Night, Charity Night, Latke Night, etc.

My family doesn't celebrate Hanukkah, so I'd like to thank my friend Jennifer for compiling this list for me. Jennifer is an amazing friend and copy editor! Here's her info...

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Give Back A quick internet search can give you a million ways to give back - especially during the holidays. Here are a few more ways you can give back this season:

Go Elfing

One of my readers, Heather, gets her kids involved in giving back:

" We go Elfing... leaving fun little surprises on doors of friends and neighbors, ringing the bell, and running like crazy!"

Adopt a Family

You and your friends can adopt a family together, or you can find a giving tree that allows you to sponsor toys for children in need. We always include our children in the shopping, so they can start to understand what it means to help others.

24 Days of Kindness

One of my readers, Jessica, does 24 Days of Kindness from December 1st - 24th. One small (or big) act of kindness for someone else every single day in December. How cool is that?

Make Cookies

You can deliver cookies and treats to your local fire station, police department, and even the staff at your local hospital. They work hard to keep us safe all year round!

Get Creative

My friend Beth hosts a cookie decorating party for her son's friends every year. The moms drop their kids off for three hours. They get to decorate cookies and play fun Christmas games while their moms get three hours to run errands.

Beth asks everyone that comes to bring a new, unused toy that she donates to our local children's hospital. How great is that?

Special Hostess Gifts

If you're hosting a party this holiday season, ask your guests to make a donation to the charity of your choice instead of bringing you a bottle of wine or a hostess gift. You can collect their checks and make a donation after the party.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Have your kids draw pictures and write letters to send to our veterans who are spending their holidays in the hospital instead of at home with their families. Go Kid Yourself shares more information on how you can get involved with this wonderful program.

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Winter Make Snow Special I grew up in Michigan, where snow was snow. Now that I live in southern Ohio, it's a little more rare to get snow.

Some friends of ours have a tradition. On the first snowfall of the year, they wake their kids up early and get donuts for breakfast before school.

Your first snowfall tradition could be to drink hot chocolate or go sledding, and if you're in a warmer climate - you could celebrate the first snowfall in a certain city and state - and your kids can check the weather online.

Go sledding

I know - been there, done that. But have you really? Have you really taken your kids sledding down hills and around the neighborhood? Some of my fondest memories growing up are from my mom sledding with us.

Have a Beach Day

When it's freezing cold, and you just can't wait for spring - have a beach day.

Crank up the heat (or light a fire in the fireplace, or plug in your space heater) and put on your bathing suits.

Spread beach towels on the floor, blow up your wading pool and play tropical music. Serve snacks and drinks with little umbrellas - and don't forget your sunglasses!

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Hit a Hotel At some point in the winter months, winter starts to get old. And that's when my parents used to book an overnight at a local hotel. We felt like we were on vacation, and we got to swim in the indoor pool.

Puzzle Time Our neighbors (I like to call them Mr. and Mrs. Land O'Lakes), put together a family puzzle every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes they even let me help.

Local Events Use your local paper and website to find out about local events. November and December are usually full of concerts, festivals and more fun ways to have fun with your family!

About the Author Anna Luther is the mother of three little kids, the driver of a minivan, and the wife of the very patient Even Steven.

Author of the popular blog, My Life and Kids (mylifeandkids.com), Anna shares her stories, makes you laugh, and helps you feel better about your crazy, messy, fabulous life.

Anna is a Social Media Consultant and one of the Top 35 Most Pinteresting Moms on Pinterest.

And - most importantly - she discovered the cure for muffin top (and you don't even have to put down your donut!)

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