"TRADITION...TRADITION..."

As Reb Teyve says from 'The Fiddler on the Roof', " A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition! Traditions, traditions. Without our traditions our lives would be as shaky as, as... as a fiddler on the roof! "

I love traditions especially around Christmas time. When Greg & I got married and we had our girls, I wanted them to grow up having fun traditions that they would remember and love. Sometimes the girls like to complain and make comments, but I hope that they will look back and like the things Greg & I tried to do to make Christmas a special time of year for them and for us as a family.

Here are a few of the things we do. Please leave your comments and tell us some of your traditions:

- We usually put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving..(notice I said usually..depends on how tired Mom is) When we do we usually have "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" playing.

- We have two sets of Christmas trees. We have our Santa tree that the kids decorate. And we have our Jesus trees. These are full of pictures of Christ, angels, stars & clear lights. When we had two rooms for the trees we would put our family gifts under the Jesus trees and then Santa would come and put his gifts downstairs under the Santa tree.

- Each year the girls get to pick out and buy a new Christmas ornament. These they will get to take with them when they move out and have their own homes. (Hopefully that will be a long time)

- Christmas Eve Greg started a new tradition. He calls it "Our Christmas Feast". The Christmas feast consists of a huge meal from KFC. The girls love it.

- After the new "Christmas Eve Feast", we have a little program. We read the Christmas story from the Bible or something that relates to Christ that one of us wants to share. Then the last thing I read is "It Was a Holy Night" it is something I wrote a few years ago that has everything I feel about Christmas & Christ.

- For about the last five years I started a new tradition. I give the girls a "Mystery Box". I wrap them with shipping paper then decorate them with whatever type of thing I feel they are interested in for that year. The first year I did a soccer theme for both of the girls, the next year was Sponge Bob for Jaycee & horses for Jordan. The next year was puppies for Jaycee, and a moving from UT to FL for Jordan. Last year I did a baking theme for Jaycee & Jordan got a friends theme box. This year I am doing....not telling yet. I try to keep it a surprise until I bring the boxes out. Here are a couple of pictures of the girls boxes from last year. They take about an hour each to do, but they are really fun.




- The last tradition we do on Christmas Eve, is every one get to pick ONE present to open. They can pick...unless it is something that Mom or Dad say they can't open until Christmas day.

- We miss our Christmas Eve tradition w/Greg's family. We would have a dinner, Christmas program & Gingerbread House Contest. It was a lot of fun.

- After all the Christmas Eve festivities, the girls put their stocking where they want Santa to leave their gifts. (Unless of course they are getting coal that year, then there is no need) ha ha

- Christmas Day the girls can't come out until Greg & I tell them they can. When they do we open the presents from Santa, then we have our Christmas breakfast before opening presents from family & friends.

- Christmas Day we always have our "Christmas Breakfast". We used to do this with my sisters and their families every year and my Mom & Dad & brother if they could come. This is something I miss as well. But we still do the same thing with our family. We have our yummy breakfast casserole that Greg & I have had every year since the first Christmas we were married. Our neighbors, The Christensen's from North Ogden invited Greg & I to there house Christmas morning; the first year we were married. We watched their kids open presents and had breakfast with them. The casserole Barbara had was SOOOO yummy. I got the receipe and we have had it every year since. We have the casserole, german pancakes & orange juice or milk. (Dt Coke for Shalee) It is yummy.

- The rest of the day is pretty laid back. We just relax and enjoy watching "The Grinch" or "The Christmas Story". Another tradition we have had since we moved to FL, is going to the beach that afternoon. Just because being in Florida you can. The weather is beautiful and there is never any snow. Gotta love that.
I love our traditions, it makes it a fun & special time for our family.

I would love to hear what your traditions are...drop a comment.