This Christmas marks my fourth Christmas with Dan. It is Cameron’s third Christmas, and Gavin’s very first Christmas. Most notable, however, is that this year is my family’s very first Christmas on our own. That’s right. For the first time since our lives merged, we need to fuse our traditions.
When I was dating, I dreamed about starting holiday traditions with my beloved. If anything could make Christmas better, it would be being snuggled up with my man on Christmas Eve while the the rest of Christmas just fell into place around us, peacefully, like the softly falling snow.
Marriage has a way of shattering idealistic expectations, I’ve come to realize.
Each year, Christmas has gotten a little harder to figure out. During our first Christmas together, we had to decide which family we’d celebrate it with. As children were thrown into the mix, we had to decide how we would approach Santa. But this year, we’re doing it all on our own. We are staying at home for Christmas and building our traditions from scratch.
It is a little overwhelming.
To ensure that Christmas Eve will be as romantic and as peaceful as I have always imagined it, I have put together some tips on how to keep everything merry and bright while combining and creating new family traditions. Jump on over to my Love Food blog to read them.
While you’re there, be sure to leave your tips on how to best survive the holidays. The best tip I get will win a $100 Sobeys gift card! (click here for more information on how to win)
That’s so exciting that you’re going to be home as a family. It’s great to spend time with the in-laws etc., but nothing beats a quiet Christmas at home. This year we’re going to be with both sets of parents (the first time MY side of the family has all been together in over 12 years!). I’m already excited for next year, though…when we’ll spend a quiet Christmas just the three of us.
My hubby didn’t come into our marriage with any real Christmas traditions, so we’ve been tweaking mine along the way. I’m so excited to implement some more traditions as Abby (and other future little ones) grows. Nothing makes Christmas more special to me than the anticipation of a much-loved tradition (like shaking gifts on Christmas Eve, selecting a tree from a special lot, or digging out a cherished ornament)!
Elisabeth recently posted..Back on the Bandwagon
We let the kids open their away presents ( from grandparents and the like ) Christmas Eve until they were about 8. After that they were old enough to torture lol.
They still talk about the first Xmas we wouldn’t let them open gifts on Xmas eve. Traditions don’t have to be insightful and long lasting but something the children remember.