After a bit of a snotty and sneezy start to December (and end to November for that matter), I’m only now starting to feel a little bit of Christmas spirit and I finally feel ready to start enjoying our usual family build up to Christmas which is usually filled with lots of family traditions – both new and old.
So, when the lovely Kate from Kate takes 5 offered to loan me Listography for the week, I thought it would be a nice idea to share some of our family traditions with you….
Finding the best Christmas lights in the neighbourhood
We usually all wrap up warm one evening and go for a walk around the neighbourhood to find the best Christmas lights. The displays just seem to be getting bigger and more extravagant around here so there’s always lots to see and when we’re done, we come home for hot chocolate with squirty cream and marshmallows.
Daddy Baking Time
Every year on Christmas Eve, Mr Frugal bakes the goodies we’re going to leave out for Santa with the kids. It’s the one and only time each year that he does bake and the kids love it – me not so much as I’m usually the one that cleans up the mess after they’re finished because they’re all so tired from their baking 😉
Track Santa
We always track Santa on Christmas Eve starting with watching him set off on his travels around lunchtime on Christmas Eve on the NORAD website. We keep the website open all day on the computer in the kitchen so we can keep popping back to see where he is and last year, we emailed Norad to ask when he would get to our town and they replied and told us 8pm which was brilliant for getting the kids off to bed on time.
Christmas Eve Hamper
When we get up on Christmas Eve morning, there’s always a lovely Christmas Eve hamper under our tree waiting for us. It always has a new Christmas DVD in it, a board game, a present each (something small but something that will keep them occupied), some sweets and some other daft Christmas bits and bobs as well as the obligatory new pyjamas.
Family, Family, Family
It really is all about family at Christmas so we make more time than normal to spend together. We play games, watch DVDs, do crafts, bake together and just generally enjoy each other’s company.
What are your favourite Christmas traditions?
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I love Norad too! It's so exciting isn't it! xx
OOh we love the Track Santa thing too, and our Christmas Eve set up seems to get more elaborate each year, so am liking your idea of putting it all in a hamper!
So delicious….
We are just starting out with our own traditions – I will get writing them down 😀
These sound like lovely traditions. We don't really have any, I always kind of wing it, but am now of the mind we'll have to create our own!
Wow a Christmas Eve hamper – how lovely! Actually Christmas Eve is my favourite full stop. May have to adopt that one! Thanks so much for hosting for me and at such short notice too.x
So many people seem to have the new PJ's tradition! I love that – your Christmas sounds lovely – can we come visit?