Traditions...

Traditions...I am a traditional person at heart. I just love when things happen for a reason, when there's meaning behind what you're doing. This is my 100th post of 2008. So I thought it would be fun to post about my family's Christmas traditions. I love Christmas and all the hoopla that goes with it I believe things are what you make them. I want my kids to remember their family traditions and pass them down and to make new ones with their children. One of my favorite memories as a child were these candy canes we had. They were sparkly, styrofoam candy canes. There were seven of them, one for each of us kids. Well, we always put them on the tree as we decorated it. When we would wake up on Christmas morning those candy canes would somehow become 'real' ones! I wish my mom still had those magic candy canes but they fell apart after all those years of working! On Maddie's first Christmas I started the candy cane tradition here in our home. We have also carried on the tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. My parents would let us pick any present and open it. Well, instead of opening any present they open the present I choose and that's always a Christmas ornament! Kayleigh has of course caught on to the whole ornament thing, but Maddie hasn't yet! Every year I buy the kids one Christmas ornament I keep them in a box and plan to give them the box when they are out on their own. I stole this tradition from my best friend Laura. Another thing that happens on Christmas Eve is that Craig reads a Christmas story to us. And he always wears his Mr. Rogers Izod cardigan! We always tease him about that silly cardigan but secretly we love it! The girls and I also bake a birthday cake for Jesus every year. This is my attempt and opportunity to talk about the true meaning of Christmas. It's one of my favorites! Several years ago I bought new stocking for all of us and they were red, green and white so at that time I decided I would make those our family Christmas colors. I choose three different rolls of wrapping paper in the red, green and white family, of course. Only red, green and white bows. You get the picture. Now, I just can't bring myself to have a themed Christmas tree because I love the plethora of different ornaments we have collected over the years. We always had a real tree growing up and after I married Craig we had a real tree for two years then I decided I wanted a fake tree. My sisters would tease me and say that our daddy would roll over in his grave if he knew I had a fake tree. Let me tell you fake trees have come a long way since I was a kid. And a pre-lit tree? Seriously is there anything better? I love my pre-lit tree! When Kayleigh was young Craig would place her on his shoulders and she would place a star or an angel on the top. I like a star, Craig and Kayleigh like an angel so we alternate each year with the angel and star. Two years ago Maddie was old enough to go on daddy's shoulders and place the topper on the tree. December 1st I get out my Spode Christmas china and we use it every night until Christmas is over. Speaking of Spode, every year Craig buys me the annual Spode Christmas plate. Love it! For the last two years and we'll do it this year and every year until it can be different we bring Fletcher home on Christmas Eve and he stays the night and wakes up with his sisters on Christmas morning. The first year we brought him home for Christmas Eve it was such a big deal and we were on the local news! What a great way to start a new tradition with the media! :) We also have a Christmas party each year for the grandkids on my side of the family. They draw names and buy gifts for that name and then we have a big party. For the last three years we've had it in a break room at TCC so Fletcher can be a part of the fun with all of his cousins. One more new tradition, if that's what you want to call it, my dear friend Amy rounds up a bunch of girls and they come and carol Fletcher Burns at TCC! Last Sunday night, much to my surprise I heard these beautiful voices coming down the hall singing Christmas carols. Oh my it was lovely and just made me cry to think that these girls who I love dearly would take time away from their families and bless me and my sweet Fletcher! Well, there's the traditions I can remember off the top of my head. I hope you will treasure your traditions and even make some new ones this year. Be blessed and be a blessing this Christmas!

Maddie and daddy topping the tree

Kayleigh and Maddie's birthday cake for Jesus

Kim and Fletcher at the Milgrim family Christmas party

Me and my niece Kate at the party

Maddie at the party

Gabe at the party

The carolers!