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Christmas Tree 2013 ~ family traditions

Christmas Tree 2013 ~ family traditions

We have several family traditions that we like to keep during the Christmas season. One of those traditions that we love to do, is going to pick out our Christmas tree. Every year, usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we head out to choose a tree. The past couple of years, our oldest son hasn’t been able to join us, but this year, he made sure that he was off work. We enjoy this time with one another, to bond together as a family and to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus.

Samuel and Claire

Samuel and Claire

I love watching the kids run from tree to tree, checking out the size, if there are any holes in the tree, is the trunk straight. They look at everything! Even the older two kids get into making sure the tree is just the right one.

Michael and Claire

Michael and Claire

This day was no exception. It had to be just the right one. They looked at almost every single tree in the lot. It was so much fun and a lot of joy, watching the kids. All the laughing, smiling and joking with one another, brings so much happiness to this momma’s heart.

Sarah and Samuel

Sarah and Samuel

They did finally all agree on one tree and then we were on our way home with it, tied to the top of the van and joking all the way home, wondering if we would have a tree still attached to the van.

Once we got home, dad put the tree in the stand and then we got the tree set up in the corner of the room. Dad then gets the lights and puts them on the tree. We usually let the tree settle with the lights and then the next day, the kids put the ornaments on the tree.

Kids decorating tree.

Kids decorating tree.

I love watching the kids decorate the tree. They look at each ornament and always ask, “who made this ornament?” Or “who gave us this ornament?” I love reminiscing with the kids about Christmas’ of the past.

Some of the ornaments that are our favorites, I am sharing below. The angel topper is 20 years old. We got that angel when our oldest son was 11 months old. It has been with us through our moves to NC and CO. I look forward to seeing my husband put it on the tree, every year.

Angel Topper

Angel Topper

Being from Florida, we are huge Florida Gator fans. When we moved to NC, we had a friend who didn’t want us to forget about Florida and he sent us these ornaments. The kids are so careful when they put these on the tree. They make sure they are up at the top, so they don’t get knocked off.

Gator Ornaments

Gator Ornaments

Other than our angel topper, I think my favorite ornament is one that I painted with the kids. It truly summarizes what the who Christmas season is all about. Jesus. All because God sent His precious Son to us, in a Holy Night.

O Holy Night.

O Holy Night.

My husband and I do our best to teach our children about Jesus and why we celebrate his birth. While we have some amazing traditions, teaching them about Jesus is our most important one.

What Christmas traditions do you have with your family? I would love to hear about them!

Christmas tree ~ family traditions

Christmas tree ~ family traditions

It seems like this time of year , we have so many wonderful family traditions that we do.   Besides baking and cooking goodies together, going riding around and looking at all the Christmas lights, we also love going to a Christmas tree farm to get our tree and then let the kids decorate it.

Sammy and Sarah decorating the tree.

This year was a little different though, since we moved to Colorado.  One would think that there would be plenty of Christmas tree farms in the area since we do live near the Rocky Mountains.  However, we had a really hard time finding one.  We didn’t want to travel too far to get one and finally decided to find a tree lot.

Claire and Sarah decorating the tree.

By the time we found a tree lot, it was already dark.  So I didn’t even get the camera out to take pictures of the kids running around looking at all the different trees.   The kids ended up choosing a beautiful white pine.  The kids name our Christmas tree every year and named this one Fluffy Bob.

Sammy, Claire and Sarah.

Dad always puts the lights on the tree and then we let the tree sit over night so the branches can relax.

watching the Denver Broncos game while decorating the tree..

The next day, the kids get the ornaments and start decorating.  I love watching the kids go through each of the ornaments and talk about who made them or where we got them from.  It always brings back a lot of great memories for the kids and for myself.

putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

We also usually bake cookies when they are finished decorating the tree.  This year, Sarah did the honors of baking the cookies with the younger kids.  I love that the kids are older now and can do things like this together.   My children are all really close together and enjoy being with one another.  It truly makes my heart sing with joy seeing them make memories together.

What family traditions do you have?