13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life



13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 12

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions_21.html

As I have gotten older and my life has changed and the children aren't around it is hard to have some of the family traditions that I once had.
So I am learning how to make new family traditions that work for me in this new season in my life.
The newest two newest ones I can think of are.
Going to the Grotto to look at Christmas lights.
The other is going to the Nutcracker ballet.
Both I have been doing for the past few years.
I really do enjoy going to them.
If I don't go to the Nutcracker then I go see the Singing Christmas tree as well.
Either one is a great tradition.

Sorry this is a late up date and on finishing up this challenge.
Christmas and a few family things have gotten in the way of blogging.
I will be trying to catch up.
Many blessing to you all!

How was your Christmas celebrations?

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life



13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 11

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions_21.html

I love Christmas lights!
Every chance I can get to go out and look at them I will.

But when the girls where little their dads grandpa would take them out to look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve.

This was a trip just for them no one else could come.

They were on a special mission to find Santa!

 They would be searching and looking for Santa all over the neighborhood!

They wanted to see his eight tiny reindeer and sleigh coming in to land and leave their packages.

It seems they all missed that little part.

As when they would arrive home they would find Santa leaving packages under their grandma and grandpa's tree.

One of the neighbor's every year would dress up and deliver packages to some of the neighborhood children.

He loved doing this for the kids.

It was so much fun!

Their faces where awesome.

So then they would think they could race home and catch him placing presents under our tree. Which never happened.

They would miss him every time.

As they got older they missed him every year.

They couldn't figure out why either!

But it was a great time and so much fun!

Presents that they had handed to them directly from Santa himself.

Such happy memories.

Did you ever have Santa show up a personally delivery presents?

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 10

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions_21.html

I don't know if you would call this a family tradition or not.

But it was one started by my grandma and carried on through the many years to this day.

Every kid would get a book of life savers candy.

We all would look so forward to that sweet candy treasure.

My daughters would usually end up with two books.

One from me and then their grandma Webber.

So apparently this is a long standing tradition for many families to receive those sweet treats of books.

My grandchildren get them as well. Their moms get them for them.

So I would say this would be one sweet book of lifesaver treasure.

My favorite flavor was root beer.

Did you receive or give lifesaver books? Do you have a favorite flavor?



13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 9

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions_21.html

So it appears I have gotten a bit behind.

So this is post 9 and then I will have a second one to catch up.

My next tradition would be that;

Every year I would take the girls to see Santa as most parents always take their children to see Santa.

I would dress them in pretty little dresses and have their pictures taken.

I would buy one and always have my camera with me as well so that I could get more.

As I couldn't always afford what they charged for the photos.

I remember my mom taking me to see Santa as well.

The best part of taking my girls to see Santa was they had seen a picture of me when I was a young girl sitting on Santa's lap so they where never afraid.

Especially after I told them I worked for him a few Christmas seasons and that I had the hot line phone that went personally to Santa.

So they wouldn't act up.

They would get really afraid that I would stop Santa from coming because I knew him personally and I worked for him.

It was so funny!

I really did work the Santa booths in the malls in Sacramento a couple of Christmas's.

It was the most fun.

Actually how I meet the girls dad.

So going to see Santa even as an adult is fun  to me.

I love to go see him.

Sad most don't even look like Santa's too me though.

I like the old traditional Santa's.

Do you like the old fashion Santa's or the more modern ones?

 

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life



13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 8

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html



I don't know if you would call this a tradition.

But somehow this funny little thing has been taking place in our family for generations;

For as long as I can remember.

You are really going to laugh!
Out loud hard!

On this one.

We wait to see who gets the worse Christmas gift of the year.

You see when we were small kids.

First let me say my grandma was the best.

But at Christmas time.

You never knew who was going to get that gift that you go;

OH!

You poor thing!

It is like what are you thinking?

One year my sisters and I got look a like bell bottom pants in different colors but with huge daisy's all over them.

Oh yes!

They were never ever worn.

Well ...

Years later they were under my tree for my daughters.

WHAT?Yes!

All three of my girls got the pants that me and my two sisters didn't wear.

My mom saved them!

Can you believe it!

Then she re-gifted them to my daughters the worst gift in the world!

Then one year hubby got this home made shirt;

Well lets say it is safe to say no one will be ever wearing that shirt!

Then another years she made him a sweater.

It was a pretty sweater

Except that it had one arm that was much longer than the other.

So you see who gets the worse gift.

Now my daughters say that I have to do that.

I don't really want to do that.

But it is funny!
We laugh and it makes the most incredible memory.

So Tradition...?
I don't know.

Fun!
Funny!

Yes!

We do get a bang out of it.

So we look every year to see who the winner of that horrible gift is going to be.

Could it be you?

Can you believe we actually get excited about seeing who is the lucky recipient.

That is so sad!

It brings so much laughter and entertainment and a story to tell for years to come.

Thank you grandma and mom for starting something and passing it along .....

I think!

Do you have family members that gift funny obnoxious gifts? And you wonder...?

 

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

day 7



http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html



As we were laughing yesterday and talking.

Memories of Christmas were flooding back.

Some of when I was a small girl living at home still.

While others where of being a mom and the traditions we were making for our family.

One Christmas tradition which my sister remembered and my children have is two Christmas's.

My baby sister was laughing so hard as we were talking about that memory.

Mom an dad had split up but always made sure we spent the holidays together.

ALL Of them.

So we would have two Christmas's.

My daughters would as well.

My ex-husband would have them on Christmas Eve.

He would take them to his families house.

Then after they had finished up Christmas they would come home to me around 9 or 10.

Then the next day we would have our Christmas.

It is sad that families have to do that.

But it is a reality.

At least it is a good memory.

I also remember having two Christmas's because we would have to go around other families homes to share part of the Christmas festivities.

It was always a very full and busy two days.

Do you split up your Christmas's to share the Christmas festivities with other family member's?

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 6

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html

 Talking to my sister about our family tradition's when we were kids.

She is making me laugh so hard.

As we really didn't have any that we could recall.

So we started making some up.

According to one sister she decided that we went to one of her friends on Christmas Eve.

Okay!
I don't recall that.

Laughing out loud hard!

Actually we did have one tradition that we both remembered and loved.

We were aloud to pick out and open one present on Christmas Eve before we went to bed.

This tradition carried on into my family and still is one that is practiced.

My daughters would love this as they knew they had one package that they could pick from the tree.

Then off to bed they would go so Santa could come.

I'm thinking the older I get the more fun I'm having!

In remembering tradition's or making new ones.

I just want to thank Gina for taking me personally on this journey.

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 5

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html

As I sit here thinking about more traditions that we have for the Christmas season.;

I have realized over the years they have surely changed many times over.

As the children grew we had to change things of course.

Then as the house emptied out and they had homes and lives of their own.

Then there was the grandchildren.

So some of the old traditions were started up once again.

When we moved away it was time to change again.

I helped raised my young nephew.

So then I had to find things that would be meaningful and something we could pass on to him.

Some of the old traditions would once again come out and join us for fun again.

Now there is this new season and time in our lives.

Where there is no children around and family that doesn't live close.

So now we are finding even new things to make as new traditions.

That will fit our life style and who we are.

What is meaningful to us.

As now it is for the most part just hubby and I.

So for tonight my tradition is finding new traditions that fit and meet who we are today and where our lives are headed.

Not so easy.

So I'm finding things I like doing and have meaning to me.

Like going out with neighbors to a Church Christmas play;

As well as other Christmas events.

Going out with the girls after a night out enjoying the sites, sounds, and music of the Christmas season;

 Then heading out for coffee and pie afterwards.

Love doing things with the girls.

But not so easy finding traditions in our changing life.

I thought about that today with the ladies at the salon.

WOW!
How their families and lives must have changed through the years.

Now they are living in assisted home.

No cooking big meals

Usually no shopping

Family not around

No little ones running around

Just the memories of pictures that go floating through the stages of your life

No decorating

So many things change through the years.

Decorating if the family comes to help;

Otherwise it is the decorations that are through out the building and in the lobby and other common areas.

So learning to make new traditions.

Learning to be adaptable and growing in the happiness of the moment in time.

Learning to celebrate where I'm at.

Not always easy!

But always
FUN!

Have you found through the years your traditions have changed?



13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 4



http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html



One of my traditions that I loved doing was I would stay up and be Santa Claus.

I would wait and wrap all my presents after the girls went to bed.

Ready For The Presents

I would be up into the wee hours of the morning.

I think I was going to bed when they were raising up to see if Santa had been.

I would nibble on their cookies.

Or should I say gobble them down.

Milk I wasn't so good at.

I usually had hubby drink it.

Now that the children are grown and we don't live near by.

I wrap away to ship my gifts so that they will arrive in time for Christmas.

Sadly I do miss that act of staying up and wrapping all night long.

But I must say i do love getting my sleep.

The girls were always aloud to open their stockings.

But had to wait for us to get up to do the tree.

I so miss the little ones with their wide eye excitement and joy of all the presents.

Now I just look forward to finding those perfect presents to send to my grandchildren.

Pretty Little Dolly

What Boy Doesn't Want A Set Of Knifes

It still brings me rich joy and happiness.



Do you like wrapping presents? Or do you have someone else wrap for you? 

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

Day 3

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html

Christmas letter

So one thing I adopted doing and made a tradition for myself was doing an annual Christmas letter.
It was a great way to let those in the family and those I love;
 Know up dates with the family.
I would enclose the letter in my Christmas cards,
Along with my business card.

I usually starting writing my Christmas letter in early November and have all my cards sent and off by the First week in December.

Sadly that isn't the case at all this year.
I haven't wrote a letter;
Done up Christmas cards .
Nor have I done my business Christmas cards either that I would place my business card with my annual;
Customer appreciation discount that starts on the 26th of December and runs until January 1st at midnight.
I always offer my customers, family, and friends 30% off their entire orders as a thank you for doing business with me.

I'm actually trying to figure out how I am going to accomplish my letter this year along with my annual sale for my customer's.
I'm sure I will come up with something.
I have even thought about doing a Christmas letter here on the blog.
Not sure..
Just thinking.

Below was a really cool idea that came across from a friend of mine that I went to school with when I was a child.
It is so neat and so cool I had to share it here on the Christmas traditions.
I will have to go purchase a new phone book for this but it is so cool.
Great way to have up dated and current mailing addresses.
Thank you Mary!

A new Christmas tradition for me. Bought a new phone book. Cut out return address labels from Christmas cards & tape them inside the phone. Will always have a current address. Have written the name's names in the phone book, cause they may have had another kid since the last card. It happened with a cousin this year.

Do you have any really neat ways to up date your address book or keep up with loved ones and friends?

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life



Day 2



http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html



One tradition I seem to have every year no matter what is. Christmas movies.

Lots and lots of Christmas movies.

I love them!
I can watch them all day long into the wee night hours.

I have my favorites.

You cannot find them much on TV any more.

I love watching the classic black and whites.

The originals as you would say.

Though I do so enjoy the Hallmark movies very much.

I have quite a collection movies that are Christmas.

From cartoons.

Charlie Brown Christmas being my all time favorite.

To the animated ones

"Rudolph" the Red nose reindeer."

So many to choose from.

But It never feels like Christmas until you have sat and watched

"It is A Wonderful Life"

How many times has one wished things were different or that we weren't born.

How life would be different.

Ones life really does make a difference.

"White Christmas"

What child doesn't dream of a white Christmas the fresh snow.

Though there is so much more to this story.

Giving with nothing in return.

Of course it is a dance and song routine along with a love story.

And don't you just love those red dresses?

Even dear hubby loses those dresses!

And of course

"Miracle On 34th Street"

Which in my opinion should be seen every Thanksgiving evening after dinner.

Because Santa Claus arrives in town.

The story of a little girl and non belief.

So you say its not about Santa.

I agree it is about out Lord and Savior!

But Santa represents to the love of giving to me.

He brings joy and happiness.

What child doesn't love to send a letter.

Just a perfect way to start the Christmas season.

And lets not forget

"The Little Drummer Boy"

Don't we all have a gift to give.

He gave his song on the drum.

I have so many,

My list is endless.

I hope you find some joy in a collection of Christmas stories whether they are new or old.

They bring a special magic all their own to the wonderful Christmas season.

"Prancer"

A little girls love for Christmas all year round.

Which I personal think should be practiced year round myself.

Why should we limit this beautiful gift to one day a year or a small season.

With the Lord everyday is Christmas and should be celebrated!

"A Christmas Story"

Who cannot relate to the little boy and the Red Ryder BB gun.

"Scrooge"

How many times has this one been made.

Hmmm...

A lesson or two to be learned here on every level no matter what version or year you watch this great classic story and movie.

Love this movie!

My list is endless as you see.

So yes!

I would say Christmas movies are a tradition in this household for sure.

I know I could name so many more

I so enjoy all the Hallmark ones.

How about :

"The Santa Claus"?

How funny is this movie?
A man who sells toys who becomes Santa.

My daughter and I for her birthday the year 

It came out went to see it for her birthday.
This one holds a special place for Amber and I.

"Jack Frost"

Christmas movies I love them!

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~ Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

13 days of Christmas family traditions ~

Hosted By Rainbow's Daily Life

http://rainbowslifejourney.blogspot.com/2011/12/13-days-of-christmas-family-traditions.html

I was trying to think of a family tradition that would be fun to share.

One that I love to do is personal adopt a family that wouldn't have Christmas other wise.

I sometimes pick name tags off the tree and purchase the gift the child would like.

I have even given to the angel tree through the prison ministry.

To the children who's parents are serving their time in prison.

I try to give where the Lord leads.

This year my hubby is the one that has picked out how we will give.

There is a young women in our apartments he wants to put a box of food together for.

So I'm letting him to that.

When the girls were little we would go out shopping.

I would give them each a dollar and tell them they needed to pass it on to someone that they thought needed it.

They always had someone they would find.

It amazed me to watch them through there eyes.

And see those hurting and blessing us through music that they would give.

They sometimes would ask for another dollar to share with someone.

They loved doing that.

One time my Amber wanted to give a few extra dollars to a group that where playing music under a bridge.

I asked her why?
She told me mom;

They need it to make music for others.

Through the eyes of babes!

It has blessed me to watch how they teach their young ones.

Sadly they have been those young moms in need of the blessings of gifts.

But they always say there is someone worse than them.

I am blessed to see the hearts of my daughters through those small lessons as young little girls shopping with me.

This tradition has carried on.

Even now my girls will call and say hey mom this is what is going on what do you think?

Can you help us be a blessing so that we can give.

God is good and I am glad that those dollars so long ago taught a lesson in sharing and giving beyond the Christmas season.

Do you have a special Christmas tradition that you are glad you taught or passed on?