Keeping family traditions!

Family traditions bring memories! When I was younger we had some family traditions. I recall going to grandma Larsen's for Sunday dinner every week. When I think of Christmas traditions I can only remember two, my grandma always made me tricot p.j.'s., and if you call this tradition we had to sit on the stair way waiting for grandma to come before we could open presents. (it was worth waiting for her.)

I have really wanted my children to have established family traditions. Our Christmas traditions have made our family closer.
1-)Every year we make a gingerbread house!
2-) Lynn makes peanut brittle and Chocolate toffee. Yummy!
3-) We have family prayer with Christmas stories every night. Dalynn plays the piano and we sing a Christmas song.
4-) We find 10 angels who have made our year special (we don't let them know we are angel givers)
5-) We try to instill in our children the importance of giving. So we have our "giving basket" that we do with our preschool. My children become a big part of this project every year.
6-) We have a letter box, every day we check our box to see if there are kind notes in the box.
7-) Christmas eve we all pick our fav. Christmas movies, eat our fav. goodies and cuddle up together and watch movies. ( in our new p.j. we open that night)
8-) We always set our tree up together with Christmas music. The kids love to decorate the tree. (they talk about the ornaments from years past, my tree is a modge podge of 16 years)
9-) Of course neighbor and friend gifts. We always do them, I wish I had our children participate more with this tradition.
I wish we could make new traditions each year! I know some traditions we have may work for our family and not others. I would love to get ideas for new ones. Please let me know your fav. Christmas traditions.

My cute kids!!!

Brylee age 3 1/2

Bryson 12 years

Dalynn 15 1/2

Kaylee 9 1/2

Lynn and Chantry Fishing at Otter Creek

Lynn had a ball catching fish with Chantry ( my sister Rachel's husband) This is Lynn with his big catch!

Chantry Brindley with a huge catch. (he also caught a bird, that is not a joke either)

Lynn went Pheasant hunting!

Lynn was so excited! The past couple weeks he was talking about wanting to bird hunt again. Uncle Greg (Lynn's sister Krissy's husband) Asked if he wanted to go with him. Lynn has so much fun! Between Greg and Lynn they brought home 8 of them. (they said the dogs helped with a couple of them.) So, Pheasant anyone? We have a freezer full.

Lynn with his birds


Uncle Greg and Lynn after the hunt!

Here are the pheasants all 8 of them.

I am glad Lynn got to go and have fun!