Traditions

Now that we are parents, traditions seem so much more important.  Around the holidays it seems as if traditions are much more abundant and I have found myself thinking about the traditions we want to pass on and share with Lilly as well as the new traditions we want to start as a family.  Thanksgiving is less than a week away.  Eating lots of food, napping, sharing stories with family, and starting to officially shop for Christmas are just a few of the traditional rituals we participate in during Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and soon we will start putting up decorations in preparation for Christmas.  Lilly is still too young to really get what is going on and she will more than likely remember these moments through our stories and the pictures we will share with her.  But that doesn't stop the desire to begin these traditions with her and Tommy and I couldn't be more excited.

Some of the traditions that I am looking forward to starting and continueing this year are..

Balck Friday shopping-we did it last year and while we will be in NY this year we will still head to the mall as we always do when in NY.  It may not be 3am standing in line outside of Kohl's every year but there is something about the hustle and bustle and excitement of getting an awesome deal!  Maybe it's the competitive nature in me!

Awesome food!  No matter where we go or what we do for Thanksgiving or Christmas we can always count on having yummy food!  Last year I made candied yams for our Thanksgiving feast!  yum!

Going to cut down a tree!  It was always a tradition in my family to go to a farm (which Tommy and I actually live close to now) and race around like nutballs to see who could find the BEST tree.  My mom was always the last one to decide and sometimes we would be there until dark.  Throughout the years our family grew and everyone began making their own Christmas tree tradition.  I always looked forward to the tree hunt so as soon as Tommy and I got our own house I was super excited to start this tradition with our family.  The first December we were married we were in Disney the week before Christmas so we opted not to do a tree.  Last year was the first year we cut one down and I cannot wait to take Lilly this year.  She was actually there last year, just nice and warm inside my belly! 

Baking Cookies.  I love cookies.  Especially cookies made in mass quantities dancing around the kitchen on a sugar high and signging Christmas carols.  Love love love and I am excited to carry on this tradition with Lilly.  Last year I invited my nieces over to make some cookies and we had a blast!  I hope they will continue to do the same year after year! 

Christmas card photo.  Here is ours from last year! 

Christmas Eve at my parents.  It was a tradition Tommy and I started when we were dating.  Christmas Eve has always been at my familys.  We get together to start the eating festivities, go to church, and decorate the tree.  Normally we spend the night and have Christmas morning with them before heading over to Tommy's parents for the afternoon.  This year may be differant since we want to spend Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning at our home for Lilly's first Christmas but the plan is to still spend Christmas Eve at my parents. 

I love this picture!



Christmas afternoon with Tommy's family. As I mentioned above this has been a tradition ever since we have been dating.  Tommy's family goes all out on Christmas and it takes so long to open gifts!  Follow that up with dinner and playing with said gifts we got ourselves a grand ole time!

Looking forward to timeless traditions and the new ones we will start this year!