Kara Lynn : C H R I S T M A S. // T R A D I T I O N S //

For the last three years Christmas has been exciting but has also brought an element of sadness. Three years ago my mom had her second brain surgery. She had the surgery right around Christmas time and wasn't herself when Christmas came. It was heartbreaking to see my mom on the couch not being able to celebrate Christmas the way I knew she desperately wanted to. It was heartbreaking for the whole family. She is the one that brings Christmas and cheer into the home. The one that decorated, the one who cooked and baked, and the one that made us pose for cheesy Christmas pictures. I can seriously say that was the worst Christmas ever. Thankfully, my mom healed from the surgery and we have been able to celebrate more Christmases together since! Thank you Jesus!

That Christmas I realized that I will NEVER take Christmas with family for granted again. That I will ALWAYS cherish traditions, and that I will ALWAYS make Christmas a big deal in our home. That we will ALWAYS have traditions and as long as my boys are under our roof they will partake in these traditions. So far they LOVE the little traditions. That Christmas three years ago, I missed those little traditions that my mom made for us. They create memories, memories that I hope my boys will talk about for years. Just like the memories we exchange around the dinner table with family. I hope that they carry on those traditions with their family and so on.

I made a list of a few of our favorite traditions. It is never too late to start!

Setting up the boys Christmas tree downstairs. They have their own tree where all the homemade ornaments are.They also get to pick a ornament out from a store every year to put on their tree. When we set the tree up, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is playing in the background. And after that is done, we have a pizza/ movie night!
Advent calendar. I try to do a different kind of advent calendar instead of always having the chocolate ones. The last couple of years we have been doing books. I wrap 24 books and they get to open one every day till Christmas! Not sure what we will do this year!
CanadInn Light show! Our family has been doing this for the last couple years. We start the evening with McDonald's, light show and end it off with Tim Hortons!
Christmas Eve tradition might be my favorite!!! As a family we open gifts with the boys on the 23rd! We then head to my parents for the Christmas Eve church service. After we go back to my parents home, eat a hoard of snacks that my mom and dad have prepared, open gifts and have a sleepover! It's so fun! And I am so thankful for this tradition that has been going since I was a little girl.
Gingerbread house night! We put together gingerbread houses, and drink hot chocolate. The last couple of years we have been doing this with my mom.
Last year we started a new tradition involving Lego! Every year Lego releases a Lego set that is Christmas theme. Last year we got the Christmas globe, and put it together as a family while again drinking hot chocolate and sucking on candy canes.
A family ornament. We buy a ornament for the Christmas tree every year that signifies something that happened in the year. This year we are looking for a camper. We bought a camper this summer and we pretty much lived in it all summer! So, we think a camper ornament would be fitting for our family this year. We already miss camping, and have begun talking where we should go next summer!
Winter bucket list. Winter can get boring. So we make a list of things that we want to do this season, that way it keeps it interesting and less boring!
Elf on the Shelf. I said I would never do it but apparently it's all the rage and I knew the boys would get a kick out of it! So I caved and bought one. His name is Elfie. He causes lots of trouble and pranks the boys and they love it! *insert eye roll*
Christmas cookie baking night! It involves cookies, lots of sugar, icing and three little hyper boys! So fun!
Baking a Birthday cake for Jesus, and having a little birthday party for him. This is another favorite. The boys are so confused to why Jesus isn't there physically! To cute!
Reading the Christmas story before we open gifts.

Like I said, it is never to late to start traditions. It creates memories, memories and moments you will never forget.

Christmas hasn't always been a happy time of the year for us. But I feel that this year is different. I feel that this year it will be the most wonderful time of the year. And I hope that I NEVER take that for granted.

Also, it's starting to look a lot like Christmas in the Sabourin/Friesen/Plett home!