RAOK- Christmas Traditions- WINNERS

[VivaciousJewelz]

Okay, so I have a bazillion insert coupons. Waaaaay more than I need. My trade box is full and I still have more inserts to clip! So, I'm giving away potlucks of coupons! All you have to do is post your favorite Christmas tradition. The best ones (yet to be determined how many- could be 2, could be 20) win insert potlucks.

11/5- CATBUNNY, BETHANYAM, and JUSTSAVEMETHEMONEY are our winners!!

PM me your addy's!

[wantedcoupons]

Making different types of cookies but also to share them with other people. I have 2 kids and I want them to understand the importance of giving back to others. No matter what you give back is great.

Thanks for the chance.

[jenrose]

It's the only time I get to see all my siblings and nieces & nephews at the same time. I am the youngest of 5 kids and between us 5 there are 13 little ones and another on the way.

But.......Mom's house is getting to be too small for the # of people so she asked if I may be able to have it at my house (if I can get my family room done before then).......this may be interesting. Time to get working on that family room!!!!

[gooseandmama]

We have several things we like to do at Christmas, there's a Christmas Eve service at our church that has great music & just has a special feeling, different than at any other time. It's one of the few times the girls sit with me rather than going to Childrens Church. DH still has to work in the media booth, but he's there!

Something simple that my girls like to do is drive around the neighborhood at night to see all the houses that are lit up with decorations in the front yards. The DD14 had gotten over all that a few years ago, but now the DD5 is really getting into the whole spirit of the season & all those things we used to do with the DD14 are coming around again for DD5. Seeing the wonder of it all on her face is just the sweetest thing. I love it!

This weekend is one of the traditions that happens early, but always puts DD14 & me in the spirit...Mistletoe Marketplace. The local trade mart is transfromed into a Christmas Shopping mecca, with vendors from all over th country, Helmut's Srudel, samples of goodies from all sorts of gourmet stores that we don't get any other time of year. I started taking her with me when she was 7 & we've gone every year since...DD5 will be wanting to go soon enough. For now I get to enjoy without having to watch her every move in the crowd.

Thanks for the chance!!

[JustSaveMeTheMoney]

We actually have TWO that we enjoy:

Old Time Radio had a series called "The Cinnamon Bear". We listen to one episode each night from Dec. 1 thru 24th to see if Judy, Jimmy and Paddy O'Cinnamon will find the silver star needed for their Christmas tree. It was stolen from their attic by the Crazy Quilt dragon.

We also have "The Advent Book" that tells the Christmas story. There are 25 doors to open throughout the month. It is written at a level for children to understand.

[gh1]

watching Christmas movies: Miracle on 34th St., white Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life and of course A Christmas Carol.

[fussypants]

My favorite one that we do is one we started with our ds about 2 years ago. We collect our change all year long in a jar. Then, starting December 1st we have ds pay into another jar for things he's grateful for. He's 9 now, so he understands we should be grateful for things like shelter and enough food to eat. So, we break it down on a smaller level for things he doesn't even recognize he's blessed for having. I type 25 things out and print the list and hang it on the fridge. Then each day we do our counting of items and add money to the jar. Like:

.05 for each blanket we have in the house
.25 for each faucet with running water in the house
.10 for each light switch we can turn on for light in the house
.10 for each Christmas gift he receives
.05 for each pot and pan we have to cook with
etc. etc.

It can be anything you want, just so they actually have to stop and think for a second about how lucky they are and how they should be thinking of others that maybe are not to fortunate.

Last year, he had $45 after Christmas. He equally divided it up between a charity that his school works with and a local animal shelter. I was so proud of him!!

[dogandcat1]

we have a christmas trunk filled with decorations and whatnot and it is always brought out the weekend after thanksgiving. we always make a decoration or something to put in the box for next year.

thanks!

[puakinikini]

My favorite childhood tradition is midnight mass (I still go, even though I have strayed from my Catholic upbringing). I love the music, the ritual, and the way the mass is presented. The sermons at Christmas time focus on being a better person and the gifts in all our lives. It makes me nostalgic for the simple times of my childhod when I would go to midnight mass with my grandmother and light candles for our loved ones who had died. It brings up a feeling for me that anything is possible, that the world is a good place, and that all things are possible if you believe...

[navybaby1113]

I love making cookies for everyone and anyone. Baking is my favorite thing to do and I get joy in giving other people joy.