I've been thinking a lot recently about traditions that I'd like to start with my children around Christmas. What traditions do you all have with your families?
Making Jam Sticks for Uncle Brian would be something I think the whole family could get behind every Christmas. What a wonderful tradition that could be.
This is a recent tradition but I'm quite fond of it. It's really more of a selfish activity on my part than a family tradition. On Christmas Eve and a few days leading up to Christmas (or Thanksgiving) I go to the gym and try to squat/deadlift (I prefer squats) so much that I can barely walk on Christmas Day. I try to achieve this by volume rather than maximal weight but both are fun.
My wife bakes lots of goodies (Buckeyes, pies and other assorted items of baked heavenly goodness) to help me carb load and then I try to eat my way through over training to recovery. Add a nice afternoon nap and it's a nearly perfect day.
And I would get away with it if it weren't for my meddling kids. That's the challenging part. Sometimes I get away with it and the kids are great on their own, other holidays they need more..."intervention" to be tolerable. I don't handle things as well in a state of over training but when the kids are good, it's magical. I also have to be aware of how much work I will have to do in assembling kids toys. That's also a factor in how much I try to destroy myself.
That is an excellent tradition, and a great idea. Assembly of kid toys is always an overlooked factor by me. I have spent hours on dollhouses and desks over the past few years.
How could I miss getting rid of toys? I love doing that!
You typed
"basement/attic/charity", but what I interpret you saying is,
"friends/neighbors/charity"
My wife and I argue about getting a fake tree every year. I always win. The kids are grown and are turning on me now.
We open presents in rounds. Everyone opens one and then we take a break and enjoy them. Then we go back and open the next set. Makes Christmas last a good part of the morning.
We make orange and cinnamon rolls and enjoy them on one of our present-opening breaks.
We would do kind of a mix of the two: fast-n-furious unwrapping, but only one person at a time, so that everyone could get a chance to see what they were given.
1) All-hors-d'oeuvres menu for Christmas Day (Weenie Boats[sic] and Monkey Bread feature prominently).
2) Make White (Sweet) Trash (the almond bark/Chex/Cheerios/peanuts/pretzels variety) and give out as gifts, at least the stuff we don't end up eating ourselves.
3) Sprint to the curb in the cold to deliver Dunkin Donuts gift cards to our trash men and recyclers.
4) Christmas PJs for all the kids. Sometimes we match all of them, sometimes we do matching for kids #1, 3, 5 and #2, 4, 6, or sometimes matching the boys and the girls separately. Wash them before Christmas Day, throw the kids in them on Christmas Eve, and then take pictures of them all matchy-matchy as they come downstairs.
5) Stockings-only before some form of breakfast is consumed.
Monkey bread... I haven't had that forever. And I also hadn't heard of the White Trash Mix until yesterday as well... I'll have to give this a shot. That sounds delicious.
AND 6 KIDS?? Christmas is a completely different animal for you.
We're on the roughly-two-year-installment plan: 11, 9, 6.5, 4.5, 2, and 6 months. 3 boys, 3 girls, all insane. (There was a baby we lost between #2 and #3, alas.)
Yes. At only 50% of your house hold, immense respect. Especially with regards to their ages. Then again, I wonder if we hadn't stopped at 3 but had pushed on for an even 4, if things might go more smoothly at times.
I like the matching pjs idea. Sounds more practical than my idea for this year: 3 matching ponies. (J/k!)
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brian
7 years, 4 months agoMaking Jam Sticks for Uncle Brian would be something I think the whole family could get behind every Christmas. What a wonderful tradition that could be.
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoAh! I'll pass that along for consideration. We'll see what the family says ;)
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lhriv
7 years, 4 months agoWhat are jam sticks?
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoThey're basically this recipe, except they're missing a crucial element: FROSTING. The simple, powdered sugar kind like this.
Merge the two together, and you've got jam sticks.
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lhriv
7 years, 4 months agoOh wow, those look incredible. Still don't get where the "sticks" come in, but I'll use my imagination...
Reply
lhriv
7 years, 4 months agoOH!! Merge the two together. Waaay delayed reaction. doh
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glen
7 years, 4 months ago:D
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Chet_Manly
7 years, 4 months agoThis is a recent tradition but I'm quite fond of it. It's really more of a selfish activity on my part than a family tradition. On Christmas Eve and a few days leading up to Christmas (or Thanksgiving) I go to the gym and try to squat/deadlift (I prefer squats) so much that I can barely walk on Christmas Day. I try to achieve this by volume rather than maximal weight but both are fun.
My wife bakes lots of goodies (Buckeyes, pies and other assorted items of baked heavenly goodness) to help me carb load and then I try to eat my way through over training to recovery. Add a nice afternoon nap and it's a nearly perfect day.
And I would get away with it if it weren't for my meddling kids. That's the challenging part. Sometimes I get away with it and the kids are great on their own, other holidays they need more..."intervention" to be tolerable. I don't handle things as well in a state of over training but when the kids are good, it's magical. I also have to be aware of how much work I will have to do in assembling kids toys. That's also a factor in how much I try to destroy myself.
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoThat is an excellent tradition, and a great idea. Assembly of kid toys is always an overlooked factor by me. I have spent hours on dollhouses and desks over the past few years.
Reply
Chet_Manly
7 years, 4 months agoA father's Christmas Eve checklist:
Screwdriver set
Tiny screwdriver set
Coffee
back up screwdriver and tiny screwdriver set because....kids
Sharp pocket knife (box cutter)
Allen wrenches
Ear plugs (noise cancelling head phones earn bonus points)
Plenty of large garbage bags
A List of chores or work to threaten your kids with when they start pissing you off...because it's Christmas....and they will
Antacids
Plenty of extra ice that you're wife won't use for company
Plenty of good bourbon
Please edit and add anything I forgot
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glen
7 years, 4 months agoThis is a fairly comprehensive list. Here's some more:
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Chet_Manly
7 years, 4 months agoHow could I miss getting rid of toys? I love doing that!
You typed "basement/attic/charity", but what I interpret you saying is, "friends/neighbors/charity"
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoExactly. Or "anyone who will take this off my hands".
Reply
ahnyerkeester
7 years, 4 months agoNot many but you might like one or two.
My wife and I argue about getting a fake tree every year. I always win. The kids are grown and are turning on me now.
We open presents in rounds. Everyone opens one and then we take a break and enjoy them. Then we go back and open the next set. Makes Christmas last a good part of the morning.
We make orange and cinnamon rolls and enjoy them on one of our present-opening breaks.
Reply
Chet_Manly
7 years, 4 months agoCool. We do number 2 as well. It heightens the level of expectation and really does extend the quality of the day.
Reply
ahnyerkeester
7 years, 4 months agoIf I can be honest, I kind of miss the mad shredding of wrapping paper I used to participate in as a child.
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Chet_Manly
7 years, 4 months agoInteresting, our tradition is a carry over from my childhood so I never had that experience.
Reply
glen
7 years, 4 months agoWe would do kind of a mix of the two: fast-n-furious unwrapping, but only one person at a time, so that everyone could get a chance to see what they were given.
Reply
zamoose
7 years, 4 months ago1) All-hors-d'oeuvres menu for Christmas Day (Weenie Boats[sic] and Monkey Bread feature prominently).
2) Make White (Sweet) Trash (the almond bark/Chex/Cheerios/peanuts/pretzels variety) and give out as gifts, at least the stuff we don't end up eating ourselves.
3) Sprint to the curb in the cold to deliver Dunkin Donuts gift cards to our trash men and recyclers.
4) Christmas PJs for all the kids. Sometimes we match all of them, sometimes we do matching for kids #1, 3, 5 and #2, 4, 6, or sometimes matching the boys and the girls separately. Wash them before Christmas Day, throw the kids in them on Christmas Eve, and then take pictures of them all matchy-matchy as they come downstairs.
5) Stockings-only before some form of breakfast is consumed.
Reply
glen
7 years, 3 months agoMonkey bread... I haven't had that forever. And I also hadn't heard of the White Trash Mix until yesterday as well... I'll have to give this a shot. That sounds delicious.
AND 6 KIDS?? Christmas is a completely different animal for you.
Reply
zamoose
7 years, 3 months agoWe're on the roughly-two-year-installment plan: 11, 9, 6.5, 4.5, 2, and 6 months. 3 boys, 3 girls, all insane. (There was a baby we lost between #2 and #3, alas.)
Reply
glen
7 years, 3 months agoWow, I tip my cap at your efforts. I'm at 1/3 of your household, and I already think that is insane.
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Chet_Manly
7 years, 3 months agoYes. At only 50% of your house hold, immense respect. Especially with regards to their ages. Then again, I wonder if we hadn't stopped at 3 but had pushed on for an even 4, if things might go more smoothly at times.
I like the matching pjs idea. Sounds more practical than my idea for this year: 3 matching ponies. (J/k!)
Reply