One of my favorite things about having kids is creating and continuing family traditions.
Some of them are things I remember from my own childhood, some are traditions I’ve started, and some have just evolved organically over the years. The kids are still little, so I know they won’t remember every single detail of every Christmas. But I hope they remember how Christmas felt. The excitement, the little rituals, the things we did every year that built the anticipation of the season and made our family time special.
Matching Christmas Pajamas
I know, I know. Matching Christmas pajamas are a little trite.
I do not care.
I love them. The 4 of us change into our matching jammies at bedtime on Christmas Eve and we wear them to open stockings on Christmas morning. It feels a little Norman Rockwell, a little cozy‑chaos, and completely us. I hope it’s something they look back on and smile.
This year’s pajamas are Mickey and Minnie Mouse cookie themed pajamas and I think they’re going to be ridiculously cute.
And because we adopted our sweet rescue dog, Belle, this summer, she’s officially part of the tradition now too, with a perfectly matching bandana.
I’m already picturing the Christmas morning photos. All of us in our matching pajamas, stockings in hand, the dog included. It’s simple, but it’s one of my favorite parts of the season.
Pictures With Santa
This wasn’t something I was planning to make a tradition. While Lily was receiving services from the Easter Seals, we were eligible to take photos at their Santa event every year. When she aged out, the boys still qualified for one more year.
These pictures make me smile and I wanted to figure out how to continue doing it.
Last year, with none of the kids getting services anymore, we went to JC Penney. I wasn’t sure what to expect but Santa was incredible. He came out between photo sessions and talked with the kids so by the time it was our turn, they weren’t nervous at all about taking pictures with a stranger.
The setup was perfect. First, we took family photos in our matching Christmas outfits on a neutral background, just in case the Santa pictures were a disaster. Then we switched to a beautiful Christmas backdrop and Santa joined in.
Lily and Oak were total pros, hamming it up with Santa.
Ash, on the other hand, wiggled and wrestled throughout the shoot. I had the photographer snap a picture of him crawling out of the frame and it ended up being the funniest blooper.
We include these photos in our Christmas card every year, and honestly, sometimes the chaos makes them even better.
A New Ornament Every Year
My parents started this tradition for me. I had the Hallmark Cinnamon Bear series to start with and moved on to other ornaments. My mother is still buying me the “Puppy Love” dog series, which is in its 36th year. I was 7 years old when I picked that series. By the time I moved out, I had a nice collection of ornaments to decorate my first small Christmas tree. It’s still one of my favorite traditions. I travel down memory lane each year when I open the ornaments from special friends or special places.
So I’ve continued it with my kids.
Each child gets an ornament with their name and the year on it. One more piece added to their collection. One more tiny snapshot of who they were that year.
This year, Lily’s ornament is a personalized, porcelain set of ballet slippers. Oak is getting a personalized Snoopy. Ash’s is a personalized Mickey Mouse.
I love the idea that someday they’ll have a whole box of ornaments that tells the story of their childhood…the baby years, the toddler years, the phases where they were obsessed with certain things, and eventually the years when they’re much bigger.
And when they’re adults, I’ll be able to send them off with a box of ornaments that belonged to them all along. Hopefully their boxes of ornaments brings back the same joyful memories that mine does.
Magic Window Cookies
My grandmother started this tradition. Then my brother and I made magic window cookies with our mother. And this year, the kids and I will make cookies with Grandma.
Until this year, Lily has been the only one really big enough to help. She loves being involved, especially when it comes to decorating. I have pictures from last year of her with frosting all over her face, absolutely delighted with herself for “helping.”
But this year the boys can participate too.
I’m expecting a mess.
I’m also expecting to love it.
There’s something about getting out cookie cutters from my childhood every year that feels like a real tradition instead of just another holiday activity. Eventually, I want all 3 kids crowded around the kitchen table, each doing their own thing, making a complete disaster of the frosting and sprinkles.
Those are the moments I know I’ll miss when they’re older.
Our Annual Christmas Outing
Every year, I’ve found a new Christmas activity to take Lily to. For the past couple of years, the boys were just too little to really participate. Last Christmas they weren’t even two yet, so up until now our Christmas outings have basically been a “Lily and Mama” tradition.
But this year will be different. We have SeaWorld passes and this year we’re all going to do the SeaWorld Christmas activities together. I’m excited for them to see the lights, the live nativity, and all the other Christmas things they have going on.
I can already imagine them looking at the lights and decorations, wide‑eyed and delighted.
It feels like we’re entering a new stage of Christmas where we can finally do these outings as a whole family and everyone gets to be part of the magic.
Christmas Eve Presents
Growing up, our family opened presents on Christmas Eve. Not only do I love this tradition, but we still celebrate Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa, so it’s something we’ve naturally carried forward.
On Christmas Eve, we open the gifts under the tree. Christmas morning is just for stockings. And honestly, I really love doing it this way.
Christmas Eve present opening with little kids is absolute chaos. There’s excitement, toys, wrapping paper, gift boxes, and bows stuck to the cat. One adult is always assigned to pick up trash as we go and it’s still a lot to manage. We pass around the camera so everyone is in the photographs.
Opening presents the night before gives us a breather and a moment to reset. We have a few minutes to clean up, to prepare, and just a bit more anticipation. It lets Christmas Eve feel special on its own and it takes some pressure off the next morning.
Then on Christmas Day, we wake up in our matching pajamas, grab our stockings, and see what Santa brought us. It feels calmer, sweeter, and a little more magical.
Creating a Magical Family Christmas
None of our holiday traditions are complicated, but when you do them year after year, they start to become the things that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
I want my children to grow up knowing that Christmas meant family time and special moments.
I know they won’t remember every gift. But I hope they remember the traditions. I hope they remember the joy, the anticipation, and the love of family.
And I hope they choose a couple of traditions to carry forward into their own families.
For now, I’m just enjoying creating the memories with them.