Holiday Traditions - Allen,TX

My family used to do a white elephant gift exchange on Christmas. I loved it. I still have some of the weird tacky gifts I got stuck with. =P

fun, fun, fun! I love family parties!

& I hope this honor continues for many years for you....& that is the key to success with events such as this: it is an honor & should be rejoiced!

Sooo, for Thanksgiving: we always have a craft project. My Sis & I both have 9 years between our oldest/youngest children. (yep, we had our babies together. We feel so blessed that our children are matched in age.) During the dinner prep, we visit & craft. Sometimes it's adult-directed, sometimes it's requested by one of our kids. & honestly, our youngest are now 15.....so they're in charge & we're always so thankful that everybody gets involved!

Thru the years, we've made: a multitude of Christmas ornaments- including painted wooden ones, we've swirled thinned acrylic paint inside glass balls, we've used pinecones/etc.....you name it, we've made it! We keep a few for ourselves & then hand them out to friends/family. All of these items make great hostess gifts!

We've worked on quilt blocks....where the kids each draw/sign a block. We've made snack mixes, cookie mix in a jar, homemade cocoa mix..... & the list goes on! Oh, & we've made candy trees out of foam cones & Hershey's Kisses!

This year, since my nephew is in BUD/S out at Coronado....I think we should all write letters/Christmas cards to soldiers! We're gathering for a Family Reunion this wkend & I want to hit my family with this one.....I hope they like it.

Christmas is a joy! We gather with my Dad's side of the family the wkend before Christmas. Prior to his death 2 years ago, we were still exchanging gifts + doing the party thing. Now we just gather & enjoy the evening of fun & games. I always print out trivia games....& they can become quite competitive! We play numerous other games....& it works great, because we're dealing with mid-range teenagers & we can get away with a lot! (When the kids were younger, we did a different genre of games...& we all loved it.)

Christmas Eve & Day vary from year to year. We have to work around split custody for my Sis....& that changes each year. We attend Mass -sometimes...again, depending on our travel schedule. & that's the kicker: from our house to my Mom's, it's 3 hours....with my Sis at the 1/2way point. Each year is a whole new world....& that's a good thing. We carry our traditions from house to house...the same turkey, dressing dinner....the same rituals for opening gifts....the same day full of love!

Oh, & with my ILs, we play the "dice game"....there's more than 35 of us & each family brings a bag full of prizes. It's fun...crazy....& always chaotic!

I hosted one year and there were 7 boys all under the age of 8. I got some of those festive foam kits and sat them around the table and they made little placemats for the dinner. It's an easy, glue free craft that can keep kids busy for a while. Then pop in a fun movie like Elf.

For kids that are slightly older, you can provide craft paint, brushes and unfinished wood ornaments. They can paint them. Once dry, they can glue on sequins, tie on bells...

Before Thanksgiving dinner, we say our prayer. During dinner, we go around the table telling each other what we are thankful for.

We read the the Nativity story also before Christmas and back together. Kids can help decorate sugar cookies.

We also play games and such, we like active games like Cranium or Apples to Apples.

A couple Christmases ago, I had a very large group as well and one of the most memorable things we did was have a talent show. Some of the "acts" were extremely goofy, yet still entertaining! Kids of all ages as well as the adults participated and it was a lot of fun! Everyone was told a few weeks in advance so they could practice their "talent" or to come up with something! Enjoy your family!