Joyful Joyful #13: Traditioooooon, Tradition!

Thank you all for your comments- it was fun to hear about your traditions! 

The winner is:  Rachel who said: "My favorite Holiday tradition is looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve... In my pjs :)"

I feel so blessed that parents made a big deal about having Christmas traditions. From playing our Christmas records while getting out decorations, to baking cookies (chocolate covered ritz crackers filled with peanut butter! yum!), to Christmas movie nights with smores, to singing "Silent Night" with candles before bedtime on Christmas Eve, I have so many fond memories that I hope to recreate with my kids. 

My husband and I are blessed to have a few wonderful, unique holiday party traditions we get to enjoy every year and I thought I would share them with you.

*Every year for the past 6 years, we have hosted a Christmas movie marathon. Friends come over in their PJs (extra points for Christmas PJs) and we watch 3-4 of our favorite Christmas movies. Pre-kids, it was a slumber party as well. This year we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas", Elf, Fred Claus and A Christmas Story. Fun treats, a fire and lots of popcorn are must haves.

*My aunt has hosted a Santa Party every year since I was a little girl. The sunday before Christmas, we all get together, decorate cookies and eat, following by a Christmas book reading and caroling and then Santa comes to visit. All the kids get to sit on his lap, take pictures and he gives them a little gift. The kids love it! Isaiah, however, was not so sure about Santa.

 At least it was better than last year when he tried to nurse on Santa :) 

*Friends of ours rent a double decker bus and tour around San Diego looking at the best Christmas lights. Every year it has been a little different. This year, we had dinner at their home first, then headed to a couple of amazing neighborhoods and even made a stop at Peets Coffee mid-way through to get some hot chocolate and tea. It was a blast! So unique and we are definitely looking forward to it being a family tradition for years to come. If the price tag of renting a bus scares you away- have it be a group effort. With our group, everyone pitches in to cover the cost.

This year, it happened that all three of these landed on this past weekend. It was so much fun, but I am definitely tired! 

Do you have any unique holiday party traditions? I would love to hear them!