SAS Interiors: Guest Blogger: Holiday Traditions

So I'm switching it up today and have invited Jenn from Green Door Designs to do a Guest Blog. Jenn and I are both Willow House Design Consultants, and started our Interior Design and Decor blogs around the same time. Even though we've never met in person, lots of emails and messages have been sent back and forth. She has been an awesome support person and her blog for everyday living is one that I read often! I was a Guest Blogger on her site last week and wrote about My Personal Style, and Jenn brings us today a post about her family's Holiday Traditions.

I am not necessarily a huge traditions person, but something about the holiday season makes me want to do things a certain way. I like certain foods to be available at certain meals - e.g. Thanksgiving is Turkey, Christmas is Ham. My husband has a side dish that was a tradition in his family that has now become a tradition in our family - recipe will be posted on my blog next week :) and Christmas morning just isn't the same without a breakfast casserole and/or sausage balls!

Now that I have kids, I want to make sure we are establishing traditions in our house that they will remember years from now.

Advent Calendar - I remember the monthly countdown to Christmas each year in my family growing up and each night was so exciting and you had less and less items to open or take out. I asked for my own advent calendar one year for Christmas. I wanted one that could be used year over year and that wouldn't require candy or presents to fill it :) My girls LOVE decorating their tree as they countdown to the big day! I have seen so many cute crafted ones out in blogland - this would be such an easy thing to create and use year over year!

Adding to the calendar last year - Santa is a very popular ornament!

Christmas Pajamas - I remember my sisters and I would have matching pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve - so I have started giving my girls pajamas the first day of December when we do the first advent ornament. I like them to wear the pajamas throughout the season and then again on Christmas Eve - something about the season just calls for matching pjs! :)

This years pjs - from gymboree

Last Year - matching pjs in front of the tree Christmas morning

Yearly Ornament - I try to get at least one ornament in the year to remember an event such as a trip, a special activity or just something with the year on it; or another family memory. It is always fun to pull out the ornaments each year and to reflect back the reason for the ornament. Here are just a few

This year's - the girls fingerprints

Location where my husband and I got married over 10 years ago!

Reminder of the purchase of our 1st home together

Santa doesn't wrap gifts - I never realized what a hot debate this is/was. Does Santa wrap presents in your house? Santa NEVER wrapped presents in my house growing up and he doesn't here either. Doesn't he make everything - wink wink - why would he wrap them? Also, how does one hide the santa wrapping paper? I have two very curious girls - no way the paper would sneak by them. The presents appear either in front of the tree or under the stockings - this year will be under the stockings - unwrapped to wow in all their glory!

Last Year's Loot

Cookies for ~~mom and dad~~ Santa - I guess this is a selfish tradition, but after putting all those things together - Santa needs a snack. Plus it is fun to see the girls get so excited to put a little plate together, pick out the cookies and pour the milk!