The Christmas Pickle
Many years ago I found a strange little pickle ornament at my local Christmas shop. It had a small card attached that gave more information on the odd little ornament. The card explained that the...
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Headstart on Christmas
Our house was always decorated beautifully for holidays when I was growing up. There were decorations for Valentine’s Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. But Christmas was by far the biggest...
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The Beloved Santa Suit
Every Christmas day my husband sneaks down to the basement during our extended family gathering to put on the beloved Santa Suit. Santa then "calls" me on the phone to let me know he will be making an...
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Proof That Santa Was Here
Every couple years since my kids were very young, I leave a small piece of ripped red velvet fabric near the fireplace on Christmas morning. It proves Santa was there and he ripped his suit on his way...
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Santa's Special Treats
I bought my son a special plate and mug for him to serve Santa and the reindeer their Christmas Eve snack. Before he goes to bed on Christmas eve, he carefully picks out the best-looking cookies and the...
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Traces of Santa
Every Christmas Eve after the kids go to bed, I put out the presents and then make sure to leave some proof that Santa and the reindeer really made a visit. I take bites of the cookies, carrots and...
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The New Christmas Card Tradition
Several years ago I missed sending out my Christmas cards. I was so busy with the birth of my third child, that I just didn’t get time to get the cards sent out. By early February, things had settled down a...
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A Handmade Christmas
When I was in college I didn’t have a lot of money to spare at Christmas time so my Mom and Dad came up with the idea for Handmade Christmas. All family members were expected to make their Christmas...
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You Have Been Elfed!
A couple weeks before Christmas, all my neighbors play a game called "You Have Been Elfed!" Someone starts by dropping off the rhyme (see below), a picture of an elf on a sheet of paper and treats at two...
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The Annual Christmas Lights Tour
Ever since my daughter was very young, we’ve planned a Christmas Lights tour for one night in December. Everyone gets their pajamas on and then we head out to see the Christmas lights in our town. I pop a...
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A Traditional Christmas Breakfast
Every year for as long as I can remember my family has always had the same Christmas morning breakfast. My mom used to make it for my sisters and brothers when I was at home and now I make the same meal for my...
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Matching Holiday Outfits
Each Easter and Christmas my kids get fancy new outfits to wear to church and to all the family festivities. We make a special shopping trip several weeks before the holiday to find the perfect outfit. When...
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You Can Only Pick One
In our family everyone opens all of their gifts on Christmas morning with the exception of the one gift that they get to pick out and open before bed on Christmas Eve. Because there is only one gift allowed...
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Christmas Eve Slumber Party
On Christmas Eve all my kids pick one bedroom that they want to sleep in and they gather their sleeping bags and have a slumber party. The idea of sleeping in the same room stems from the idea that the earliest...
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Christmas is for the Birds
Every Christmas eve I pop an extra big batch of popcorn for the family. After we’ve all eaten our fill, we string the rest of it for the birds. We decorate the two big pine trees in the front yard with several...
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