Our Winter Traditions: Affordable but Sweet

Post updated 03/09/21

December is upon us and the race to the 25th is real. So many things to do, parties to attend, and gifts to purchase. In the middle of all that hustle, we hope to find sweet moments with our family and friends. I’ve found that keeping things simple helps me enjoy the season. I don’t overbook our schedule. I’m reasonable about what can actually do. I try my best to stay in budget and not compare to what others are purchasing.

I want to enjoy this Christmas, really enjoy it. Soak up all the fun the season has to offer. Traditions have become more and more important over the years. I find a lot of meaning and joy in eating the same cookies my mother-in-law makes or decorating gingerbread houses. All of this effort and tradition is special because it’s only done once a year.  I want to help foster the little memories my boys store away and recall years from now. My goal is not the perfect Christmas because that is just setting myself up for failure. I’m reminding myself that who I am to my kids and husband this season is more important than what we do, what we cook, or what gifts I buy them.

December Traditions

This month is by far the busiest but such an exciting time! First, I usually make a list of all the things we want to do in December then, turn on the Christmas music and leave it on all month.

I adore playing Christmas music all day long. This is my favorite Christmas album. I am loving the song Tennessee Christmas since we live here now.  Here is a link to our Spotify Christmas playlist if you’re interested.

Another key component to having a happy Christmas is our pre-planning of our Christmas budget. Brent, my husband, and I sit down and discuss the amount we have to spend on gifts, activities, and special meals/food. Then I work from that to see what is reasonable and what things we need to cut out.

Decor: Deck the Halls

A few years ago was our first year to buy a real Christmas tree. We bought it at Lowe’s. Since then we have been picking one up at Costco. A 7-8 foot Fraser Fir for only $50. Good price and we were very happy with it. I heard Tractor Supply has good deals, too. We bought a Douglas Fir the first year and a Fraser Fir every year since. I like both but may lean more toward the Fraser Fir side because I feel like the neddles are soft and it smells so nice. What kind do you recommend?

At our last house, I cut fresh holly from the holly bush in our yard to decorate the mantle. I put it in vases and it lasted through the month.

As I’ve been building my Christmas decoration collection year after year, I’ve found that post-Christmas is the best time to buy the decorations. It has taken me 10+ years, but I have finally collected almost all of the decorative items I want. During our first year of marriage for decorations we made a paper chain out of pretty Ikea wrapping paper. I still have it. I love looking back at where we were and how we made do with the little we had then. It was still just as special as having a home full of decorations.

Baking: I’m Dreaming of a Sweet Treat

Decorating Christmas Sugar cookies is a great way to gather people together and enjoy the season. I usually invite friends, new and old, over to spend some time creating with frosting.

For Christmas morning I make sausage balls and Cranberry Lemon Scones with a huge bowl of fresh whipped cream for dipping.

My boys go crazy about fudge so I make a batch and store it in Christmas tins.

Some years I make homemade Chex Party Mix and use the remaining cereal to make Muddy Buddies/Puppy Chow or if you’re Brent, my husband, you call it Snowman Poop.

Events, Activities, and Experiences: Baby, it’s Cold Outside

On the top of my wish list during this time of year are Christmas home tours, driving around looking at lights or attending a Christmas play. We attend a big Christmas party for Brent’s work and sometimes host church or neighborhood potlucks.

I tried to do an in-depth advent calendar such as the Jesse Tree but it just didn’t work and I ended up feeling guilty for getting behind and not finishing. Instead, I buy a chocolate-filled countdown calendar. I’ve seen them for sale at Ikea and Trader Joe’s for very inexpensive. We open the little door to find the chocolate every night after dinner in anticipation of Christmas.

I’ve heard talk about The Giving Manger which seems like a sweet tradition to start, a focus on sharing kindness. The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voscamp is an interactive advent calendar for the whole family which includes a pop up Christmas tree and little ornaments. Recently, some friends here in Nashville mentioned A Star from Afar. It’s an interactive advent hide and seek type game. You hide the star every night and the kids look for it. On Chrsitmas morning the star will be found above baby Jesus.

We usually always watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. A few years ago, I took the kids to watch The Star. We all really liked it. I think we may add it to our annual Christmas traditions.

Gingerbread houses are so much fun. I usually hot glue graham crackers together for the structure of the house then the kids frost and decorate them. No falling walls!

Growing up we would go ice skating every year with my extended family. Having the aunts, uncles, and cousins all together goofing off on the ice was always a good time.

We like to go to a Christmas Eve candlelight service. Its so sweet to see the glow of the candles on my kid’s faces and sing songs about our Savior who brings joy and peace.

Watching old Christmas movies with Brent is the best. We will pop some popcorn, turn on the Christmas tree lights, grab a mug of hot cocoa and start the movie. I like Christmas in Connecticut but would love some of your suggestions.

I think it would be fun to lay out a Christmas puzzle this year. So nice to finally have kids old enough to help rather than destroy a puzzle.

I love reading novels set during the holidays. Any favorite Christmas books you like to read this time of year? Last year, I read The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever to the boys. So good!

Giving: Tis’ the Season for Giving

As far as gifts to extended family we sometimes go with a theme such as games, handmade items, or experiences. Other times we shop for more unique gifts. For our family, we give three gifts each. For teachers, neighbors, coworkers, and church friends we usually give something we make like puppy chow or cookies. One year we made these for the kid’s teachers and I thought they turned out so nice.

For the past few years after the kids go to sleep Brent and I put on a cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie while we bake the cookies and put together the puppy chow. It feels kind of like a date and we end up with gifts for others in the end.

Wrapping gifts is always a challenge for me. Finding the time, waiting on all the Amazon orders, having enough clear tape, etc. I read in this book how she has a wrapping party with her friend every year. That sounds like a ton of fun!

It is such a joy to receive Christmas cards from friends and family over the Christmas season. For me personally, I can’t send them out in December. I get too overwhelmed thinking of tackling the card creation, address lists, stamps, etc. So we send annual Valentine’s cards. Much more doable for me.

I also like to make it a priority to serve as a family during the holidays. It doesn’t always happen but we try. Brent served at a local food bank last week but they don’t allow children. Any Nashville people have suggestions on this?

January Traditions

For January we decorate our windows with large snowflakes cut from white cardstock. It makes me so happy to see them as we drive up or as I’m sitting at the kitchen table.

We usually host a New Years Eve (Adult Only) party. It’s a blast. The couples get a little dressed up, eat yummy food, and have uninterrupted time with other adults. Everyone usually brings one appetizer or sweet treat. We start at 7:30pm, after dinner. People also bring a favorite board game or card game. We play games all night and ring in the new year with confetti.

February Traditions

I decorate with huge red and pink painted paper hearts. I also create and send out our yearly family Valentine cards. Prior to creating the cards, we have a family brainstorming session on what ideas everyone has for the cards.

We have a picnic on Valentine’s day inside or outside depending on the weather. I buy fancy cheeses, nice crackers, and the wine country chicken salad from Trader Joe’s. Usually a fun sparkling fruit drink and always a dessert we can eat with our hands. We have such a good time and it doesn’t take that much effort from me since everything is store-bought. I secretly hope I’m teaching my boys how to picnic, so they’ll know-how for their future love interests.

My Hope for You

There is only so much time each day and only so much money in everyone’s bank account. I hope you can find some ideas here but not feel overwhelmed. It has taken me many years to figure out these traditions and incorporate them. When my children were smaller we did fewer things on a smaller budget. My hope and prayer are that most of all, you would enjoy this winter season with your family. Keep it simple. If something is stressing you, stop doing it.

A few years ago I started saying, “The holidays are more fun when everyone lends a hand.” Ask your husband and kids to help you. Don’t take it all on yourself. They will enjoy it and the load will be distributed. Happy celebrating!

What is one of your favorite winter memories or traditions?

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