Years ago, my aunt told me we should establish our own traditions even before we have children. So we did! Holiday traditions are important for us to create long-lasting memories and pass those traditions down to our kids. Even on a small scale, I host for my husband and children foods we all like and fun activities.
Christmas Eve Brunch
Before we had kids and lived out of state, we alternated Thanksgiving and Christmas traveling to my husband’s family and mine. But we decided to begin creating traditions for ourselves separate from our extended family. We started with a Christmas Eve Brunch. And opened our gifts, just he and I.
We continued our tradition after our children were born. Then added more. It was just the four of us. So I made enough to have at least 2 more days of leftovers since I also cooked Christmas dinner. Just reheat in the morning for breakfast and go.
Though we don’t have it often, brunch is actually my favorite type of meal. After a delicious mid-morning feast, we chill out and graze on the brunch when we get the munchies.
Christmas Stocking Tradition
My family loves this part of our tradition. Every year I hang one candy cane and one Ghirardelli chocolate on the outside of each stocking. They don’t last long! It’s like the appetizer to the main meal which is inside the stocking. Each stocking has 1 or 2 $5 gifts in it. Gift cards also go in there and very small gifts. While gift-wrapped gifts and gift bags go under the tree.
Desserts
This dessert is very special to me. It brings back memories of my childhood and into adulthood one of the desserts my grandmother used to make. Some people make it as a side dish. But it is light, fluffy, sweet, and fruity. So it can also be a dessert. Since it was just the four of us, I only made two desserts. Watergate salad for the hubby and me. And cupcakes for the kids. I was able to find these cute cupcakes at the grocery store already made.
