Christmas Traditions

After Jennifer and I got married we decided that we would start some of our own family traditions. The two that we have continued during Christmas are making a gingerbread house and getting each other an ornament. This year we got to include Landon in the family traditions. We decided a few years ago that instead of wrapping the ornaments we got for each other and opening them on Christmas that we would instead exchange ornaments when we put up the Christmas tree. This way we can enjoy the new ornaments during the year we bought them. Here are this year's ornaments

This is Jennifer's ornament - our family as reindeer.

Landon's first ornament!

Brinley's ornament - this girl loves Mike and Sully!

My ornament - Crush and Squirt (Father and son)

This morning it was raining and nasty out so instead of going out to do anything we opted to stay indoors and make our gingerbread house. The gingerbread house decorating has definitely gotten interesting the past two years with the children now getting to help in the decorating. We made Brinley her own little piping bag and let her loose, while Landon just got some icing put on his hands and we just waited to see how much he could get on his piece of the house.

Jennifer always ends up making her side look so much better than mine. It is always so disappointing.

Maybe I could blame it this year on the fact that I was a little tired.

The kids patiently waiting for their side to decorate.

Brinley patting little Landon on the head. She is usually a pretty good big sister.

Brinley piping her icing on.

She doesn't even have to be looking at the gingerbread to continue piping her design.

Landon with his finger painting technique.

Our little man is getting so big!

It didn't take long for him to realize that if it was on his fingers then it could go in his mouth. So, I guess that royal icing is technically his first food.

Brinley telling us she wants some candy decorations to add on.

Jennifer always waits until everyone is finished and then comes in and makes changes to her design which make her's look awesome and mine look like a kindergarten project.

Finished product - this is Jennifer's front door and roof.

Side view of Jennifer's roof and Landon's wall.

Here is my part of the house - back of the house and roof made of cinnamon toast crunch.

Side view of my roof and Brinley's wall.

I can't wait to see what are future gingerbread houses look like. In a few years we might even have to expand to a village because Jennifer and I enjoy decorating as much as the kids do. Are there any holiday traditions that you do with your family? We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks for reading and God Bless!