Christmas is absolutely one of the most joyous times of the year. My family (and my mom especially!) has made December a month to remember since I was a little girl, with so many family traditions and special memories. And now that I’m pregnant with a little girl of my own, I can’t wait to continue these traditions with my own growing family.

This year, some of our annual traditions will look a little different, but that doesn’t mean we won’t celebrate. And if anything, I think it reminds us what’s really important — family and good health.

Santa Mugs

I’ve been collecting Antique Santa Mugs since I was 4 years old. My grandparents used to antique all over the country, and they had both me and my sister pick out an item that we wanted them to gift us after their travels. I don’t know how Santa Mugs became my “thing” - but every Christmas I would get a few of these adorable antique mugs. I now have a very, very large collection (probably close to 70?!). The collection has remained at my parents house as I don’t have very much storage in NYC, but I can’t wait for the day where I can put these in my own home and decorate with them. They’re so incredibly special to me, and make for the cutest Christmas decor.

File_000 (3).jpeg — Christmas Cookies

Once a year, my mom goes a little crazy, and makes ALL of my families Christmas cookie recipes. She makes my late grandmothers sugar cookies (frosted and not frosted), along with Spritz cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and more! I love the nights spent making these cookies in the kitchen with her, and am extra grateful I can be home for an extended period of time this year so I can make them with her again!

Gift Giving

I am well aware of how absolutely fortunate my family is that we can celebrate all of these traditions, including giving each other gifts. My parents always made giving back a part of our annual tradition as well. Whether it was sponsoring a family at church and buying them Christmas presents, donating our used clothes to goodwill the day after Christmas, working in a soup kitchen, or dropping off food at a homeless shelter, we always find some way to give back during this season and I’m so appreciative of the lesson this taught me.

The Christmas Tree

I absolutely love my parents Christmas Tree. Every year, they get a very large Christmas tree to put in our living room, I just love the smell of a real tree! My mom unwraps every single ornament, a lot of them being little crafts my sister and I made when we were little, or ornaments from vacations we went on as a family. It’s so fun to look at the ornaments every year and be reminded of so many good memories.
My mom truly goes above and beyond at Christmas. She decorates every single inch of our home, it’s absolutely magical!

Annual Gingerbread House

Every year, my Dad and I build and decorate a Gingerbread House. This particular house is one of my Dad’s all time favorites, the log cabin! We’re going to try to replicate it again this year. We usually sit in the kitchen, have a glass of wine, and freak out over the roof and walls constantly collapsing. We have learned over the years that using hot glue instead of frosting is the way to go ;)

Christmas Traditions Passed On

It’s been so much fun passing on our Christmas traditions to my adorable nephews — and I’m so excited to do the same with our baby next year. Seeing their excitement on Christmas Eve, while we put out the cookies for Santa, and the look of pure joy on Christmas morning after Santa arrived is completely priceless. I look forward to creating so many more memories with our growing family in the years to come.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is one of my favorite days & nights of the year. Every year we dress up and go to a Christmas Eve Church as a family, before coming home and having a nice dinner in the dining room. We then change into our Christmas jammies, and open presents, drink wine, and sometimes watch a Christmas movie. It feels like one of the only nights during the year where time sort of stands still, and we just get to be together with no distractions. I absolutely cherish these moments.

IMG_0287.JPG.jpeg — Holiday Cards

Every year, my family took photos for our annual Christmas Card. Now that Jonathan and I are starting our own family, we’ve adapted the tradition and look forward to sending cards to all of our family and friends each year. Here’s our 2020 Holiday Card (if you haven’t received yet, it’s because I just put them in the mail — Oops!)

And, Endless Family Time…

The best part about Christmas is all of the quality time we get to spend with every person in our family — near and far — immediate and extended. This year is going to look a little different, as we won’t be seeing anyone in person except for my Grandma, Parents, and my Sister’s Family. It’s going to be a strange year, but I know it will only make us even more grateful for the families that we have, and I can’t wait to be reunited with everyone next year.

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and meaningful Holiday season this year.

See some fun photos below from my families Christmas’ over the years!

1990, Christmas Morning with my Grandma and Sister, Lindsey

1990, 1.5 years old, clearly already obsessed with Christmas

1990- I love this photo because it’s one of the only ones I have of my Grandpa, with his two brothers (one of them was his twin!) and I photo bombed it! :)

1991, Christmas Day, hanging out with my Aunt + Cousins on the Tomlinson side

1992, Christmas Morning with my Grandma Rice

1993, Posing with our Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Tomlinson

1996, my santa mug collection was really starting to take off!

1996, Reading with my Aunt Peg (I just love how dressed up we would get!)

Holiday Traditions

And, Endless Family Time…