Setting up Christmas 2008

One of our family holiday traditions is setting up the Christmas tree. We like to purchase the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving and then decorate it the next day. When Jeremy was a kid his mom made a big deal out of this event. She would make a special dinner. They would dine by candlelight. Christmas music would fill their house as they worked together to make a beautiful tree. That tradition has continued with our family.

I crafted a lovely centerpiece.

I set out a tablecloth. (That's when you know it is fancy at our house.)

Cook a delicious meal. We had dinner in a pumpkin, cheddar garlic biscuits, apple dippers and sparkling cider.

After dinner we watched a short Christmas DVD together then decorated the tree with all the kids' homemade ornaments, ornaments from my childhood and some new ones.

We give the kids their first gift of Christmas on this night - an ornament of their own to add to their collection. The kids love getting a gift at the beginning of the season. We were actually thinking ahead when we started this tradition. We plan to give them a box of their own ornaments when they finally move out and are on their own. Then they'll be able to decorate their own tree with memories on that first Christmas away from home.