Christmas

3 New Christmas Traditions We Started This Year

This post contains affiliate links. We may earn compensation when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

You all know much I LOVE Christmas time.

I love the gift giving, the traditions, and just being able to spend time together as a family. This year though, Pete and I realized even more so how fast time is going by. The girls are getting older and we want time to slow down. Totally knowing that isn’t possible, we did the next best thing… we decided to add more special memories to the holidays by having the girls create holiday traditions for us. I’m hoping that these new traditions will be ones that we not only do together, but that they continue to do with their own families years from now.

When we started thinking about this idea, we knew that JCPenney would be the perfect partner for this idea, because we could buy everything we needed there. We are so happy that they are sponsoring this post. Even better… we have a shoppable video for you right here so that you can easily buy everything you see right from the video. Just click on an item and it will take you to their website to learn more and to purchase it!

Emmy is wearing:

Girl’s “Sophia” Lace A-Line Dress

Ashley is wearing:

Speechless Sleeveless Shift Dress-Juniors

Maddie is wearing:

Trixxi Every Day Value 3/4 Sleeve A-Line Dress-Juniors

One tradition that we as a family look forward to every year is getting dressed up in holiday attire. Normally we wear dresses that we all pick out and Pete wears pants and a sweater. We also listen to Christmas music while decorating the house and the tree.

My Dress:

White Mark Marcella 3/4 Sleeve Paisley Sheath Dress

Blanket:

North Pole Trading Co Velvet Plush Throw

Pillow:

North Pole Trading Co. Happy Holidays Throw Pillow

Pete is wearing:

Clarks Tunsil Plain Mens Oxford Shoes

Dockers® Signature Slim Tapered Stretch Khaki Pants

We go see Santa and we decorate cookies… but looking back, there was so much room for new traditions and I’m so glad we let the girls each pick out new ones. They had some great ideas and I’m so excited to share the ones they chose!

New Tradition #1 from Maddie!

Every year the girls get new matching pajamas, but this year we all got matching Christmas pajamas! You guys, she was almost in tears she was so excited! I had looked into doing this in the past, but I couldn’t find ones for the whole family… JCPenney had so many choices and we love these ones:

Onesie Fleece One Piece Pajama Red Holiday Print- Women’s

Onesie Fleece One Piece Pajama Red Holiday Print- Men’s

If you have been holding out on this, don’t. It was so much fun and we are definitely doing this again next year!

New Tradition #2 from Emily!

This will come as no surprise to anyone. Emmy chose a hot chocolate and sweets bar.

Emmy’s idea was to have us all get a new, special mug that we can use each year, fill it up with the most delicious hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows, and enjoy it while watching a Christmas movie together. She also picked out all the desserts you see. We had so much fun with this tradition and the mugs are going to have a special place in our home so that we can use them year after year.

Our spread for this included a candy dish that we filled with marshmallows that were dusted with sprinkles, a platter for the cookies, a plate for the prettiest cookies for Santa along with a special mug just for the big guy. Also, we had a cake stand and a tray for the drinks. It was perfect!

Pfaltzgraff® Winterberry 2-pc. Cookies and Milk for Santa Set

Spode® Christmas Tree Footed Square Cake Plate Stand

Mikasa® Celebrations Red Ribbon Oval Candy Dish

New Tradition #3 from Ashley!

This might be my absolute favorite tradition ever. Ashley chose to create gift baskets overflowing with gifts for those in need. With the recent wildfires here in San Diego, this couldn’t have come at a better time for our community.

Her idea was to fill a couple of baskets with toys, socks, coats, leggings, sweaters… you name it, and then surprise a family this holiday season. This makes me so happy because that is what this time of year is all about! I just know that these baskets will keep the recipients warm and they certainly warmed my heart!

St. John’s Bay Jacket Heavyweight Puffer Jacket

Xersion Midweight Puffer Jacket

Xersion Heavyweight Puffer Jacket – Girls-Big Kid

St. John’s Bay Long Sleeve Crew Neck Pullover Sweater

White Mark Traditional Geometric Pullover Sweater

White Mark Leopard Pattern Pullover Sweater

Weatherproof Beanie & Glove Set

ALEX Toys Craft Color and Cuddle Washable Pony

As you finish up or start your holiday shopping (if you are like Pete, ha!) don’t forget to head to your local JCPenney or  jcpenny.com to get everything you need! They are great for last-minute purchases because you can order online and pick up in the store the same day.

Who is still on your list to shop for?

Heather Reese
the authorHeather Reese
Heather Delaney Reese is the storyteller and photographer behind the lifestyle and family travel blog, It's a Lovely Life®! For the past decade, she has vacationed over 150 days a year with her family. She is a vegan, and loves being by the water, spending time with her children, husband, 2 Shih Tzus and Cat.

19 Comments

  • So nice to give back to those families that were stricken. I love the matching pajamas, how much fun and great pictures. The girls dresses were so nice and great for parties.

  • These traditions are wonderful. I love the new matching pajamas! The hot chocolate and sweets bar is something I’d really like to do.

  • You guys are so adorable! Such a beautiful family that’s filled with love! I think it’s awesome that Ashley came up with a tradition like that, it’s really all about giving this season and what better way to do that than give to those in need! Love it.

  • I love all of these family traditions you have started. Especially making gift baskets for families in need.

  • I would love to get matching onsies for my family. I think it is a great idea to get the kids to come up with some new traditions. I love the dress Emmy is wearing.

  • These are all such lovely new traditions. I really love the matching jammies. Also, so sweet to find a way to give back to those in need as well.

  • Love the matching pj’s on all of you! I have friends that do that every year and then take holiday photos.

  • These are all great!

    My church hosts an annual ‘giving’ tree every year. We take an ornament, and on that ornament is a list of wishes to Santa for an entire family, you fulfill the wishes and then the return the gifts with the ornament on top of the wrapped box and put it under the giving tree. Then in a private mass, the families can come collect their presents from under the giving tree. It is my family’s favorite tradition!

    And my office does letters to santa from the post office too, so I always keep the spirit of giving front and center!

    Beautiful Traditions, Happy Holidays!

  • Beautiful Traditions, Happy Holidays!

    My church hosts an annual ‘giving’ tree every year. We take an ornament, and on that ornament is a list of wishes to Santa for an entire family, you fulfill the wishes and then the return the gifts with the ornament on top of the wrapped box and put it under the giving tree. Then in a private mass, the families can come collect their presents from under the giving tree. It is my family’s favorite tradition!

    And my office does letters to santa from the post office too, so I always keep the spirit of giving front and center!

  • That shoppable video is SOOOO COOL! I love that you can click on all of the awesome items as soon as you see them! I love going into my local JCPenny, but this is such a great option when I can’t get out.

  • These are some awesome traditions. We also have our own family traditions that I hope my Girl pass on for generations to come.

  • I like Ashley’s idea the most. It is in this season of caring that we must think of those who have little in life. That is a fantastic tradition to carry on year after year!

Comments are closed.