Traditions

We recently went and picked out our pumpkins for the fall season. The kids decorate their gourds however they want and on Halloween afternoon, dad carves them out. Then they get displayed on the porch for all the trick or treaters to admire!
This is truly the time of year when our family traditions "kick in". Thanksgiving used to be the holiday we celebrated with Dave's family, but since his mom passed away, we have been making our feast here at home and spending quality time with our kids.
Since we have never done the whole "Santa" thing with our kids, we bake 8" single layer cakes and the kids decorate a birthday cake for Jesus. We've done that every year since the kids were toddlers. Then we pack them up and bring them to my moms house for her annual Christmas Eve party.
New Year's Eve has also been a stay-at-home tradition for us. We let the kids stay up as late as they can make it (they haven't yet managed to get to midnight). We have treats and decorations (hats, tooters, streamers) and watch the three stooges (silly I guess).
These are the days we will remember and will warm our hearts when the kids have grown up and have moved on. I treasure them all!