Christmas Traditions Link-Up

I'm so excited to be hosting this fun link up with my sweet friend Holly. I sure hope you'll all join in on the fun! 

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Jake and I have several Christmas traditions that we've started since being married. One being that we get our Christmas Tree from Sullivan's Tree Farm every year. The first Christmas after we got married, I knew I wanted to get a real tree. Both Jake and I always had an artificial tree growing up, but thought it would be fun to try a real tree. We've really enjoyed having a real tree, even though its a lot more work.

The first year we wanted to go all out and go cut the tree down and everything. So we went out to a farm that we found online about an hour away. When we got there, they only had little small trees that weren't even ready to be cut down in my opinion. So needless to say we didn't get a tree there, but we decided to go right down the road from us to a cute little family owned lot and pick out a tree. We loved the tree we got there and the super nice family that runs it, so we've gone back every year since then. It's so convenient too. We get a Noble Fir every year that smells wonderful and looks beautiful. Its probably my favorite tradition that we have. We plan to go this Saturday and get this years tree. I can't wait!

A second Christmas Tradition is that we've taken a family picture in front of our tree every year. I always use the picture to make an ornament to hang on the tree. I thought it would be cool to have an ornament on our tree from every year to see how our family has grown. Below are our 6 years worth of pictures so far.

A third family tradition, and this goes back to our childhood, is to go to the Christmas Eve Service at our church. Its always late at night, normally at 10 p.m. and its always candle-lit and so beautiful. Usually the kids come in their pajamas and it just really gets us ready for the coming of Jesus and helps you remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

A fourth tradition that we started with Jackson last year, was the "Santa Gift" on Christmas morning. Jake passed this tradition on from his childhood. His mom always got he and his brothers several (wrapped) gifts from her and then the biggest gift was always from Santa Claus. It was never wrapped, just left under the tree Christmas Eve and was there waiting for them when they woke up Christmas morning. We started this with Jackson last year and it was so cute to see him get excited when he went into the living room Christmas morning. 

Another tradition Jake and I have is we always watch Christmas Vacation together. It's probably our favorite Christmas movie. It's so hilarious!!

And finally, our last tradition is that we always spend a day close to Christmas with each side of our family and we have fun traditions with both! With my family, we always fix a big breakfast, even if we're not getting together until lunch or dinner time. We have bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage and hash browns! Yum! It's a fun tradition we started several years ago and it just stuck! 

(I don't have a picture of our big breakfast, so here's a picture of my parents' tree with all the presents under it last year.)

With Jake's family, we started playing a fun Survivor game with all the adults. Jake's mom started it a few years back and we've played it every year since. It involves immunity challenges and lots of fun little gifts to open!!

(My MIL putting the immunity necklace tie around my neck last year after I won a challenge!! I was pretty proud that I actually won a challenge!)

Now it's your turn!

What are some of your favorite Christmas Traditions?? I can't wait to read about them!! Just tell us about them on your blog, add our Link-Up button and then link up below! It's that easy!