Christmas Traditions with Dishing It

Amanda over at Serenity Now is hosting her monthly link up known as Dishing it. Isn't she fun? This month's theme? Christmas and I can tie it into a book review! I love it when I can do that.

~Do you have any specific traditions that your family looks forward to each Christmas?


One of my favorite Christmas traditions has become reading through The Advent Book by Jack and Kathy Stockman. I actually went to a MOPS event where this wonderful couple spoke about the creation of this book. It was a true labor of love as they worked to create a tradition in their family of sharing the Christmas story little by little leading up to their Christmas celebration. Which after reading about Jesus' birth and the events leading up too it, their hearts were focused on the real reason we celebrate this time of year. Which is the remembrance and thanksgiving for Jesus coming to this earth to save us from our sins. They started this tradition making their own homemade Advent book with found pictures like from greeting cards but then felt led to make something more substantial. With Jack being an artist they decided to write and illustrate The Advent Book for their family and others to be able to start this tradition. Like to craft? Why not make your own Advent book with your family or like me just pick up this wonderful book. I love this tradition primarily because it gets my kids excited about the Christmas story. The book is based on Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2 and John 3:16. They hear this story over and over and have memorized so much of it over the years. For more Advent reading and activities check out the wonderful Advent series by Stacy over at Relevancy.

~Is your tree real or fake?

Fake, we have some allergies over here

~Do you have any favorite ornaments?

I love traditional bulb ornaments in greens, reds, white and silver and love sparkle and other embellishments on them. I love snowflakes ornaments too.

~What's your favorite Christmas treat?

Homemade Sugar Cookies with a simple glaze frosting cut out in Christmas shapes

~Best Christmas gift you ever received?

When I was little nothing topped little dolls and doll houses

~Coolest crafty thing you made or home decor thing you tried this Christmas season?

Well, I actually wasn't too crafty this season but I have saved crafts from previous years to decorate with. My favorite were these round paper ornaments that I made for my son's second Christmas to decorate the tree with. Can you say, no broken ornaments that year! They're made by cutting 4 round circles out of pretty papers at least two different kinds and you fold in half and glue together then add a ribbon and done. I still hang them from under our banister on the stairs between the posts at varying heights and have used them to decorate the mantle other years. I got the original idea from a copy of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine which is sadly no longer published.

They're hardly perfect as I don't have any circle punches and not a lot of patience to press them dry, but I love them.

~Your favorite Christmas movie?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas , the original cartoon version




Oh and please don't forget to check out the 12 Pearls of Christmas posts I'm joining along in posting. There's also an amazing giveaway at the end of each post. Don't forget to enter daily for your chance to win a pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings!