This Month's "Let's Talk" Theme is Christmas Tradition with with Momfessionals Andrea and Erika! Last Year I told you all about our 9 Family Christmas Traditions.
Today, I'm excited to update and throw in a few more. Traditions mean so much to me and our boys are even becoming deep rooted in tradition and often talk about our rituals. When and if we deviate, we often hear about it. Case in point , our first "Un-tradition" of the season
Every year the day after Thanksgiving, we go chop down our Fraser Fir Christmas tree. Mr. Nine and I made a decision to buy a fake Fraser Fir from Balsam Hill and we could not be not be happier! However, when we asked one of them what he thought about it, he said "It's nice, but we don't have the memory of the chop down." Just insert the knife in my heart. The way I look at it though, they have the memories growing up doing it and as new chapters have started, sometimes so do traditions.
Tree Lot photos of the past
However, these boys still have tons that stick including putting up the outdoor and ledge decorations and self done family pics the day after Thanksgiving.
Family Photo of the past
Family Photo of the past
Family Photo of last year
Grandma and her boys
2016
2009
The Santa Purse comes out about now and stays til December 25th. I love this thing with it's fluffy balls. The balls have gotten dingy over the years since I first got this filled with Bath and Body products about 15 years ago. I get oodles of complements on it where ever I go.
Finally, it was sooo nice having the 2 on the right home from college with us this weekend. Tradition is now sending them back with some goodies to study up for finals. They will be home in 2 1/2 weeks for a nice long Christmas break and I cannot wait!!
I'm excited to bring various Christmas posts the whole month of December including recipes, holiday cozy fashion and you can get excited with me about A gift idea of Christmas Money Jars on Monday, December 5th, My Christmas home tour on Monday, December 12, and Holiday Nails and how I do mine on Monday, December 19th. It's going to be a great Holiday Season!
And make sure you come back tomorrow when 3 of The Blended Blog ladies and myself showcase a Progresive Holiday Meal Blog Hop!! I've got dessert! It's going to be Yummy!!
HAPPY MONDAY!!
Linking up with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Show and Tell Tuesdays // Wordless Wednesday // Inspire Me Monday // Share The joy// Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Share It // Creative Monday's Blog Hop // Thoughts on Thursday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // Dishing It & Digging It // Tuesday's at Our Home // Hello Monday
xoxo
You literally haven't aged a bit in any of those photos from the past to current! Love your traditions and how your boys help you with Christmas decorations!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
Such cute family traditions and I remember that adorable Santa purse. Love the photos of the boys toasting with their grape juice in 2009. The cutting of the tree is such a fun family tradition but you're right sometimes those traditions change especially with 2 being gone from home. We have a fake tree too so I don't blame ya!
ReplyDeleteOh I can only imagine how excited you are to have those boys back from school for winter break! I love all your traditions and agree they evolve over time - but some things will never change, like your toasts...but maybe when they turn 21 it'll be real alcohol LOL! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteTraditions change as the years go by but I love that your boys still get excited to help with the Christmas decorations! Your santa purse is darling!
ReplyDeleteJill
Doused In Pink
I love how much your boys appreciate family traditions. Good job momma! You are raising such sweet,incredible young men!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy trying new things, but there is something great about the tried and true tradition. I can already tell that I'll be hearing about it if I try to change something as time goes on, so I better be really careful this year! I am glad the boys had a great time at home for Thanksgiving. Two and a half weeks isn't so bad!
ReplyDeleteWe got our tree from Balsam Hill too....but I miss having the real tree. I haven't gone out and chopped one down in forever.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness--it's so sweet to see how your boys have grown over the years and how you continue holiday traditions! It's such a special time especially with family! Can't wait to read all of your holiday festive posts:)
ReplyDeletewww.rosyoutlookblog.com
Can't wait to see all your holiday posts! You have such a beautiful family and seriously you haven't aged a bit over the years! What's your secret?! :)
ReplyDeleteI love all of your traditions, the grape juice toast, the purse, all of it! Have a wonderful Monday!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see a tour of your holiday home! I just know it's going to be oh-so-fabulous! And it's so fun reading about other family traditions. We have so many in ours too, and it just makes this time of year even more special. And can we talk about what a gorgeous family you have as well?! You are so blessed! Hope you had a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteShauna
www.lipglossandlace.net
I love reading about your Christmas traditions!!! Your family photos are so precious and you will have them to cherish forever :) I agree that some traditions are going to change a little bit but that doesn't make the tree process any less special. I love that you guys toast with sparking juice, how cute! I hope you have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteDear Andrea, you honestly have such a beautiful family! Loved the throw back pic of you and your boys and then the NOW pic! Super cute and I LOVE LOVE your Holiday Tradition! Nothing better but picking out a Christmas tree together! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteHappy Cyber Monday!!!
xoxo, Vanessa
www.WhatWouldVWear.com
Andrea, I love your traditions! It's so special to share holiday traditions with our families, making memories. Your family is beautiful, I bet you are excited to have them all home for Christmas. I'm looking forward to having our girls here, too! Xo Lidy
ReplyDeleteOk, what is your secret? You do not age at all!! I love love your Santa purse! It's so cute!! I got myself some Santa gloves, and cannot wait to start wearing them. Love your family traditions.
ReplyDeleteI loved our traditions as a family growing up, and I look forward to making new ones with Ivy. :) How fun to see you rpictures throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteAmy Ann
Straight A Style
You have such a sweet family and I love that you share with us your traditions and pictures. Your santa bag is adorable!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have the best day!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Such cute traditions! I love all of the throwback photos. While I look forward to having my own family & traditions someday, a fairly large part of me dreads the day when I no longer get to see my family every year & do our traditions.
ReplyDeleteHow cute is that santa purse?! Love all your traditions! We used to always go pick out a Fraser Fir (the best ones right?!) the day after Thanksgiving as well, so many great memories <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
Those boys are SO handsome! I love holiday traditions and reading about what others do that makes them special! So glad you get them all home again in a few weeks!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, can you explain to me how you look exactly the same in every picture?? You are absolutely beautiful and your family has such lovely traditions. I really like the idea of toasting for all celebrations.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE that you guys go chop down your own tree!! We can't do that around here because none of them grown close enough to us. Lol. We always get a frazier fir as well, but ours are always trucked down from North Carolina. One of these days I want to go chop one down!
ReplyDeleteP.S. How in the world have you not aged ever?! Girl, you need to tell me your secret because you are just fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteI love all of your Christmas traditions! It's so much fun to see how different families get in the holiday spirit and what they do every year! We always helped my mom get all the Christmas stuff out of the attic and decorated the day after Thanksgiving, so I love that your boys help to decorate outside!
ReplyDeleteOh I love this sweet sharing of your beautifully handsome family! Look at how the boys have grown and wowzahs now I see that growth in our own collection of Christmas cards! I think I need a Santa purse for shopping this year! You're beautiful as ever, friend! xo
ReplyDeleteOur boys are so similar - I think they would all get along so well. They are very big on traditions, and if we miss one, we hear about it! BTW, you haven't aged one bit - how do you do that?
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful family and holiday traditions, family traditions in general, are the best. I loved them as a child.
ReplyDeletexo
www.carinavardie.com
So fun to see your family traditions! I love that Santa purse!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday Andrea :) Love love looking at all the Christmas photos of the past ! Great memories to treasure ! Hoping that your Monday has been a great one ! Beautiful family :)
ReplyDeleteI bet it was so nice to have your boys home for Thanksgiving!!! My brother and I are definitely tradtionalists, too, and my parents always hear when something is different. :) It's always fun making new memories, though!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, what a really lovely post - and bought a few tears to my eyes. We too have family 'traditions' that have come about in the last few years. We all try and meet up Christmas eve for last minute shopping and a meal. Some can't make it now due to work etc. I love having us all together for that special 'excited' time on Christmas eve. Keep your blogs coming I love them. Jacqui
ReplyDeletewww.mummabstylish.com
What a fabulous Family you have Andrea! So close together, it is very nice to read your Family posts!
ReplyDeleteYou have such a wonderful family and I love all your Christmas photos - you're so cute! Not having kids myself, we never really started any traditions of our own which is kinda sad :(
ReplyDeleteBut we still have lots of fun visiting friends and family in England every year. I'm excited about heading out next week already YAY!!
Suzy xx
www.suzyturner.com
Oh my goodness. It makes me so happy and sad at the same time to see your boys grow up so much in each picture. Time just flies by. I have really been trying to soak in every moment with my little ones lately. These moments are just so precious.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, these throw back photos are literally making me teary eyed. So precious! Love all these traditions you guys have!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful traditions! I love looking at those throw back photos.
ReplyDeleteLove traditions and kudos to you for making traditions and memories for your sons. I think it's special that the traditions really mean something to your guys and that they care about them. They will make great family guys when they have their own families.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful family photos.
Christmas traditions are my favorite...oh the memories. I love pulling out all the ornaments and remembering the year we got them and all the fun! I love your yearly photos and traditions and the cutest purse. I can NOT wait to see your home tour...YAY!
ReplyDeleteOh, Andrea!! This post made me so happy for you! God has blessed you with a beautiful family of handsome men! I can't even begin to imagine what raising a passel of boys is like, but it looks like you're doing a great job! Blessings, friend!
ReplyDeleteFirst....love, love this walk down memory lane!! Such a beautiful family you have. And second...girl...that plaid dress!!!! I'm simply dying over here that is so stinkin cute
ReplyDeleteGreat tradition - Handsome sons!! And I adore your purse!!
ReplyDeleteSuch fun photos and family memories! Also, PLEASE tell me what skin products you use... or what other magical secret of anti-aging you've discovered... because your boys get older but you're just as gorgeously young in all of those photos! Thank you for sharing at #FridayFrivolity... pinning and tweeting... and get back to me about that secret! I swear not to tell anyone else... ;P
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful family! So enjoyed looking at all the pictures, the boys remind me of my own 3 boys. We are both very blessed.
ReplyDeleteFamilies that keep building traditions form lasing memories. Your photos show what traditions can become. Family is such a large part of most peoples life. In the last few years I have reconnected with both my sisters and found the same love we use to all share.
ReplyDeleteYou have some handsome boys! Great traditions. I love family traditions during the holidays!
ReplyDeleteYou have a beautiful family, how wonderful to have them all home for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Andrea, your men are so handsome! Lovely traditions! Thank you for sharing! You are one of the fan favorites at the Sunday Showcase from the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to the Showcase so you can check out your feature. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2016/12/sunday-showcase-make-pretty-monday-7-9.html Hope to see you tomorrow for Make it Pretty Monday! Happy week to you! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteYou have such a beautiful family Andrea. Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays :) You are one of this weeks features.
ReplyDelete