Once in awhile I write a post called Keepin’ It Real.  This is where I ask a question via facebook and twitter and you respond with your real life issues or answers.   After you read what your fellow Fit Moms have said, I’ll give you a little more inspiration, or easy solutions to the issue at hand!

Today’s “Keepin It Real” topic is Holiday Traditions.  I asked you Fit Moms what your favorite Christmas traditions are and here’s what you answered!

“Making gingerbread houses with the kids. I love to see how creative they get with them.” – Stacie D.

“Cuddling up on the couch and reading Christmas books or watching Christmas movies. Driving around in the van looking at cool Christmas lights and singing carols. My kids would add baking cookies, the ONLY thing I enjoy about baking is that my kids have fun and I get to see the joy on their faces.” – Kathy O.

“Growing up in Jamaica and visiting pretty much everyone on our street to share and chow down on delicious Rum Cake, Sorrel, Curry Goat, Jerk Chicken and much more. Christmas in Jamaica is so awesome! It was always about friends and family and coming together over spectacular culinary delights, and never about giving or receiving presents, at least not all the commercial stuff…just the gifts of companionship and sharing what you did have to offer to everyone.” – Charmaine T.

“We make Norwegian Pepper Cookies. My Grandma would make them every year, and they were a tradition at every Christmas Eve. I love the smell when they are baking, and it reminds me of all of the wonderful memories of Christmas with my beautiful and godly Grams. When she got too feeble to make the cookies herself, I continued the tradition, and she was overjoyed and so proud of me. I just realized that Pepper Cookies have been at every Hansen Christmas celebration for almost 100 years” – Laura C.

“The whole family comes over and we bake homemade sugar cookies. kids get to decorate them. we watch the movie Elf and Chrismas Story. a little karaoke and Wii. it’s just great family time. best part CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED. We make phone calls, however, to family members…” Mindy C.

“Omar reads Jesus’ birth to all of us, we sing Christmas carols, open presents, and then head out to visit family and friends!” – Unitha M.

“Love everything about it, but mostly going to mass, spending time with the family, and getting ready to start the new year!” – Holly M.

Wow!  You all sound like you have amazing times with your families!  I too love Christmas.  For us it’s important that we remember the reason for the season and that we remind our kids that it is more about giving than receiving.  Usually the week before we have our annual Cookie and Candy Swap.  We invite our neighbors and friends.  In years past the children all brought money from their piggy banks and then they looked through the World Vision Gift catalog and chose things to give to needy families.  In the past they’ve bought chickens, ducks, and even a goat for needy families around the world.  This year we adopted a family or 4 and each family bought gifts for them.

Before our cookie swap the kids and I make our gingerbread houses, and this year we also made and decorated gingerbread Santa sleighs.    Every year we go to church on Christmas Eve which is a special reminder of the birth of Jesus, and the role he plays in our lives.  On Christmas morning we have a HUGE family breakfast that my mom prepares.  This is a one of my favorite times.  We talk, laugh and enjoy a good down home southern breakfast.  After that my hubby puts on the Santa hat and hands out presents.  Later we go to my Mother-in-laws for the best meal ever!  This year we are mixing it up a bit.  My MIL wants everyone to bring a new dish that we haven’t made before.  So we aren’t having a traditional meal, but experimenting.  Sounds like fun to me!

Traditions are usually things you grow up with, something special that you remember forever.  Try adding some new traditions that are special to you, ask your kids what they’d like to do too.  You don’t have to do what everyone else does.  Make it special and unique to you and your family.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION?

May God Bless You and Yours This Christmas!

Blessings-

Annett Davis

Founder of Fit Moms Fit Kids Club

Annett Davis, Olympian & Founder of Fit Moms Fit Kids