Let's share our family holiday traditions!

I was pondering this morning about the upcoming holiday,Thanksgiving and all the many, many things we have to be thankful for. We of course will have all our family favorite foods: homegrown fresh turkey, homemade cornbread stuffing( with dried cranberries and walnuts), homemade 30 minute whole wheat rolls, mashed potatoes( grown here on the farm), gravy( from scratch), sweet potatoes( store bought), pistachio pudding salad, and a relish tray filled with fresh veggies and picked veggies from our farm. For dessert the family favorites; Apple pie and a Pumpkin pie( and again of course from scratch from farm produce) Some of our other holiday family traditions are; No Christmas music can be played until after Thanksgiving, then that is all we play, we have quite a collection in which we add to each year. We have an Advent story we read each year, this keep our hearts and minds focused on the true meaning of the holiday. December 1st is the beginning of our baking frenzy, making one or two different types of holiday cookies and family favorite candies, everyday up to Christmas Eve. When the kids were young we almost always saved making and decorating the sugar and gingerbread cookies until Dec. 24 th. We also like to have friends over for a Christmas tea and cookies, last year it was hosted at our friends house, so this year it's back to us. We go caroling with a local church group in mid. Dec. The first weekend in Dec. we pick a tree( we do have a artificial one, but prefer fresh) and this year I'd like to add a new tradition, having Jon, Bobbie and our soon to be grandson, Jaymes, meet us to go cut a fresh tree, making an afternoon of it with a picnic style, provided it's not to cold for a picnic lunch. Then possibly decorate the tree together, enjoying hot cider, cocoa, coffee and of course sample some of the already made holiday goodies. We do decorate the house with a few simple handmade decorations, mostly candles and fresh greenery. Another traditional project we did with the kids when they were younger, to make an ornament for each of us, friends and family, this has fallen by the wayside, but with grandchildren I think it will have to make a comeback! During the course of Dec. we also work on finishing up gifts we are making, we buy very few gifts. It more fun to customize a homemade gift than to just buy something from the store, that anyone else could buy. We have our meal and open gifts on Christmas Eve with my folks and our kids. Christmas Day we stay home and enjoy any company that may stop in, grazing on leftovers and goodies. We'd love to hear what your family traditions are,leave a comment and share a few.