The kids are growing up and slowly starting to understand the concept of gifts (though, so far if you speak their internal language, the gifts should be called “receifts”). Christmas season is a great time for them to learn what GIVING is all about.
My husband and I started some Christmas traditions back when we were dating. To begin with, we choose a tree together, as a family. Dave made a big deal about it on our first Christmas, now he is stuck with a dilemma – how to transport himself, his wife, two kids (with car seats) and a tree in one little Prius.
Secondly, we pick up a tree in the middle of December (not right after Thanksgiving), so it still alive on Russian Orthodox Christmas (January 7th).
We also like to drive to the Santa Farm in Half Moon Bay, and chop our own tree.
We satisfy our son’s obsession with trains by getting him rides and taking him on Christmas train displays if we find any in the area. This year his little sister is probably going to be joining him.
As far as presents go, each kid gets one from us, plus there are typically some boxes with clothes and toys from our Iowan family.
Lil' Jem chopping down a tree last year
Because I have been a stay-at-home-mom since our son was born, our traditions of consumerism went down dramatically and from the entire stock Bed Bath & Beyond decreased to just a few things we REALLY REALLY want.
This year we decided to start a tradition of giving. We bought some warm clothes for a boy and a girl our children’s ages, and going to make a trip to a fire station to donate them. Both kids ADMIRE firefighters, so it’s going to be a very pleasant trip for them, thus our giving could be fun.
So far, we think this is enough for two kids under 3. However, we are very interested in finding out what other people do. What are your family traditions?
![](http://russianmomcooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/32em.png?w=32?h=32" /></a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/russianmomcooks" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push([)
