With COVID-19 putting a damper on 2020’s holiday activities, we thought it would be fun to have a safe, virtual celebration through a holiday hop. The holiday hop will be a chance to virtually visit each other for the holidays, beginning Monday December 14 – Sunday December 20, 2020. Each stop on the hop will feature a picture of a special space in the blogger’s home for holiday celebration, along with a description/story of their holiday traditions.
Berls’s Christmas Tree
I’m so excited to share a picture of my new Christmas tree with y’all! I took advantage of my vaulted ceilings in my apartment and got a 9ft tree. I’m in love! I MAY have bought an unlit tree for the first time ever and MAY have purchased the wrong lights (complete with white cord…) but it’s still lovely and makes the house feel like Christmas. It took forever to do the lights but so worth it:
Holiday Traditions
As for traditions, I’m still working on building those. Over the years Franky has always come over to do the Christmas Tree during Thanksgiving week. But this year we did it without him. I think that tradition fell apart because of equal parts COVID and Franky being 20, having a live-in girlfriend, and just being frankly, grown. So that 1 small tradition has fallen by the wayside and we’re developing are own.
We got our first ever advent calendar this year and every night Dante pulls a felt ornament out of the pocket and puts it on the felt tree. He’s still figuring it out, but he gets a little more into it everyday. I look forward to doing it for years to come and eventually graduating to more delicate / ornamental advent calendars.
I also bought us matching PJs for the first time ever and we put them on for pictures at the Christmas tree. I messed up sizes and Kiko’s actually fit me better than him, whereas none fit him right. I ordered another pair so we’ll try some new pictures after he gets ones that fit. But here are the pictures we took in the too loose PJs. And, most importantly, Dante’s fit him perfectly and he looks so damn cute.
We’ll see what other traditions we develop as Dante gets older. I have an Elf on the Shelf from when I was a kinder teacher that I plan to use. And I’m thinking baking cookies will be a tradition too.
What are some of your family traditions?
Giveaway
I’m keeping it simple and giving you the ultimate power to pick out your own gift. You can pick any book from Amazon that costs $10 or less. Good luck!
Hop Stops
Be sure to visit the other stops on the hop to have a virtual holiday tour and more chances to win!
That’s something we never do… Take pictures together with the Christmas tree. Maybe that’s one that we should adopt! More pictures as a family – especially at Christmas – could only be a good thing! 🙂
Good luck and have fun building new traditions, Berls!
Kids are such an important part of traditions. Jeff and I don’t have many but I’ve decided this year that we need to have some, even if it is just for ourselves. 😁
Next year when I can be sure to give the majority away, I want to add baking cookies to my list! I love the traditions you have started! I hope Dante will too. Love the family picture!
My favorite tradition for the last 25 years has been spending Christmas evening with friends and having a big dinner and a white elephant exchange. But not this year.
A 9 ft tree definitely makes a statement! How pretty! And I love the matching pj’s. 🙂
Thank you! The tree was one of those get the tree for the house you want, not that tiny apartments you have moments. And I love it!
BTW – Come back to enter the rafflecopter. I don’t know why it wasn’t working earlier 🙂
I love that! When my brother’s family visited us in Minnesota I used to make pajamas for the girls and flannel pants for the boys. So I love that tradition. I did buy them at Target one year when I was too busy.
This was a Target year for sure! I’m no where near as crafty / skilled as you, but I do know how to sew, so maybe someday I’ll get a sewing machine and try it out for holiday PJs!
BTW – Come back to enter the rafflecopter. I don’t know why it wasn’t working earlier 🙂
Cute PJs and little advent calendar. Your tree looks festive. 🙂
Thank you! I love the tree and the pjs are definitely going to be a tradition.
BTW – Come back to enter the rafflecopter. I don’t know why it wasn’t working earlier 🙂