Christmas is a great time of year that allows loved ones to spend some quality time together, sharing in some of their favorite things. Here is a short list of some of my favorite traditions that take place at the Downs household.

1. Hiding Pickles in the tree

For as long as I can remember my family has been hiding numerous ornaments made to look like pickles in our tree. It is a tradition that the three kids compete to find the most pickles. I don’t often win, but it is a fun little game to play as a family and Christmas in our house just wouldn’t be the same without it.

2. Christmas Cookies

Every year my family makes the same cookies with little variation and it is a great time for the girls in the house to spend some time quality time together. The guys are usually around but they are more the taste testers rather than the bakers. As a family we’ve made the same recipes so many times, it’s almost like muscle memory now.

3. Santa Clause 2 and The Grinch

Christmas movies are something that happens in almost every household at this time of year but these two movies have a special place in my family’s hearts. The amount of quotes, voices, and laughs that come out of these two movies are endless and they are favorites in my house.

4. Christmas Jammies

Every year my family buys Christmas pajamas that match or look similar to each other and we wear them the morning of Christmas as we open presents and sit around together. Since we have grown up, the kids have started purchasing the pajamas for the family and the fashion has become rather interesting.

5. The Lights on the Tree

This tradition doesn’t involve myself but it is a tradition in my house that my dad always puts the lights on the tree in preparation for the ornaments that are put on as a family. Having anyone else put the lights on the tree would just feel wrong and I highly doubt they would do a better job than my dad does. I love watching him work so hard to make our tree better and better every year.