1 00:00:04,170 --> 00:00:07,170 Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of the summer of me. 2 00:00:07,470 --> 00:00:11,360 We originally had this planned as one episode, but I am a festive 3 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,429 queen apparently, and have too many traditions to fit into one. 4 00:00:14,430 --> 00:00:14,840 So. 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,600 This is a formally your Christmas tradition episode, um, where I'm going 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,060 to just dive into all of my holiday traditions, all of the things we've 7 00:00:23,060 --> 00:00:26,540 created as a family, things I've seen online that I've like taken in and loved. 8 00:00:26,980 --> 00:00:31,070 Um, and if you missed the Thanksgiving one that we shared a few weeks ago 9 00:00:31,090 --> 00:00:35,760 and want to just put a pin in that for the next holiday season, um, 10 00:00:35,769 --> 00:00:36,720 definitely go listen to that one. 11 00:00:36,730 --> 00:00:38,100 Cause it's the beginning part of this episode. 12 00:00:38,130 --> 00:00:40,270 So here we go. 13 00:00:43,245 --> 00:00:48,395 So obviously, um, if you celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or no holiday at 14 00:00:48,415 --> 00:00:53,035 all, um, feel free to listen and just hear about what we do as a family. 15 00:00:53,104 --> 00:00:56,114 Um, but I also think that there are so many traditions. 16 00:00:56,115 --> 00:00:59,815 So if you are listening and you celebrate, um, Hanukkah, for example, 17 00:00:59,824 --> 00:01:01,975 I would love to hear like, what kind of Hanukkah traditions you have. 18 00:01:01,975 --> 00:01:05,404 So feel free to leave them in the comments because I always love hearing that. 19 00:01:05,404 --> 00:01:09,174 My kids are always asking, they'll be like, so and so celebrates Hanukkah. 20 00:01:09,184 --> 00:01:10,494 Do you think we could celebrate that too? 21 00:01:10,495 --> 00:01:15,094 I don't feel like we can, but I mean, honestly, like, um, let's do it. 22 00:01:15,445 --> 00:01:16,065 Um, okay. 23 00:01:17,035 --> 00:01:19,474 Just like the previous episode, I'm just going to ramble through all of 24 00:01:19,474 --> 00:01:21,255 our traditions and no particular order. 25 00:01:21,625 --> 00:01:23,934 Um, so feel free to take notes, add them to your list. 26 00:01:24,275 --> 00:01:28,245 Take on our traditions as your own and share your own because I truly like 27 00:01:28,265 --> 00:01:33,114 one of my favorite things is to go on Pinterest or Even like on reddit. 28 00:01:33,155 --> 00:01:34,175 I know I'm a reddit whore. 29 00:01:34,185 --> 00:01:36,885 I'm sorry, but like people share their amazing traditions 30 00:01:36,885 --> 00:01:38,375 And I'm like I want to do that. 31 00:01:38,375 --> 00:01:39,364 That's so it sounds so fun. 32 00:01:39,364 --> 00:01:44,245 So cute So here we go Number one is Christmas Adam. 33 00:01:44,265 --> 00:01:46,845 You guys probably heard this there's Christmas Eve and then there's Christmas 34 00:01:46,845 --> 00:01:52,255 Adam Christmas Adam comes before Christmas Eve If you know, you know, and we always 35 00:01:52,255 --> 00:01:56,025 try to do some sort of dinner or something to celebrate Christmas, Adam Usually we go 36 00:01:56,025 --> 00:02:01,485 out And it's like obviously like leading up to Christmas is the most fun like time 37 00:02:01,485 --> 00:02:04,475 of year where you're just like there's so much Anticipation the kids are so excited. 38 00:02:04,494 --> 00:02:08,645 I'm so excited It just feels so like wholesome and festive and all 39 00:02:08,645 --> 00:02:12,109 the things and so we try to really just it out for as long as we can. 40 00:02:12,109 --> 00:02:15,030 So Christmas Adam is always the night before Christmas Eve. 41 00:02:15,030 --> 00:02:18,170 And we go out with a bang and just do like a big night out. 42 00:02:18,180 --> 00:02:20,960 The kids love to dress up and go out to eat somewhere fun 43 00:02:21,010 --> 00:02:22,840 and festive Christmas day. 44 00:02:22,869 --> 00:02:24,430 Usually the kids will do a gift exchange. 45 00:02:24,430 --> 00:02:27,099 This is a really fun way to get your kids involved in gifting. 46 00:02:27,329 --> 00:02:29,240 They obviously have 0 to their name. 47 00:02:29,635 --> 00:02:33,805 Um, so I'm, I like, this is part of my Christmas budget, but they, 48 00:02:33,855 --> 00:02:36,335 I really like try to empower them, like, okay, they all draw a name. 49 00:02:36,365 --> 00:02:39,445 I have obviously a bazillion kids, so this is a little easier, but even 50 00:02:39,445 --> 00:02:41,164 if you have two kids, just swap them. 51 00:02:41,654 --> 00:02:46,115 Um, and they get to decide, like, you know, okay, I drew this person. 52 00:02:46,124 --> 00:02:47,704 What, like, what do you want to get them? 53 00:02:47,955 --> 00:02:50,915 And I let them kind of just like, we do this usually a week before Christmas, 54 00:02:50,915 --> 00:02:52,465 we draw names or two weeks even. 55 00:02:52,785 --> 00:02:55,075 And so they really have time to like, think about kind of like, 56 00:02:55,255 --> 00:02:56,425 they get real funny with it. 57 00:02:56,465 --> 00:02:56,605 They're like. 58 00:02:56,825 --> 00:02:58,535 So what if you were to get a Christmas gift? 59 00:02:58,545 --> 00:03:01,565 Cause it's secret Santa, so they don't know who buys for what each other. 60 00:03:01,965 --> 00:03:04,245 But like, if you were to get a Christmas gift, like, what do you think you'd want? 61 00:03:04,245 --> 00:03:07,305 And like, they do a really cute, creative job of picking out gifts for each other. 62 00:03:07,535 --> 00:03:08,325 I give them a budget. 63 00:03:08,325 --> 00:03:10,365 I think it's like 25 or something is what we've done. 64 00:03:10,685 --> 00:03:13,214 Um, and letting them, they wrap it themselves. 65 00:03:13,214 --> 00:03:14,224 They put it under the tree. 66 00:03:14,245 --> 00:03:14,465 It's. 67 00:03:15,590 --> 00:03:19,070 And honestly, like if you don't have more than one kid, like you can do that with, 68 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:23,159 uh, we've done it with other families in the past or like with the parents. 69 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:25,800 So it's like, you know, the three of you pick something for each other. 70 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,159 And sometimes parents, I, we, we would buy gifts for each other. 71 00:03:29,159 --> 00:03:31,659 Usually I like that because I like our kids to see that, 72 00:03:31,659 --> 00:03:32,799 like, it's not all about them. 73 00:03:32,799 --> 00:03:35,040 Like parents deserve gifts too and whatnot. 74 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,030 So when I was married, like we would always buy a gift for each other. 75 00:03:38,050 --> 00:03:41,080 And if you want to do like secret Santa with your kid and the adults too, like. 76 00:03:41,369 --> 00:03:44,500 That works Christmas morning walk, depending on the weather, but 77 00:03:44,519 --> 00:03:46,500 usually it's not like pouring rain. 78 00:03:46,850 --> 00:03:48,679 Um, we will do a walk. 79 00:03:48,679 --> 00:03:52,409 Like it is, you don't realize like how stuffy your house gets Christmas morning. 80 00:03:52,409 --> 00:03:54,519 You open all the presents and then it's like breakfast and all the things. 81 00:03:55,020 --> 00:03:55,830 You gotta move your body. 82 00:03:55,850 --> 00:03:58,060 So Christmas morning walk, we go out in our pajamas. 83 00:03:58,450 --> 00:04:00,930 Usually, somebody's wearing something that they got from that day. 84 00:04:00,970 --> 00:04:03,510 I did see like a really cute tradition that I, when I was like 85 00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:05,109 reading through stuff at one point. 86 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:08,319 That was like, if you don't have like, if you don't have young kids 87 00:04:08,319 --> 00:04:09,450 in your family or even if you do. 88 00:04:09,700 --> 00:04:12,170 They would all go to the pub on Christmas afternoon. 89 00:04:12,399 --> 00:04:12,760 dress. 90 00:04:12,790 --> 00:04:14,870 They have to wear everything that they got apparel wise. 91 00:04:14,870 --> 00:04:16,380 So they go to like bathrobe socks. 92 00:04:16,380 --> 00:04:18,450 Like if you got socks, you have to wear all four pairs of socks. 93 00:04:18,469 --> 00:04:21,259 And that was like what they had to wear out to the bars on Christmas night. 94 00:04:21,780 --> 00:04:23,990 I will say the years that I have not had the kids, we have gone to 95 00:04:23,990 --> 00:04:27,520 like out to a bar on Christmas, like Christmas evening, not Christmas 96 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:28,630 Eve, but like the night of Christmas. 97 00:04:28,909 --> 00:04:31,370 And it has actually been like the most fun because it's kind of like, what do 98 00:04:31,370 --> 00:04:33,305 you, you know, What do you always do? 99 00:04:33,515 --> 00:04:36,585 Sometimes it feels like anticlimactic if you're not with like a bunch of family. 100 00:04:36,915 --> 00:04:40,334 And so, um, like going out and like, there's Christmas carols and like, people 101 00:04:40,334 --> 00:04:42,624 are just like happy and it's so festive. 102 00:04:42,624 --> 00:04:45,745 So that is like something if you don't have kids or if you have like, 103 00:04:46,285 --> 00:04:49,344 you know, if you just need a little break, that's a good activity to do. 104 00:04:49,624 --> 00:04:51,865 Um, but we always do Christmas morning walk jammy cocoa Christmas. 105 00:04:51,874 --> 00:04:54,105 This is hands down my kids favorite Christmas tradition. 106 00:04:54,705 --> 00:05:00,094 Um, I saw this idea from this other blogger mix and match mama is her name, 107 00:05:00,395 --> 00:05:03,544 but jammy cocoa Christmas is every year, usually like sometime in the 108 00:05:03,544 --> 00:05:06,784 first couple of weeks of December, the kids, we all wear matching Christmas 109 00:05:06,794 --> 00:05:11,384 pajamas, adults and kids last year, Anna came with us, my friend, and we. 110 00:05:12,230 --> 00:05:13,260 Do our Christmas jammies. 111 00:05:13,450 --> 00:05:14,789 We go to Starbucks, go hat. 112 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,870 You have to go in, get a hot cocoa in your pajamas. 113 00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:18,599 It's a whole thing. 114 00:05:18,599 --> 00:05:21,420 We take a picture, everything, and then get back in the car, put on a 115 00:05:21,420 --> 00:05:24,229 Christmas playlist and we drive and go look at Christmas lights everywhere. 116 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,019 Um, and it's like my kid's favorite thing to like, it's such a novelty to 117 00:05:28,020 --> 00:05:29,580 go out in their pajamas in the evening. 118 00:05:29,580 --> 00:05:31,909 And like, we just make a whole night of it and it's really fun. 119 00:05:32,190 --> 00:05:34,920 Um, we either go like drive around neighborhoods or we'll go to 120 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,000 like an actual Christmas lights. 121 00:05:36,315 --> 00:05:38,655 Like experience or display or whatever. 122 00:05:38,984 --> 00:05:40,335 Um, but we stay in the car. 123 00:05:40,335 --> 00:05:43,424 Nobody brings like, nobody's having to like, you know, bring 124 00:05:43,424 --> 00:05:44,374 coats and all that kind of stuff. 125 00:05:44,374 --> 00:05:45,335 Cause we're just in a Starbucks. 126 00:05:45,395 --> 00:05:45,575 No. 127 00:05:46,304 --> 00:05:48,094 Um, so that's a really fun one. 128 00:05:48,624 --> 00:05:49,344 Uh, let's see. 129 00:05:49,614 --> 00:05:55,524 I, I'm an aesthetic hoe, so I don't let my kids go all out on this, but I let them 130 00:05:55,525 --> 00:06:00,390 pick Wrapping paper within reason they don't know when presents start showing 131 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:03,330 up under the tree which one is there, so I leave it It's a really easy way. 132 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,470 I do not like having to like label every gift and i'm not a ribbons 133 00:06:07,470 --> 00:06:11,040 and bows kind of gal I actually love like pretty presents, but when you're 134 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,195 wrapping gifts for five children There's absolutely zero time for that. 135 00:06:14,575 --> 00:06:18,005 So, um, I just, everybody gets their own wrapping paper. 136 00:06:18,045 --> 00:06:21,005 It makes my job really easy and it makes them like, love, they love the 137 00:06:21,005 --> 00:06:24,134 guessing game of like, well, maybe this is mine, shakes their presents, all that. 138 00:06:24,475 --> 00:06:27,115 I firmly believe in putting presents out as they get wrapped. 139 00:06:27,394 --> 00:06:29,434 The kids love like, Oh my God, there's a new present. 140 00:06:29,444 --> 00:06:31,965 Like some people do not put any presents out and they put 141 00:06:31,985 --> 00:06:34,009 everything out, um, overnight, but. 142 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:35,610 That's just my take on that. 143 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,750 Um, we always get a new ornament for the Christmas tree. 144 00:06:38,780 --> 00:06:39,920 We have the pickle ornament. 145 00:06:39,930 --> 00:06:43,259 I don't know if you guys know the pickle ornament, but every year we usually 146 00:06:43,259 --> 00:06:45,969 do this a few times, but like, well, I'll hide the pickle and then like 147 00:06:45,969 --> 00:06:48,080 whoever can find it gets whatever treat. 148 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:50,369 Usually it's just like candy or something like that. 149 00:06:50,739 --> 00:06:53,159 Although I feel like I need to make the stakes a little bit higher for the 150 00:06:53,159 --> 00:06:56,940 kids at this point and like, because they find it so easily, um, and like 151 00:06:56,940 --> 00:06:58,800 really hide it somewhere really well. 152 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,945 And like, The gift has to be like, maybe like 25 to target or something. 153 00:07:01,945 --> 00:07:03,585 I got to like up the ante a little bit. 154 00:07:04,045 --> 00:07:05,325 Chinese food on Christmas Eve. 155 00:07:05,325 --> 00:07:07,805 So if I have the kids on Christmas Eve, we do take out. 156 00:07:07,835 --> 00:07:10,634 I am not trying to cook like multiple meals and it's 157 00:07:10,635 --> 00:07:11,855 really like a fun tradition. 158 00:07:11,855 --> 00:07:13,574 So we've done Chinese food on Christmas Eve. 159 00:07:13,574 --> 00:07:15,284 We've done pizza on Christmas Eve. 160 00:07:15,735 --> 00:07:17,515 Um, just like something easy. 161 00:07:17,555 --> 00:07:18,965 Everybody's just like cozied in. 162 00:07:18,965 --> 00:07:19,655 We do pajamas. 163 00:07:19,655 --> 00:07:20,855 We watch a Christmas movie. 164 00:07:21,085 --> 00:07:23,745 I always let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve. 165 00:07:23,745 --> 00:07:26,070 And then I'm like, And I pick the present. 166 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:26,919 They don't get to pick it. 167 00:07:26,930 --> 00:07:30,050 So usually it's something that like I know will kind of like keep them busy. 168 00:07:30,450 --> 00:07:33,650 Um, because they are driving me up a wall at that point, asking 169 00:07:33,650 --> 00:07:35,070 how long until Santa's coming. 170 00:07:35,250 --> 00:07:38,359 Now, listen, elf on the shelf is a holiday tradition, but I just have to tell you, 171 00:07:38,359 --> 00:07:39,769 I have a fucking bone to pick with it. 172 00:07:39,789 --> 00:07:40,989 I hate the elf on the shelf. 173 00:07:41,270 --> 00:07:42,460 I find it obnoxious. 174 00:07:42,719 --> 00:07:44,599 It is a pain in my ass. 175 00:07:44,780 --> 00:07:46,390 My elf is a lazy little fuck. 176 00:07:46,645 --> 00:07:48,405 My elf is for sure unemployed. 177 00:07:48,405 --> 00:07:49,955 I'm just telling you it is lazy. 178 00:07:49,984 --> 00:07:52,364 It is like not doing anything with, with its life. 179 00:07:52,705 --> 00:07:55,164 Um, there are no zip lines there. 180 00:07:55,194 --> 00:07:57,984 Like the best I can do is like throw a candy cane in the toilet 181 00:07:57,984 --> 00:07:59,284 and set the elf next to it. 182 00:07:59,284 --> 00:08:02,555 Like I am, I am done with the elf on shelf. 183 00:08:02,645 --> 00:08:05,935 I would like the tradition to die, but it can't because my kids. 184 00:08:06,729 --> 00:08:09,349 Are so obsessed with it and like their friends have it and they're they ask 185 00:08:09,349 --> 00:08:13,590 their friends else names and what your elf do overnight So, um, I do not have 186 00:08:13,590 --> 00:08:17,490 a suggestion or tips for you on that except for that Like the bare minimum 187 00:08:17,490 --> 00:08:22,009 is usually just enough to get by There are like packages you can buy there are 188 00:08:22,009 --> 00:08:25,319 things like you can buy full kits Some people go like so all out with it their 189 00:08:25,329 --> 00:08:29,319 elves deliver like they make messes Like why the fuck is your elf making a mess? 190 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:33,240 They make like they deliver full breakfast I I don't I love the holidays. 191 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,465 I love christmas but like that to me is You It's so much. 192 00:08:37,564 --> 00:08:38,684 It's just so much. 193 00:08:39,115 --> 00:08:39,534 Okay. 194 00:08:40,355 --> 00:08:40,895 Puzzles. 195 00:08:40,955 --> 00:08:43,325 Obviously, we already talked about this for the Thanksgiving episode. 196 00:08:43,325 --> 00:08:44,835 There's always a Christmas puzzle on the table. 197 00:08:45,355 --> 00:08:48,295 Um, we have done in years past, we've done Christmas Eve brunch. 198 00:08:48,295 --> 00:08:49,495 This is a really fun tradition. 199 00:08:49,795 --> 00:08:51,245 We used to do this with friends. 200 00:08:51,304 --> 00:08:55,945 I, um, haven't done this since moving to Nashville, um, mostly because, 201 00:08:55,945 --> 00:08:59,320 um, So Christmas Eve brunch, we obviously go out Christmas Adam. 202 00:08:59,670 --> 00:09:01,850 Christmas Eve brunch is a fun way to like celebrate with another 203 00:09:01,850 --> 00:09:02,880 family that you're close to. 204 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,100 And it's like a good way, like most of the time there's not 205 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:06,330 stuff going on on that morning. 206 00:09:06,650 --> 00:09:09,500 And again, like I'm, I'm trying to keep the kids busy on the holiday, 207 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:11,169 like between those days of Christmas. 208 00:09:11,169 --> 00:09:13,680 Because I feel like otherwise they go crazy and I go crazy. 209 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:15,900 Um, we always do church on Christmas Eve. 210 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,790 Uh, speaking of, we always try to adopt a family. 211 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:20,420 Um, my parents did this growing up. 212 00:09:20,430 --> 00:09:20,784 They always did. 213 00:09:20,925 --> 00:09:23,675 Always adopted a family, bought all the gifts for their whole family. 214 00:09:23,954 --> 00:09:27,005 And I, like I said, like we were not, we didn't grow up like wealthy by any 215 00:09:27,005 --> 00:09:29,775 means, I feel like we were very like middle class and my parents always made 216 00:09:29,775 --> 00:09:31,454 this sacrifice, which I always admired. 217 00:09:31,834 --> 00:09:33,905 It was like, Hey, they have zero dollars. 218 00:09:33,915 --> 00:09:36,694 So like, we can definitely like make some sacrifices of our own 219 00:09:36,694 --> 00:09:37,964 and contribute to their family. 220 00:09:38,385 --> 00:09:41,454 Um, we've done this in the past, like pulling like little angels off of 221 00:09:41,454 --> 00:09:44,165 Christmas trees at church, where like you can donate to people, Memphis's 222 00:09:44,204 --> 00:09:46,005 preschool has done it in years past. 223 00:09:46,445 --> 00:09:49,515 Um, but I also love the idea of like. 224 00:09:50,050 --> 00:09:54,490 And in my parents, when they adopted a family, like the family never knew there 225 00:09:54,490 --> 00:09:58,260 was no, like, my mom would pay the, like, she would slide cash, the UPS driver 226 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:02,460 and give him like Tupperwares of gifts and like to deliver to certain families. 227 00:10:02,750 --> 00:10:03,799 It was like incredible. 228 00:10:03,820 --> 00:10:05,130 And I loved watching it. 229 00:10:05,150 --> 00:10:06,920 We, we would go pick out all the gifts. 230 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:07,930 Like it was a whole thing. 231 00:10:08,389 --> 00:10:11,040 Um, and so that's something that like, I really want to start 232 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:12,300 doing with our kids is like. 233 00:10:12,955 --> 00:10:15,595 Finding a family that like, you know, could use that support and that help. 234 00:10:15,625 --> 00:10:19,334 And just like doing it anonymously, I think gifting anonymously over the 235 00:10:19,334 --> 00:10:23,555 holidays is like such a great way to go about it, but I, my kids also love 236 00:10:23,555 --> 00:10:26,805 like to pick, you know, like a five year old girl who needs X, Y, and Z 237 00:10:26,805 --> 00:10:28,464 off the Christmas tree and then like. 238 00:10:28,615 --> 00:10:29,545 The donation tree. 239 00:10:29,555 --> 00:10:33,574 And then we go pick it out, wrap it, like get them all excited about the experience. 240 00:10:33,594 --> 00:10:36,155 And it's a really good way to teach your kids that like, man, not 241 00:10:36,165 --> 00:10:37,584 everybody's as fortunate as you are. 242 00:10:37,584 --> 00:10:42,104 And don't even think that like you have one ounce of like complaining to do that. 243 00:10:42,105 --> 00:10:44,004 Like you didn't get this present or you didn't get enough presents. 244 00:10:44,004 --> 00:10:48,004 Like, I think really instilling in my kids that like, you don't, you 245 00:10:48,005 --> 00:10:49,685 don't actually need any of this stuff. 246 00:10:49,715 --> 00:10:52,345 This is like a privilege and not everybody has it. 247 00:10:52,345 --> 00:10:54,555 And so being grateful for the things that you do get. 248 00:10:54,895 --> 00:10:57,325 We have done this in years past and I already told the kids, this is 249 00:10:57,335 --> 00:10:59,795 something we're doing again this year because it actually is like 250 00:10:59,795 --> 00:11:01,005 more for me to keep me in check. 251 00:11:01,035 --> 00:11:03,035 But, um, it's really easy. 252 00:11:03,035 --> 00:11:06,174 I think when you have kids and, and you have means like to be like, I'm going 253 00:11:06,174 --> 00:11:08,724 to just get them everything that they could ever want, and then they end up 254 00:11:08,725 --> 00:11:12,294 with like so many things and so many presents and shit gets tossed to the side. 255 00:11:12,294 --> 00:11:12,704 They don't care. 256 00:11:12,925 --> 00:11:15,775 So this year we're doing something to something you want, something you need, 257 00:11:15,795 --> 00:11:17,535 something to wear and something to read. 258 00:11:17,805 --> 00:11:19,165 So it's four gifts that they get. 259 00:11:19,594 --> 00:11:23,944 Um, and the, like, you know, obviously like the bigger your kids 260 00:11:23,944 --> 00:11:26,594 are, like the more expensive things will be and so on and so forth. 261 00:11:26,594 --> 00:11:31,194 But it keeps the playing field even kids, at least for my kids, like my mom always 262 00:11:31,194 --> 00:11:32,574 did it like you guys get the same budget. 263 00:11:32,574 --> 00:11:35,125 And so like, I might get less presents at my kids ages. 264 00:11:35,125 --> 00:11:37,174 They get the same amount of presents cause they be counting. 265 00:11:37,175 --> 00:11:38,585 Let me tell you, they be counting. 266 00:11:38,935 --> 00:11:41,945 And so, um, This year, like everybody will get four presents 267 00:11:41,945 --> 00:11:45,045 plus their stocking and it gives them like an idea of what to ask for. 268 00:11:45,045 --> 00:11:46,405 So it's like, okay, what book do you want? 269 00:11:46,425 --> 00:11:47,505 What's something you need? 270 00:11:47,555 --> 00:11:50,565 What's something you just want, you know, like a Lego set or whatever, 271 00:11:50,825 --> 00:11:51,765 and then something to wear. 272 00:11:51,765 --> 00:11:54,835 So obviously they, they love the older girls, especially love clothes. 273 00:11:55,254 --> 00:11:56,465 And so, um, yeah. 274 00:11:57,030 --> 00:12:01,189 It's just like a fun, easy way to do holiday gifts where it keeps you in check. 275 00:12:01,199 --> 00:12:02,359 It keeps your finances in check. 276 00:12:02,369 --> 00:12:05,099 It's so easy to go into debt, to overspend for the holidays. 277 00:12:05,099 --> 00:12:07,930 And this has been like a fun tradition, um, for the kids. 278 00:12:07,930 --> 00:12:09,719 And then they all open each one at the same time. 279 00:12:09,719 --> 00:12:09,979 So like. 280 00:12:10,475 --> 00:12:14,075 I'm a big, like, I'm kind of hardcore about opening Christmas presents. 281 00:12:14,095 --> 00:12:15,055 We do not do a free for all. 282 00:12:15,095 --> 00:12:15,725 Absolutely not. 283 00:12:15,725 --> 00:12:16,955 We need to see what every person got. 284 00:12:17,545 --> 00:12:20,335 It's one at a time and I don't fucking care how long it takes. 285 00:12:20,344 --> 00:12:24,634 You will sit here and you will watch everybody else slowly and patiently open 286 00:12:24,635 --> 00:12:25,845 their present and then it's your turn. 287 00:12:25,845 --> 00:12:26,894 And then the next person's turn. 288 00:12:26,905 --> 00:12:30,205 And this is why also like I try to do like the same amount of gifts for each 289 00:12:30,205 --> 00:12:33,335 kid, because otherwise it's like, well, when he has four more presents to go 290 00:12:33,335 --> 00:12:36,245 and the rest of you are done and like, so then they lose interest and so on. 291 00:12:36,245 --> 00:12:36,495 So. 292 00:12:36,865 --> 00:12:40,425 Anyways, the last tradition that we do on, well, I'm sure there's other 293 00:12:40,425 --> 00:12:43,405 little random ones, but like the last one is we always do a birthday 294 00:12:43,405 --> 00:12:46,025 cake, um, on Christmas Eve for Jesus. 295 00:12:46,025 --> 00:12:49,935 So Jesus, we believe, um, that like Christmas is Jesus birthday. 296 00:12:50,165 --> 00:12:53,265 And so we do like, we, I'll make like a confetti cake and we blow it. 297 00:12:53,274 --> 00:12:54,784 Like we sing happy birthday, Jesus. 298 00:12:54,805 --> 00:12:57,295 And we blow out the candles and that's like our Christmas Eve dessert. 299 00:12:57,385 --> 00:13:00,574 So that's always like a fun little, and I let the kids help make it and whatnot. 300 00:13:00,885 --> 00:13:02,845 Um, and it's like a fun little tradition that they get to do. 301 00:13:02,845 --> 00:13:04,465 So we pick out the candles and the whole thing. 302 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:11,600 Um, and I am psycho and I take the tree down the night of Christmas. 303 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:13,240 I don't want to see it. 304 00:13:13,250 --> 00:13:16,069 If it's the 20 this year, we won't because I have the kids Christmas night, 305 00:13:16,500 --> 00:13:20,859 but it, if Christmas is over and the presents are unwrapped, I am done. 306 00:13:20,860 --> 00:13:23,380 I do not want to look at, usually it's been up since November 1st. 307 00:13:23,390 --> 00:13:24,069 So like I'm done. 308 00:13:24,069 --> 00:13:24,959 I don't want to look at anymore. 309 00:13:25,199 --> 00:13:26,050 It's time for new year's. 310 00:13:26,060 --> 00:13:27,100 It's time for a fresh start. 311 00:13:27,530 --> 00:13:31,224 Um, and we Take all the ornaments down, pack everything away, 312 00:13:31,255 --> 00:13:32,454 and then like clean the house. 313 00:13:32,464 --> 00:13:33,735 This is usually the day after Christmas. 314 00:13:33,735 --> 00:13:35,765 It's like a big house cleaning. 315 00:13:35,775 --> 00:13:38,214 Like we get, I shouldn't say I take the tree down. 316 00:13:38,214 --> 00:13:39,984 Some, most of the years we'll take all the ornaments down. 317 00:13:39,984 --> 00:13:42,474 And then the next day, like we'll do the whole tree and clean the whole 318 00:13:42,474 --> 00:13:44,274 house, put all of our gifts away. 319 00:13:44,305 --> 00:13:48,204 Otherwise they just absolutely sloth their way into the living 320 00:13:48,204 --> 00:13:49,264 room for the rest of the year. 321 00:13:50,004 --> 00:13:50,374 No. 322 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:56,630 Um, and I look forward to that day too, because it's like, you have 323 00:13:56,630 --> 00:13:59,770 this fresh start going into the new year, new year's, we never, like, 324 00:13:59,780 --> 00:14:01,280 we don't have crazy traditions. 325 00:14:01,290 --> 00:14:05,479 Usually we'll always do like a champagne or like, you know, sparkling cider toast. 326 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,390 The kids get like fancy glasses. 327 00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:09,199 We watched new year's Eve, the movie. 328 00:14:09,329 --> 00:14:13,230 And, um, like I asked the kids, like, what are your goals? 329 00:14:13,230 --> 00:14:14,339 Like, what do you want to do for the year? 330 00:14:14,339 --> 00:14:16,360 And like, you know, as they get older, they get more evolved. 331 00:14:16,370 --> 00:14:20,845 But, um, um, We, I would feel, I would say like New Year's traditions 332 00:14:20,845 --> 00:14:21,865 like really vary in our house. 333 00:14:21,865 --> 00:14:25,595 We haven't kind of found our niche in terms of that, but you bet your ass 334 00:14:25,595 --> 00:14:27,774 the Christmas tree is done zo by then. 335 00:14:27,855 --> 00:14:31,915 Um, so anyways, those are our holiday traditions. 336 00:14:32,095 --> 00:14:33,964 Like I said, I would love to hear yours. 337 00:14:34,005 --> 00:14:34,954 Please leave comments. 338 00:14:35,365 --> 00:14:36,525 Um, send me a DM. 339 00:14:36,545 --> 00:14:39,090 Like I think, I would, it would be fun to like compile a whole 340 00:14:39,090 --> 00:14:40,440 list of everybody's traditions. 341 00:14:40,780 --> 00:14:44,510 Um, and like I said before, like you really can create 342 00:14:44,510 --> 00:14:45,420 a tradition out of anything. 343 00:14:45,420 --> 00:14:46,789 It's like a repetitive behavior. 344 00:14:46,789 --> 00:14:49,610 And so if there's something where you're like, I'm just trying to create 345 00:14:49,610 --> 00:14:51,880 a tradition, start making the same thing on the same day, every year, 346 00:14:51,890 --> 00:14:55,219 start going to the same dinner place, ordering the same takeout food is a 347 00:14:55,219 --> 00:14:56,649 really easy way to build tradition. 348 00:14:56,700 --> 00:15:00,120 Um, you know, Christmas music, there's so many ways to do it. 349 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:03,730 Um, but it just takes intention and a little bit of magic. 350 00:15:03,780 --> 00:15:05,600 Um, and you really like. 351 00:15:05,810 --> 00:15:08,240 I think one of the best ways with kids and traditions is 352 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,199 really to just like play it up. 353 00:15:09,209 --> 00:15:11,250 Like, okay, it's jammy cocoa Christmas. 354 00:15:11,250 --> 00:15:13,199 Like make sure, like, you know, I hype it up. 355 00:15:13,199 --> 00:15:14,369 I make sure that they know it's coming. 356 00:15:14,370 --> 00:15:18,150 Like it just, it doesn't take a whole lot for kids to really find magic 357 00:15:18,150 --> 00:15:20,850 in the holidays and for us to find magic in the holidays, honestly. 358 00:15:20,850 --> 00:15:23,800 So Merry Christmas. 359 00:15:24,910 --> 00:15:26,530 Thanks for listening to the summer of me. 360 00:15:26,709 --> 00:15:29,599 You can listen to episodes on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to 361 00:15:29,599 --> 00:15:31,249 podcasts, or you can watch on YouTube. 362 00:15:31,849 --> 00:15:34,780 Come hang out and follow my chaos on Instagram at Kendra for now. 363 00:15:35,050 --> 00:15:35,540 See you next time.