In No Particular Order: #Christmas #Traditions

In No Particular Order: #Christmas #Traditions

Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year in our home. I've always LOVED Christmas and work really hard to create family traditions for the kiddos. Here are some of our favorite Christmas traditions. 

Pictures with Black Santa

Here in North Carolina we have the great fortune of having Black Santa (http://www.blacksantaraleigh.com/). A wonderfully chocolate Santa for our little ones to snuggle up to and share their Christmas list. Last year was the first year B didn't cry! We've come a long way! Representation matters in our family so all of our Santas, angels and ornaments are African American. 

Family Photos and/or Christmas Inspired School Pictures for Christmas Cards 

Each year we take a family photo. This year, however, I decided to go with festive school portraits. I always order the digital photos and print online at Walmart.com. Walmart typically has the best prices and delivery methods. We take our family portraits at JC Penny. You can find great Groupons for JCP photos. I would suggest if choosing JCP that you are very hands-on with your studio process. Request the poses and backgrounds that you like. Speak up if you don't like photos and they will re-shoot them. Avoid weekends and aim for early morning appointments. 
                                            

Both kiddos took school photos with Lifetouch. I like that Lifetouch offers the ability to change the backgrounds in the school pictures. I hate the customer service process so please make sure your order is correct before you submit. I also found the digital photo delivery to be complex. Be sure to check your spam folders! 

Elf on The Shelf 

 We love our Elf of the Shelf! I was able to find the male and female African American Elves on the Shelf at Target last year. The Elf of the Shelf keeps an eye out for naughty behavior and reports back to Santa. Doesn't work for the big kid but definitely helps with the little guy. Plus the Elf on the Shelf is super cute!

Decorating the House 

Decorating the tree and our home is an absolute must at Christmas time! Christmas music on blast, fresh baked cookies and an argument or two make for a perfect December Saturday. I love to add the kiddos handmade crafts and family heirlooms. It's a merry-fest of love and light.

Build-A-Bear Haul 

I LOVE Build-a-Bear!  They have great deals at Christmas and we take the kiddos to make furry friends. It's a fun experience the entire family can enjoy. The stores are always festive and filled with children excited to bring their new friends to life. Look for coupons and special deals before your venture out. The accessory prices add up quickly! 

Merry Christmas!
Check out: https://blacksanta.com/