Before we get to today’s post, let me just encourage you US friends to get yourself to the polls today. It is Election Day and damn it, you deserve to make your voice heard. Your vote is important. So please please please, do your research before you go, show up with your post it note of who you’re going to vote for, and get your vote in. I spent an hour last week researching the candidates on my ballot and filling out my advanced ballot. I honestly enjoy this process so much understanding what candidates stand for and picking a person that I think is the best for the job they are running for. So go do your thing! Your voice matters. You matter!

Now onto some fun content…

This upcoming time of year always seems so full of traditions for many people! It’s such a great way to look forward to the season and its festivities. I’m sharing some of the traditions we’re planning on partaking in this holiday season, and I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday tradition is for the season in the comments!

The past couple of years, George, the Elf on a Shelf visits us starting on December 1. Last year, I got smart and purchased from a local mom-owned company an Elf kit for George to help me with fun activities for him to participate in over the season. Harrison loves finding George each morning, and I’m hoping this year, Jonathan may start to join in.

One of the things that George brings early in his visit is a new Christmas book for the boys to read during the holiday season.

We visit Santa! During the year of COVID, admittedly, we went without our Santa visit. But every other year, the boys go to visit the big guy and tell him what they want for Christmas!

We have a hot chocolate and Christmas movie night. Harrison is into the movies. Jonathan could care less.

We open our daily advent calendar. I’m going to incorporate a lot of our traditions into our daily advent calendar this year for the boys to open.

I host my annual holiday book club for my girlfriends! We usually do some type of gift exchange at the event. The past couple of years, we’ve done Secret Santa within the group. This year, we’re trying a White Elephant gift exchange where each person brings their favorite thing from the past year as their gift.

I pick out a family Christmas ornament for our tree that represents something important or memorable from the year, or incapsulates the year for us.

The boys help me make our holiday Chex mix at least once during the season, and we bake cookies for Santa. Then a few days before Christmas, I make homemade cinnamon rolls to give away to the neighbors for the holiday.

And of course, we set out cookies for Santa!

We send out Christmas cards to friends and family. And after Christmas just before the new year, I take all of the cards that we received over the holidays, re-read each one, and individually pray for that person or family for the upcoming year ahead. That may be most favorite tradition of the whole season to intentionally spend time praying for people that I usually don’t specifically pray for regularly.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions that you look forward to every year?