'Tis the Season for Making Memories

Roast turkey and cranberry sauce, the holly and the ivy, ice cubes and Christmas trees…these are natural pairings at holiday time. The first two fit the Norman Rockwell image, but I may have surprised you with my Christmas trees on ice. They’re a regular combination at our house, our own family tradition. Years ago, my mother wanted help keeping the tree watered, but without the mess caused by little ones hauling water to the living room. Ice cubes, easily portable water, could be picked up when dropped and would melt in the tree stand, keeping the water supply regular. Mom could have tackled it herself, but she found a creative way to include us in the festivities of the holidays.

The winter holiday season is a great opportunity to renew customs that may already exist in your family as well as to establish new ones. They don’t need to be elaborate, only special to your family. Most important, they need to include the kids. Whether it is helping Papa cook Saturday morning pancakes or decorating Christmas cookies, my boys enjoy our family’s traditions, recall them later, and request repeat performances. The bulk of the fun is sharing the experience together. Here are suggestions for creating your own holiday customs. Personalize them to make unique memories with your family.

Go Light Looking. Who doesn’t enjoy the sparkle of colored lights against the winter night sky? Make an evening of taking in the sites. Do some research ahead of time and find the best locations your town has to offer. This month’s KC Parent calendar is full of lighting displays to enjoy all over the city! Some neighborhoods are known for their holiday light displays. Bring a map in case you get lost. Nothing can frustrate a driver more than going in circles looking for the right street.

One night last year we surprised the boys after they were all ready for bed. I prepared individual paper sacks of popcorn, grabbed a blanket for each, threw my husband the car keys, and loaded up the troops. They didn’t know what we were doing, so the suspense was part of the adventure. They loved it! After a few hours we ended our evening with a trip to Dairy Queen. It was a memory in the making and one we’ll repeat in years to come.

Make a Family Greeting Card. This tradition started for us one year when money was tight. Having a stash of scrapbook supplies, I decided to use what we had to make our Christmas cards. We enjoyed it so much that we’ve continued it, regardless of the budget. The design doesn’t need to be ornate. In fact, the simpler it is, the easier it will be for the kids to help assemble them. Create cards with simple cut-out paper shapes: a gingerbread man with ribbon around his neck, a circle for a tree ornament, or a black square of paper with three gold stars. You might even consider having an older child draw a holiday scene. Scan it and print small versions to glue to the front of cardstock.

Take an Annual Family Photo. It’s amazing to line up pictures from years past and see how your family has grown and developed over time. Babies are added, and addresses (and hairstyles) change over the years. Printed and framed, these photos make great gifts for the grandparents. To spice things up, vary your venue each time. When we lived in Santa Barbara, we posed among green plants and birds-of-paradise. Later, when we moved to the country of Kansas, we sat in the back of the pick-up with the barn as the backdrop. Try to capture on film some aspect of your life together that is significant to the year.

Bake and Decorate Cookies. Who doesn’t love cookies? Think back to the cookies of your childhood and dig up the recipes. Include your children in the preparation. Yes, there will be a mess, but they will have a blast and create great memories. Send the message that having a good time together is more important than spilled flour. Allow creativity to flow and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

We keep a list of the cookies we make each year and always include some old favorites as well as try a new recipe or two. One family favorite is creating a gingerbread nativity and the accompanying cookie people and animals to fill the stable.

Treasure Special Decorations. It’s amazing how children remember the special decorations that are displayed just one month a year. Often what makes them special are the stories that explain their origin. Your decorations don’t have to be complicated, family heirlooms. Take things that are special or that represent a unique experience and incorporate them into your holiday décor. We’ve made tree trimmings from vacation souvenirs, such as the extra key from our rental car in France back in our pre-kid days. Each year it hangs from the tree on a ribbon. Baby shoes, small framed pictures, and small toys can make memory-filled ornaments.

Hold a Festive Feast. Nothing conjures fond memories more than good food. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year’s, take time to make a festive meal. Repeating a recipe only occasionally makes it more special. Ask each family member what he likes best and try to incorporate it into the menu. Set a fancy table and the kids will know it’s a special occasion. Dine by candlelight and enjoy the moment – time spent with those sweet ones who belong to you.

This holiday season may you and your families enjoy creating new family memories to treasure and to pass on. Have a few laughs at the trial and error nature of it all and simply enjoy one another. And, if you have a real tree and toddlers, you may want to give that ice cube trick a try!

Jessica Fisher lives in Olathe. She and her husband share the joys of raising four young boys.