Christmas Traditions.. or lack there of

I have good intentions every year to start some Christmas traditions.. it always seems so important that I do but it never happens! I've looked at tree decorations for each kid that they would think were neat and either I can't find one for each one of the kids that they would like or they are over $10 a piece.. no thank you- scrap that idea! I've thought about pj's for each of the kids but in reality they would rather not even wear pajama's most of the year so that seems silly. Scouting and cutting down the perfect tree after Thanksgiving sounds fun but then I think about the hassle it is to even have a tree with babies and we end up getting one maybe a week and sometimes just a couple days before Christmas!

Am I a scrooge, lazy or just not creative? Are my kids deprived of the Christmas spirit??

I don't think so. I LOVE Christmas and what is represents and the joy it brings my family but I know what I can handle. I know that I won't be able to keep up these time consuming "traditions", I am realistic and refuse to put myself and my husband under an enormous amount of pressure so that we can say we did the same thing every year.. at all costs. I'm sure that I disappoint my kids enough with the little things in life like not getting the snack they wanted or not reacting the way they were hoping to a picture that they drew (these things both happened already today!) so I don't need one more chance to ruin their day by forgetting to move the elf on a shelf the night before :)

This year we are in a teeny, tiny house that was just supposed to be for a couple months while we looked for a big ole farm house to buy.. eight months later and here we still are! We have a tornado manifested in a 19 months old and we have no idea where our Christmas decorations are packed away to let alone the Christmas tree stand! Will this be the the "Christmas with no tree".. not sure, maybe. Will the kids be scarred for life and never forgive us.. I hope not!! We still love them and Christmas but a tree just might not happen this year.

As I think back on past Christmas I think that there has to be some traditions that have just happened without us trying and here is what I can come up with...

**Last year we started the "something to you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read" gift idea for the kids and we're doing to again this year.. they will each get 4 present. This actually made things easier for me and the kids knew what to expect so we are doing that again this year!

I think they look pretty happy, even with only 4 presents :)

**We have plans to go to church Christmas morning.. there have been a couple years that it didn't happen but for the most part we try very hard to be there... when they each only have 4 presents to unwrap it makes it easier to get us all ready and get there too!!

**2 years in a row our tree fell over.. awesome tradition- nice work honey :)

In the middle of dinner.. crash!

This time we lost some bulbs in the fall!!

We always spend lots of time with ALL of our family! This means we have usually have 6-8 parties to go to but we have so much fun with both sides of our families that its worth the running around to make it to everywhere :)

Christmas with the Eisenga's.. flap hats anyone??

I know my of lack of Christmas traditions (or trees) will make some people sad for us.. but don't be, because it's not that we can't afford a tree or even more presents but it just doesn't make or break Christmas for us. To all of you families that have killer traditions that you love.. more power to you- keep it up, do what you love,  but for me.. I'm done being jealous of those things that others do and will happily celebrate our lack of traditions or the ones that accidentally happen :)