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Spend a Minute with Millstone and Enter to Win a Keurig! (Winners Announced!)

Time’s up!

The winners of the Millstone and Keurig Giveaway are:

#328 Bridget: “My favorite tradition is taking my daughter to see a performance of the Nutcracker! =)

#835 Kathy Iverson: “My favorite holiday tradition is the my husband’s family sleepover on Christmas Eve! We all gather together at his sister’s home, we drink hot chocolate and everyone puts on their brand new jammies. When the kids go to sleep, the parents put out gifts and prepare for the morning! The whole family wakes and spends Christmas morning together!

#1280 Jennifer: “When I was growing up, my mom always made cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for us on Christmas morning. My husband always had a breakfast casserole. I have continued making his favorite casserole for Christmas morning.

Congratulations girls! What beautiful traditions. I’ve sent ya’ll an email. Merry Christmas!

To celebrate the holiday season, and the early mornings, family gatherings, and festive holiday parties that come with it, the awesome folks at Millstone would like to invite you to take a well deserved break and “Spend a Minute with Millstone” by enjoying a perfectly brewed cup of Millstone coffee in your own brand new Keurig Elite Brewing System. I’m so excited to share this with you guys today, I absolutely love my Keurig! It’s perfect for newlyweds, the occasional coffee drinker, and coffee junkies alike. It’s great to have on hand because you can easily offer your guests a freshly brewed cup of coffee, ready in literally seconds, without having to brew an entire pot. Of course you know the Hazelnut Cream flavor from Millstone is my favorite! I’ve got not one, not two, but three of these fabulous giveaway packages to give away today, courtesy of Millstone.

 

The Giveaway

Three (3) Kevin and Amanda readers will win the following items:

  • Three (12-count) boxes of Millstone K-Cups in Breakfast Blend, Foglifter© and Hazelnut Cream
  • Crate and Barrel coffee cup
  • Keurig Elite Brewing System
  • $25 American Express Gift Card

 

How to Enter

To be entered to win the Millstone giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post:  In honor of the holidays, I would love for you to tell me about your favorite holiday tradition. I can’t wait to read all about them! :)

Contest ends Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 8 pm CST. One entry per person, please. Winners will be chosen by Random.org and notified by email. Giveaway provided by Millstone.

More from Millstone. Now through December 27, Millstone invites you to enter for the chance to win a Grand Prize of $10,000, a Keurig Brewer, and a 1-year supply of Millstone K-Cup Portion Packs.  By entering, you also have the chance to win weekly prizes for a $100 grocery gift card, a Keurig Brewer, and a 1-month supply of Millstone K-Cup Portion Packs. Visit www.millstone.com for full contest details.

 

Good luck!!!

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1,726 Responses
  1. sharon rittler

    Every year my son asks for rather expensive gifts like computers, game systems etc. I’ll tell him that we can’t afford to get that one thing he wants and make him believe that. Then, of course we do get it and completely surprise him! We hide it in another room of the house and not under the tree so he opens all the small gifts first and he thinks he’s not getting the big one. Then, tell him to go get something in the room his big gift is in and he’s sooooo happy and excited! It’s the best! I know it’s kinda mean, but he falls for it every year! You gotta get a little creative when they are too old to believe in Santa :} Thanks for the chance to win!

  2. Laura

    My family would always start with reading the birth of Christ from a few passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Then we would pray for one another. THEN we would stand in a line going up the stairs youngest to oldest….my mom would take a picture….and bam we all ran up the stairs to set our eyes on a million presents stacked under the Christmas tree and three feet from it, because I am one of six so my parents couldn’t fit them all under the tree.

  3. Elena

    On Christmas day we gather at my mom’s and have a big meal! I always tend to feel a pain in my stomach at night due to all of that chocolate!

  4. Haris

    Hi all!
    On Christmas Eve, we gather at my parents house, next to the fireplace, and we play games! So lovely… My eyes are full of tears even now that i am thinking of it, since my parents slowly slowly get older…

  5. sarah

    Every single Christmas day is tradition…wake up, read the stoory of Jesus’ birth. Open presents. Go over grandparents and have fun with the family! Love it and sooo many woonderful memories i have thru the yearrs! :)

  6. Trisha Brown

    My favorite holiday tradition is at my grandma’s house she hides a nut in the dessert and whoever gets it wins $10. It’s so fun to see so into their dessert trying to be the lucky winner.

  7. Ashley

    My favorite holiday tradition is turning up the Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa and decoration the Christmas tree with the family.

  8. kph

    My favorite tradition is celebrating a big family meal on Christmas Eve and then heading to church for Midnight Mass. It’s a long and late service but always so beautiful!

  9. Birdena Starline

    For the past 30 years, ( hard to believe) my girlfriend, Marsha and I bake sugar cookies and decorate them. We try to get elaborate with them but drinking wine and baking tend to make them just good….not good looking! I cherish this tradition. Our families do too. I wish you and your readers a very Merry Christmas!

  10. Rochelle

    My favorite holiday tradition was going to my great-grandmothers house and sitting around the table making tamales, laughing, crying, arguing, and making up in the end. This something I would look forward too every year.

  11. Jennifer S

    my favorite holiday tradition is spending Christmas eve with my entire Maternal side of my family and playing white elephant Christmas as well as stuffing our bellies until we pop.
    Merry Christmas Kevin & Amanda!

  12. me and the dogs

    Each season. we drive in to Salt Lake City to see the wonderful light displays..on the way home we wind around a few neighborhoods to enjoy the decorations.

  13. Cassie Tucker

    My favorite holiday tradition is the one we have Christmas day. We get up early and open presents, we then go and put Christmas music on (before it was CD’s and someone had to man the CD player but now we just shuffle on iTunes), and we make a HUGE Christmas dinner that of course everyone falls asleep after. HOWEVER, this year we are doing things different and instead of a huge dinner we’re going to be doing Christmas breakfast, hope it goes well *fingers crossed*.

  14. Bridget Brown

    My favorite Christmas traditions are all centered around midnight Mass (really AT midnight). As a child and then with our children that would be in our parish church. In later years that same tradition at a wonderful monastery, followed by delicious treats with the Sisters. Christmas morning always began with the delightful smell of cinnamon from baking sweet rolls enjoyed as gifts were being opened with a choice of piping hot coffee, cocoa or orange juice and champagne.

    This Christmas I look forward to enjoying my children’s own traditions with my first grandchild Elizabeth Ann!

    A wonder-filled and blessed Christmas to you and all your readers…

  15. Kay Mitchell

    I love my Keurig. We finally broke down and bought one. I am really picky about countertop space but this is so worth it. Does anyone have influence with Millstone? I want the Peppermint coffee to be in the Christmas set. I love the Hazelnut but can’t I have it all?

  16. Cary Jenkins

    What a wonderful giveaway! I need, need, need that!
    I guess my favorite part of Christmas is just the family being together, laughing, sitting in front of the fire, and eating until we are all sick!!
    Merry Christmas to y’all!!

  17. DianeM

    My favorite tradition is to give my son most of his gifts before Christmas…because I can’t wait! I have to save at least one for Christmas Day, though. Merry Christmas!

  18. felicia nguyen

    My favorite things to do for the holidays is SPEND it with my family…I come from a family of 9 kids and it is wonderful having everyone home and over at my parents house…we all cook and just sit and eat then we all play game…I now have over 40 nieces n nephews so it is so so MUCH FUN
    felicialetran@yahoo.com

  19. Jessica Y.

    What an awesome giveaway, especially this time of year. Nothing like a fresh cup of coffee to warm you up on a cold day. My all time favorite tradition is Christmas Eve celebrated with a fabulous dinner with family followed by attending candlelight service at our church, coming home and getting cozzied in for the night. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

  20. bo h.

    We spend Christmas Eve with my husbands family and Christmas with mine. I now have a daughter so I am excited to create new traditions.

  21. meghan

    My favorite Christmas tradition are the cookies! We have our staples, but try something new each year. My favorite Christmas cookies are Russian Tea Cakes!

  22. Heather

    My favorite tradition is watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ with my family on Christmas Eve. It’s such a wonderful, heartwarming movie!

  23. Jamie

    A Keurig! I would love to win one of these for my in-laws. My favorite childhood tradition is staying up with my family until midnight on Christmas Eve and then opening all our presents. Since we get more gifts the next day I loved having two days of presents!

  24. Michele

    Our favorite tradition is gathering with the parents, children, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews and celebrating Chrismukkah. We are a ‘mixed’ family and have so much fun with both Hanukkah and Christmas traditions. We range in age from 77 years to 2 years young, and there are plenty of laughs, food and fun. Happy Holidays to you and yours! :)

  25. Nicola

    i love the baking traditions. our family has built up quite the collection of treats that “have” to be made!

  26. niki

    My favorite holiday tradition is to visit a neighboring community that offers free Christmas trolley rides throughout the town to see the big ole Victorian homes all lit up for the holidays, does a drive-through nativity scene at a church, then drops you off to a Christmas village to visit with Santa!

  27. Megan

    I enjoy opening the mailbox and finding all the pretty cards addressed to me. It seems the only mail I get these days are bills!

  28. Marlo Dunlop

    Thanks for having the giveaway. Our tradition is to watch Christmas Vacation on Christmas Eve. We have lots of snacks, laughs, always lots of fun!!!

  29. Ann

    We began this tradition with the birth of our 2 year old girl/boy twin grandchildren! On Christmas Day, everyone in our family describes the day and any special memories in our Christmas Memory Book. It is already so much fun to look back and see what eveyone said about the babies just 2 short years ago!

  30. zaara

    Thanks for the giveaway.Our tradition is to have all the family over and just enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Its extremely exciting to look forward to see all the faces that we haven’t seen in a while!!!!!

  31. Emily McManus

    Love the blog! My favorite tradition is my little sister and I rolling out our quilts on the cold hardwood floor (right next to the tree) and opening up gifts with the family in order of youngest to oldest. It ends up lasting all day!

  32. Corrine

    We always go to Church on Christmas Eve with my children and the Grandparents. Then, we have a nice sit down dinner with Christmas China that was my Grandmothers. We open Christmas presents while listening to Christmas music.

  33. melissa albert

    Wow! There are so many things I love about Christmas. We have a Christmas tree decorating tradition … an order that we put different type and different size ornaments on and where. It yields, in my bias opinion, the prettiest trees I’ve seen. My sis and i continue the tradition with the trees ino ur homes now. We make snickerdoodle cookies, peanut butter balls and turtles. We put our stockings up Christmas Eve, go to mass Christmas Eve, open gifts in the AM, have a BIG breakfast with eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon and english muffins and then spend the day visiting with family. Dinner usually involves turkey and stuffing :-) And, one of my other fave things is that my whole life Christmas has always involved buying gifts for needy kids to make sure they have a special day too! My parents always instilled the concept of giving back, something for which I am grateful!

  34. Jenny Kwitowski

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking all my christmas cookies to give out to family and friends. They all love getting tins of assorted cookies and I love trying them all out – cookie dough is the best!

  35. Leslie

    My favorite holiday tradition is definitely the traveling dinner we have on the street I grew up on. We have appitizers at one house, then salad at another then dinner at another and end at another house with dessert and carrolling, I love it!

  36. Carlee

    Ours is as simple as decorating the tree. Every year my son can’t wait to study all the ornaments from years past and the memories that go along with them.

  37. Yuri

    What a great giveaway! Our tradition is actually on New Years Day. In Japanese culture, the first meal of the year is a huge feast and is really important. :)

  38. Carolyn

    Like a couple of other commenters, my family does the pickle ornament! It’s a fun little way to kick off the gift-opening and the kids love it!

  39. Pat Henderson

    Our favorite tradition involves making candy and giving it to those in our neighborhood who are sick or elderly AND attending the candle light Christmas Eve service at our church.

  40. Lynn

    My kids and grandkids favorite holiday tradition is stockings! They rip through their packages then they have to wait until after breakfast for stockings. My kids say they would give up presents before they would give up stockings!!

  41. Stacy

    Favorite holiday tradition: hosting a Christmas party for just my husband! I love getting or making all his favorite foods.

  42. Rachel

    Oooo, this is a FANTASTIC prize!!! :)

    Our holiday tradition: watching it’s a wonderful life and eating meats & cheeses (can you tell I’m from Iowa ;))?

  43. Diane

    One of my favorite family traditions is waking up at 5 or 6am as a child with my little brother and organizing everyone’s presents into piles!

    -Diane

  44. Jen

    Spending quality time with my husband’s family on Christmas Eve then all day with my family on Christmas. Love this time of year and celebrating the birth of Jesus!

  45. Madison

    We love decorating the Christmas tree and hanging the stockings. We also love leaving milk, carrots, and home made cookies for Santa!

  46. Jessica

    Christmas Eve at my grandma’s house! We get to open one present and reminisce about memories from previous years! :)

  47. Julie Chunn

    Every Christmas Eve since I was a little girl, my dad would get out the old popcorn tin and read my sister and I The Night Before Christmas story. Now that I don’t live close to them anymore I plan on having my father read it to me over the phone. Some traditions just can’t be broken :)

  48. kathleen

    I love getting together with the in laws. Everyone goes over to mom and dad’s and we all have a nice dinner and all the cousins play together. It is so awesome!

  49. Pam Frank

    Love cooking the Christmas dinner and being with family. Watching my grand
    daughter open her gifts. Thanks for this giveaway. Love your blog.

  50. Jenna m

    Ooo.. Almost missed this! My favorite tradition is Santa putting the stockings at the end of each childs bed so they can open them in the morning. Buys about an extra 15 -20 minutes of sleep!

  51. Christy Skertchly

    My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas dinner. The one time a year everybody is happy and enjoying each other and food. Food is probably the reason we’re so nice to each other

  52. Molly W.

    One of my favorite holiday traditions is baking with my daughters. We make different things every year, but cut-out cookies are a staple!

  53. Tia

    Thanks for the chance to enter this contest! My favorite tradition is opening just one present each on Christmas Eve! :)

  54. Cindy S

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a Keurig. We have one at school. Everyone can make their favorite kind of coffee. My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree and reminiscing about where all of the different ornaments came from. I also love continuing my grandmother’s tradition of making boiled custard and Mexican Wedding Cookies.

  55. Maya alvarez

    My favorite Christmas memory/ tradition was my sister waking me up early Christmas morning, running downstairs to see santa had come to or house, and seeing that even the reindeer came in! Mom would always get our puppies paws and dip them into the soot from the fireplace and carefully walk them around our brick fireplace next to our cookie tray/ carrots.. I always left santas reindeer carrots.

  56. Josie

    My husband and I wanted to start some traditions with our two little girls, so we drive around and look at Christmas lights while drinking hot coco. When we get home we read the Night Before Christmas. It’s a little cliche, but it’s a tradition they look forward to every year now!
    We also enjoy going to the movie theatre on Christmas Day with the whole family.

  57. Kelly

    One of my favorite traditions is lighting a scented candle, turning on the Christmas music, and baking an array of holiday treats with my family.

  58. emily

    my favorite holiday tradition is going to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve. Our whole family goes every year.

  59. Lindsey

    Thank you for this opportunity! My favorite christmas tradition is lunch at my grandmothers. It’s the only time of the year that I get to see my WHOLE family. It’s very special.

  60. Faith

    My favorite tradition is Christmas morning breakfast of homemade cinnamon buns with coffee-which would be great from the Keurig!

  61. Nannette

    My favorite holiday tradition is one we do on Christmas Eve. Each of us opens one gift which is always pajamas followed by a “family gift” my children open which is a game we can play together. We then take our showers, put on our new pajamas, and spend the rest of the evening playing the game while “A Christmas Story” plays on the TV repetitively.

    Merry Christmas everyone!

  62. Jacks

    When I was little we hung our stockings up when we put up our Christmas tree and sometime between then and Christmas Eve, the stockings would be filled and the top would be sewn shut. (we obviously didn’t do Santa) It was so great! It was fun to feel the stocking and try to figure out what was inside! My husband and I do the same thing now except that we don’t sew them shut as we have much better self-control! :)

  63. Olivia

    Would love the Keurig! I waste a lot of coffee now. One of my favorite traditions is Christmas baking. I love baking cookies with our three girls.

  64. Suzanne

    While the kids are at school, I take one morning to sit in front of our Christmas tree with a cup of coffee, turn on a Christmas movie and wrap presents, enjoying my own little quiet time tradition!

  65. Emma G.

    All of my mom’s family go to her parents’ house and open up presents. There are a lot of us, so it’s usually around 1 am when we finish. We make a big breakfast and eat it before we drive home so Santa can come.

  66. Cortney

    Our favorite holiday tradition is as follows….
    First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookiedough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle. :)

    Obviously watching Elf has become one of our fave traditions :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  67. michelle thiesen

    thanks for letting us have a chance to win this..wow..I’ve heard some good stuff about this machine..mmm coffee my favorite..: ) spending time with friends and family and talking about old times..

  68. RUTHANN

    Thanks for the chance to win! I love the traditional music, church services and of course the cookies and candy. Family is so important this time of the year!

  69. Christy Sturgill

    My favorite Christmas tradition is waking up at the crack of dawn and listening to my mother read the Christmas Story from my grandmother’s old bible…we have done this as long as I can remember, and now that I have a family of my own….we gather around the tree first thing in the morning before opening presents to listen her read it….but now it’s my tree!

  70. Lynne

    My favorite tradition for Christmas was started by my parents when my sister and I were young. Every year, near Christmas, we would go out one night, grab neighbors, whoever wanted to go, and go caroling around the neighborhood.
    Now we are grown, as are our children, and we still try to carol, only now, we are piled in an SUV, instead of walking. JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME…

  71. melyssa

    my favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies for our neighbors & friends. This year my two little boys helped:) so much fun!!

  72. Erin

    My favorite holiday tradition is going to the Macy’s parade in downtown Seattle on Black Friday with my family. Rain or Shine we end up going and having a blast together, along with the rest of the crowds downtown!

  73. Diane

    I love everything about Christmas!! I especially love going to church Christmas eve and then spending time with my family…this year is even more special because of my 18 month old granddaughter!!

  74. Anna N

    our tradition every year is to do both the “fun” Christmas things: have a tree, stockings, opening gifts on Christmas morning; while still celebrating the religious aspects: Christmas mass, the nativity scene, etc. I hope that my girls will understand and enjoy both sides of the holiday and take that with them when they start their own families (but not for a long, long LONG time) :o)

  75. Rachel

    As a military family, our traditions seem to change year to year. We always do a lot of Christmas baking and making crafts with the kids. Many years, we make trips back to our home town to visit family, and the years that my husband is home, we’re just so thankful to be together.

  76. Barbara

    My favorite Christmas memory with my family is drinking eggnog while decorating my grandpa’s Christmas tree and watching all the old classics, like Rudolph, Grinch, and Frosty. This memory is particularly treasured since he is no longer with us. Christmas just isn’t the same without him.

  77. Melissa R.

    My favorite holiday tradition is giving each member of my family a gag gift before their actual gift. Their facial expressions, especially on my nephews, is priceless! Happy Holidays to you and yours Amanda!

  78. Vanessa

    oooooh! I have wanted a keurig forever!

    My family used to have big holiday traditions until there was some drama between family members. Now we usually just meet up eat, and exchange gifts. I am sad there are no more big traditions though!

  79. Miranda Ochocki

    The females in my family (grandma, mom, aunt, cousin and myself) get together for an annual cookie bake where we usually make over 100 dozen cookies in one afternoon in one kitchen with one oven!

  80. Alyssa

    Favorite holiday tradition? Digging into my Gramp’s Italian Christmas cookies… he’s 82 and typically makes over 1000 cookies each year. He’s a champ.

  81. Giavanna Rivera

    This giveaway is awesome! It’s just me and my mom for the holidays, but we always make sure to spend lots of time together since I’m back home from college for winter break. We watch all the classic movies (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and we catch up on our favorite show- “Jeopardy!”. We also cook a really nice meal for Christmas.

  82. Evelyn

    On Christmas Eve we always have snacks and watch old Christmas movies. I believe that is my favorite part of the holidays:)

  83. H~M

    My immediate family goes to church Christmas Eve and then has a big buffet meal for a late night supper! It’s always so fun and a great time together!

  84. Tricia

    My favorite holiday tradition growing up was waiting to hear Christmas music playing in the morning. This was our cue that it was time to come downstairs and open presents. Can’t wait to start a family of my own and continue the tradition!

  85. Alycia W

    My favorite tradition is building gingerbread houses with my kids. It’s so fun to watch their little face light up and to try and get MORE candy on the house than in their tummies. They always win but it’s a lot of fun!

  86. Lorinda Wike

    Hi~
    My favorite tradition is our annual Christmas Eve fondue–we do meats, cheeses, chocolate, etc. Our parents started this for us when I was about 5 (35 yrs ago) and it has become our favorite part of the holidays. We’ve invited friends and extended family over the years to join us and now, its a huge event that lots of people look forward to. Sadly, we won’t be doing it this year as my Mom, the center of our Christmas, passed away suddenly in October. It’s too hard for us this year but we look forward to continuing it next year:-)
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!! And, for the record, I’ve been wanting Keurig forever…Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win one!!!!

  87. Shaunah Turley

    My favorite thing is decorating the tree and house and ever time you pull something out of the box it tells a story..”remember this, mom…” I love that!

  88. Haley

    My eyes opened to the Keurig world today when my aunt fixed me THE MOST AMAZING COFFEE I have ever had!! I want one so badly for college! (: My favorite Holiday tradition would be skiing every year with my family and then coming home to watch Christmas shows and drink cocoa! (:

  89. dena wipprecht

    My favorite holiday tradition is our family christmas eve party where we sit in a huge circle n give our gifts to one another 1 at a time, everyone gets a gift even if your a guest ( $1 store gifts welcome) the point is to make everyone feel welcome to our families home! Its so cute to see the little ones give out their dollar store gifts, lets them know at an early age it is better to give than to receive !! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

  90. Carolyn H

    My favorite holiday memory lies around spending time with my family… going to midnight vigil and then waking up at 7 a.m. to open presents… smelling the fresh coffee brewing and the breakfast feast my mother prepared

  91. Amy

    My favorite Christmas tradition is making breakfast Christmas morning while listening to some good Christmas music. Cinnamon Rolls + Christmas = :)

  92. Sue

    In our home we have two trees….one is decorated with an assortment of ornaments some made by our kids and grandkids, some we have collected during our travels with the one we purchased on our honeymoon front and center. This is where we put the presents. The Angel Tree is dedicated to Jesus and has our Nativity underneath.

  93. Carly

    My parents used to hide our stockings the night before Christmas and my brother and I would have to follow a trail of clues to find them… but we only got the first clue when we brought them coffee in the morning :) now I can’t wait to do that someday with my own kids!

  94. Angela

    My favorite tradition is making Christmas cookies with my grandmother. She can’t really do anything any more, than read me the recipe, but I still love to go to her house and cook :) I’m headed there now, in fact!

  95. Lauren Betancourt

    Hi =D
    I’ve been reading a few comment and they’re all so sweet! There really is nothing like spending time with family. Our family tradition is that we have an “Ugly sweater party”.. I’m 21 now and we’ve been doing this since I was little. On Thanksgiving we pick out names from a hat, whoever’s name you get you must go out and buy an ugly christmas sweater for.. We Wear them on Christmas Eve and just enjoy the night. One of my Uncles always dresses up in a Santa suit and literally gets on the roof ringing a bell to surprise all the kids, it’s toooo cute! I love seeing their faces light up. Happy Holidays to all! =D

  96. Amie

    Our tradition has always been christmas pjs on christmas eve. This year we started the Elf on the Shelf and have had lots of fun with it. Its definately going to be a tradition we do every year in this family :)

  97. abby

    My favorite holiday tradition is going out to dinner on Christmas eve with my parents and younger brother. I never get to see them so it’s something I look forward to all year!

  98. Leslie

    Our Christmas starts with Christmas Eve at my Dad’s side of the family then continues Christmas morning with presents with the hubby at our house, then off to my parents, his parents and my Mom’s side for dinner. It’s a busy two days but oh-so-fun! We’re lucky to have most of our family within a few miles.

  99. Michelle

    What a wonderful opportunity, thank you! My favorite tradition has to be my brother dressing up as Santa and surprising my nieces and nephews in the middle of the night with gifts. Seeing them so overjoyed is what the holidays are about for me.

  100. sabrina isaac

    Merry Christmas to you all ! My favorite holiday tradition is opening new PJ’s on Christmas EVE to wear them and open presents in them in the morning. To me its the simple things. we are all together in our new comfy pjs.

    Sabrina

  101. Shannon

    Oh, how I’d love to win this! My favorite Christmas tradition is making gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. When I was younger, I used to get so excited. They are so much fun. Now that I’m an adult and don’t live with my parents anymore, I still make one every year! I just had a baby in August and I can’t wait for her to be able to join in on the fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you! :)

  102. Blair

    We bake spritz cookies, and watch The Shining (mini-series version). This version of the movie is 2 disks long and MUCH better than the Stanley Kubrick version (sorry Jack Nicholson)! I’d love to win the prize because today is my Bday! Thanks for the chance.

  103. Stephanie S

    Our first son was born this past October. We have started a new family tradition of a real xmas tree going to the farm and cutting it down ourselves. It was magical.

  104. Kristin

    My favorite holiday tradition is opening presents on Christmas morning. We have 20 people there, an absurd amount of presents, and it takes us 5 hours because we go one present at a time. I love it!

  105. Nicola

    I love that instead of Christmas dinner, my family makes a huge delicious brunch to eat after presents and then we have cheese and wine in the evening. It’s delicious.

  106. Ann Katherine

    Every Christmas day at my church, we have a Christmas service at 2:30 P.M. It’s so much fun after the service because we have a great party. All the men bring their favorite coffee, hot chocolate, or apple cider, and the women bring their favorite cookies. It’s a great day to see each other on this wonderful holiday without feeling so stressed to get a present for everyone. Our preacher’s wife owns a cupcakery, and she brings a huge amount of cupcakes every year!

  107. Amanda

    Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite Christmas tradition is having appetizers and cookies while playing board games on Christmas Eve with my family!

  108. Janie Hyde

    I love the holidays. We have a formal dinner on Christmas eve and we read the Christmas story from Luke and the kids act it out. On Christmas day we open our presents and have delicious snacks and we just play together all day and we all tell what we are giving to Jesus for Christmas this year.

  109. Loralei

    We open one gift every Christmas Eve! It helps my kids contain their excitement until the next morning. If they get something like a board game or new game for the Wii, we take it with us to our family gathering that night to play.

  110. Georgia

    Every Christmas Eve, my grandmother, my cousin, my mother, and I all make cookies. That night, everyone comes over to my grandmothers house, and we eat the cookies, ham, and other holiday foods. My uncle owns a coffee shop in town, so we all drink some of his ‘gourmet’ coffee. Since he moved to Italy this summer, we can’t do that!

  111. theurbanbaker

    Although chaotic, I do love the holidays. We celebrate by baking and making candy, tempering chocolate and wrapping all of it up for family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and the homeless. The first night of Hannukah is filled with a huge meal, candle lighting, and family. After dinner we drive 20 miles to Santa Clause Lane to see all the gorgeous christmas lights! X-mas day is always a movie and a trip to Chinatown for a delish meal. Happy Holidays!

  112. Meri Violette

    My favorite traditon is celebrating St.Nicholas Day on December 6th. It reminds us of the real St.Nick who brought gold coins, toys, and clothes to the little children. We buy the gold coin candy, an ornament (instead of a toy), and clothes that we need not want. It’s also a great way to get us all in the spirit of Christmas!

  113. Mimi Miller

    My daughter is almost three and is just now understanding the holiday thing, great time to start new traditions. One thing I did this year was go through all her toys together and choose the ones she would donate to kids who were not as lucky as she is.

  114. Katy

    Our family tradition is going to our Christmas Eve service and coming home to a giant spread of appetizers. It is so yummy & so much fun! We love trying out new recipes.

  115. Stephanie

    Christmas Eve dinner of crab legs and homemade Swedish meatballs followed by presents from the family, a game of Monopoly with hot cocoa, and then waking up to our stockings filled by Santa. :)

  116. Jill

    Eating cuban food on Christmas Eve : mojo pork, black beans and rice, yucca, and plantains. Of course spending time with my family too!

  117. Jodi

    Great giveaway!

    I have my nieces over every year for a gingerbread decorating party. They each get a house to decorate. They’re old enough now that they don’t need help piping icing or putting on sprinkles, so I mainly watch and take pictures. This will be our 11th year. It’s such a fun day for them — and for me!

  118. victoria

    oooooooo wouldn’t this be perfect to add under my tree!!! christmas season is among my favorites. traditions i love: cutting down and trimming our tree, late night wrapping, peppermint mocha, stockings hung by the chimney w/ care…

  119. Doris

    Since I was a small child, my parents took me and my sister out to dinner every Christmas Eve. We would all dress up. It was something I always looked forward too. After my sister and I got married, the husbands were then invited out to dinner. All paid by my father. When kids arrived they were invited too. My father passed away in 1996. My mother carried on the tradition and treated us all to Christmas Eve dinner at the same restaurant. My mother passed away in 1999. I’m proud to say my husband and I are carrying on the tradition. We take our kids and their kids out on Christmas Eve. Hopefully it will be a tradition that carries on for generations to come.

  120. Catherine

    Every year, as a family, we pick out a new ornament to add to our tree that perfectly reflects the most memorable thing about that year. This year we welcomed another baby boy :)

  121. Rachel B

    We all get together for chili and wild rice soup on christmas eve and then have a big christmas lunch on christmas day! Oh and we love watching the Chirstmas Story marathon all day!

  122. Charlene Lucas

    Anything to do with being with family or friends. I do a lot of baking, too. And I enjoy sharing with those that enjoy it. :)

  123. Karen

    We always have a big dessert spread at midnight of the 24th, AFTER we’ve already had dinner. Can’t wait to be going home and being with my whole family this year! It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together. And now that I have a baby, I’m excited to start our very own family traditions as well.

  124. Katherine R.

    What a great giveaway! I love the traditions of all of us “kids” waiting on the stairs for our parents to be ready to go down and see the tree on Christmas morning. Also we always have hot chocolate. =)

  125. Sara

    My favorite Christmas tradition is baking cuccidatis with my Grandma and Mom. This year we taught my daughter how to make them too. Four generations of bakers in one home = favorite Christmas tradition :)

  126. Teresa

    My favorite Christmas Eve tradition is gifting the kids PJs. They absolutely love it! My favorite Christmas Day tradition is eating my mom’s unbelievably delicious lasagna! Merry Christmas everyone!

  127. Janie H

    Church on Chrismas Eve, followed by Beef Fondue with all the great sauces for dinner. Christmas Day opening presents while smelling Sausage and Egg Casserole! Bliss.

  128. Lauren

    One of my favorite traditions is baking a gazillion things with my family because we get to spend time together and of course eat all of the delicious things later.

  129. Misty Sutton

    Thank you for offering this giveaway! One of our favorite holiday traditions actually involves coffee :) Every Christmas morning after opening gifts my husband and my mom make everyone very strong irish coffees to start the morning- everyone is very merry by 10am!

  130. Betsy

    Christmas Eve is spent with my parents and my brothers family. Christmas morning is just my family. We get to sleep in because my daughters have never been morning people and we leisurely have breakfast while opening our gifts. It usually takes a couple of hours.

  131. J. Mies

    Mass on Christmas Eve followed by opening presents at my in laws. My mom always does breakfast Christmas morning. Then the day spent with family.

  132. Katy

    My favorite holiday tradition as a kid was getting to pick out a present on Christmas Eve to open. Now, since getting married, I enjoy decorating the house with my hubby while listening to Christmas music and getting to spend time with both sets of our families!

    Merry Christmas!

  133. Alice

    My favorite tradition is having fresh squeezed OJ and warm cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning while opening stockings.

  134. Karla

    One of our traditions is to make Christmas cookies! As in sugar cookies with the dough rolling and decorating with frosting and sprinkles! It’s what I’m doing this afternoon!

  135. Cindy Davis

    One of our favorite traditions is getting our children (we have three) a Christmas ornament for whatever they are into that year. We’ve done first five baby years, ballet shoes, Harry Potter, gymnastics, soccer, backpacks, The Rockettes, lunch boxes, Blues Clues, pom poms, Twilight, Tom and Jerry, Hannah Montana, tap shoes, etc. It is so fun to relive all of the memories every year as we decorate the tree. Our oldest is 15, so we have lots of fun memories!! Thanks and Merry Christmas, Amanda!!!

  136. Jodie P.

    Happy Holidays!

    We always get together Christmas morning and make Eggs Benedict (with homemade hollandaise) served with half sliced peaches in champagne glasses…in champagne of course! It’s just one of a number of things we do every year…

    Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

  137. Kate

    this is such a wonderful give away, thank you! My family seems to make new traditions every year–so I guess that’s our tradition! This afternoon we’re having a little family linner!

  138. Tracey

    Mimosas in the hot tub after the gift opening on Christmas morning! Sadly, we moved this year and no longer have our hot tub, but I will be making mimosas. :)

  139. Clare Purvis

    My favorite holiday tradition is grabbing a cup of Starbucks hot chocolate and driving around with my family to look at Christmas lights!

  140. Vicki

    Love the holidays and the time with family. Christmas is my favorite because of what it represents and the joy that the kids get with their gifts they receive.

  141. Marissa

    Thanks for a chance to enter! My favorite memories are definitely from back when I was a kid at home with my parents. My Dad passed away this year, so this is my first Christmas without him…I’m so blessed to have cherished memories of wonderful childhood Christmases.

  142. Margo Kimble

    We always get to open two presents on Christmas Eve, and one is ALWAYS a new set of pajamas. :) I would LOOOOVVEEEE to win this coffee maker! I’ve heard nothing but good things about it!

  143. Shannon

    oh what a fun giveaway!
    Our (my husband and me) traditions are new as we have only been together for two Christmases, this one being our third. He is from Poland, and we usually have a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner followed by board games and an annual Christmas photo with our tree and us all dressed up.
    I am beginning a new tradition this year with his family who all live in different countries. I sent them some homemade beeswax candles and our plan is to all light them on Christmas together (at the same time, thank you Skype) to remember loved ones and friends who are no longer with us.

  144. Erika P

    My favorite holiday tradition is the wrapping paper “snowball” fight that my whole family participates in around the Christmas tree in my grandparents living room.

    PS. I just found your blog through Pinterest, and I think it’s wonderful! I’ll definitely be referring back to all your camera tips posts!

  145. Tasha

    Wow, what an awesome giveaway. My favorite holiday tradition growing up was going out for hot chocolate, french fries and onion rings at about 10 pm on Christmas Eve with my brother, cousin, uncle and grandma. It was a great way to relax in the midst of all the running and bustling. Happy Holidays!

  146. Kristyn

    Another wonderful giveaway!

    I’d say my favorite holiday tradition is spending the day, at home, with my husband at making a nice meal. We’re very much homebodies, but we love to spend quiet holidays together. I also love to go see my family, though they’re far away.

    Merry Christmas, Amanda, I hope yours is great!!

  147. Kim Eisenhard

    I am one of 3 sisters and we would wake up so early for Christmas. Our parents, in order to let them sleep longer, would allow us to open our stockings first in our room. All 3 of us would gather in one bedroom and open our stocking together. We lived in Florida where it’s not really cold but we had thin blood so we would layer two pair of PJ’s. Looking back at the pictures, we looked ridiculous. I remember being so excited on Christmas morning. Now I hope to see the same excitement in my own 3 year old son this year. Merry Christmas!!!

  148. Lynn

    We just had our Christmas with our family-4 children, son-in-law, daughters-in-law, 8 grandchildren(9the due Feb 1), all 17 of us. Wonderful noisy, loving time!
    Thanks for the opportunity to get the gift!

  149. Nicole

    My family and I always get together on Christmas Eve at my in-laws. We always cook chili and watch “Christmas Vacation.” My mother-in-law gets us matching PJ’s for all the couples (even though we are all grown). It may seem silly, but it’s something I look forward to every year!

  150. Beth R.

    My favorite Christmas Tradition is before Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve my whole family sits in a room lit only by the Christmas tree with their holiday beverage of choice. My dad sits with us and reads Twas the Night Before Christmas. I know it sounds pretty plain, but as we’re all in our 30’s now and Dad is approaching 70, its a tradition none of us was willing to give up. This year we have the first grandchild, so I can’t wait for him to listen (sleep through,lol) the story. Hope you both have a very Merry Christmas!!

  151. Amanda

    My favorite Christmas tradition is opening 1 gift on Christmas Eve. Our 3 year old is so excited for Christmas this year- I can’t wait!!

  152. beth stark

    Each holiday since I’ve been little we make homemade ornaments with grandma, and my mom. Now that my kids are that age I am doing the same thing-clay, wood, glass or fabric-we don’t discriminate. Christmas music blasts in the background while we creat ornaments galore, which decorate the multiple trees in the house.

  153. Jen Auschwitz

    My favorite holiday tradition is bundling up and driving around looking at Christmas lights with the windows rolled down! It’s so much fun to see the beautiful (and sometimes crazy) decorations!

  154. Pamela Spradlin

    My favorite tradition or memory as it may be goes back to my childhood. Our church always held a Children’s Service every Christmas Eve. My parents would get all 4 of ready and then Dad would load us into the car and take us for a ride around the neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. For some reason our Mom could never get ready in time to go with us to to look at lights. After looking at lights for a while my Dad would swing back by the house to pick up Mom and we would head to church. Imagine our surprise that all 4 of us kids found that Santa had already been to our home while we had been at church. My Dad said the funniest part of all of this would be was as each of us got older we would realize the help Santa was getting from our Mom, who always stayed behind to put presents under the tree.

  155. Trisha

    We always had to have coffee ready for my parents before we could wake them up on Christmas morning and no earlier than 7:00 could we wake them. We have kept this alive with my niece. We are all coffee junkies!

  156. Ashley

    Thank you! My favorite holiday tradition is baking Christmas cookies with my mom. Every year, we make a plethora of homemade varieties to give platters to family, friends, and coworkers. We have done this together since I can remember.. So many deliciously unique and beautiful cookies!

  157. Melissa Williams

    My favorite holiday tradition is gathering around a huge pot of steamed oysters with my favorite friends and family and chowing down!

  158. DavetteB

    Since we don’t celebrate Christmas, I used to work that night so that people that did celebrated could have time off with their families. Then after a nap, we’d go to the movies. I continued that tradition with my son. Now I am retired (!), but we still go to the movies on the 25th.

  159. Jenn

    I love reading all the wonderful Christmas traditions! Some we do our
    selve and others are ones I never thought of and would love to try!!

    Each year my children get a child’s name off the Angle Tree and we look
    for the gift the child would like to receive. We love doing this and I think it
    is important for my children to understand that others are not as fortunate.
    I don’t know why but it brings me to tears when we drop off the gifts. My kids
    always tease me when I am trying to fight back my tears. At this time especially,I truly know how blessed.
    Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas!

  160. Kristin Friscia

    Making sugar cookies with my little girls, watching It’s A Wonderful Life and not letting my kids see the tree Christmas morning until I check to make sure Santa came ;)
    Christmas is the most incredible time of the year!!

  161. Kimberli

    My favorite tradition is happening today!! :-) My family as well as my siblings and their families, all go to my parents house for the day to hang out in our pjs – eating breakfast, lunch, opening gifts, then eating dinner (with lots of yummy snacking in between) – just hanging out together, relaxed, and enjoying each other – letting all our children play together!! Thanks so much for the chance to win, I’ve been drooling over a Keurig for awhile now!! Merry Christmas to you!

  162. Ashley F.

    My favourite tradition is making banana pudding with my mom for our family’s Christmas dessert, and now that my younger twin sisters are old enough they’ve started helping. I’m glad that I come home for the holiday’s.

  163. Ellen

    My favorite tradition is baking date- nut bread using my grandmother’s recipe. We wait to enjoy it for breakfast on Christmas morning. Slathered with cream cheese of course!

  164. Joyce Y

    I would love to win this so I could take it to work and use it there when we have sales reps come to call on us.
    My very favorite Christmas tradition is making cut out cookies with my daughter every year. We have many traditions but that is a special memory every year.

  165. Teresa Gill

    As our girls have grown up, we like to watch The Christmas Story together all night on Christmas Eve over and over. It has become a very special time for our family. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  166. Sylvia

    Our favorite holiday tradition is to bundle into the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. We get everyone travel mugs with hot chocolate, bags of popcorn, Christmas music on the radio and vote on the best decorate houses. Love it!!

  167. Colleen

    Every year we go to my Grandparent’s house on Christmas Eve. Even when I was a child it was my favorite part of the holidays, sitting in their living room singing songs, opening gifts and laughing. Now that we’re all grown we’ve talked about splitting up and spending Christmas Eve with our own growing families…but we never have, and I hope we never will.

  168. Leah

    Wow, what a great giveaway! When the kids were little we would go to a Christmas display in a nearby small town. They would have these enormous “stations” of the 12 days of Christmas and had that song playing non-stop. We would start at Day 1 and sing with the song and would jump and run to the next station as the song would lead us. It got pretty funny when we got to around day 8…all of that running back and forth. Now that our children are married and have children of their own they taking their kids to the same display and are playing the same Christmas game…gotta love that!

  169. Lori B.

    I love baking cooking with my four boys! This year will be a little difficult because I have plastic surgery on my left hand in a few days- we won’t be able to make as many different kinds.

  170. Shannon

    A favorite family tradition is having Grandma’s fried corn mush for breakfast Christmas morning. That might not sound appealing to everyone, but it was mighty tasty — the smell of fresh brewing coffee, too. Thanks for the great giveaway!! Merry Christmas!

  171. Veronica @ Café con Leche

    since we’re Latin, my huge entire family always eat dinner on christmas eve around 10pm and then open alllll but one our presents at midnight. the last one we open christmas morning! when we were younger we’d always go out to “look for Santa” at around 11:45 while our parents actually put all the presents under the tree! Good times :)

  172. heather

    Oh my, so many traditions we have. My husband and I always go to Christmastown in Busch Gardens, Va. His family also has a huge Christmas Eve get together complete with food, presents and singing carols. I would list way more, but it would get way to long.

  173. April Southers

    Great giveaways Amanda!! I think my favorite tradition has to be walking through the botanical gardens when they have their walk through nights. My daughter and I have done this the last few years and we bundle up, buy some hot chocolate, and wander through. So much fun…

  174. Rebecca

    I forgot to include my Christmas tradition… my family and I LOVE holiday movies. On Christmas Eve, we watch as many as we can fit in one day.

  175. Erin Lancaster

    My favorite tradition really spans two days. Christmas Eve is spent with my Dad and all of my siblings opening gifts (that generally revolve around tools and wine/liquor) before going to my Aunt and Uncle’s house for a party with the extended family. On the way to the party, we stop at my childhood nanny’s home to sing Christmas carols together. After much laughter and fun has ensued, we all head to the Christmas Eve service at our local church. The next morning, the immediate family spends the day with my Mother where we all spend time opening gifts before heading to the kitchen to cook together and celebrate over a hearty meal. Next is movie time where we all fall asleep by a blazing fire. Upon waking…it is leftovers time! I love my family and all the time spent with them over Christmas.

  176. Larissa

    Merry Christmas! Every Christmas Eve, the whole family attends church service together in the evening and then we go back to Aunt Donna’s for a family dinner of chicken and dumplings. It’s the best!!

  177. Nikki

    Every year our whole family gets together at my parents’ house on Christmas day and we eat a huge beautiful brunch and just lay around all day relaxing. Of course, it is tradition to make sure and watch ” Christmas Vacation” and laugh like it was the first time seeing it.

  178. Maria

    My Favorite holiday tradition would be the fact that we have music, movies and books that we only take out and enjoy during the holiday season. There’s a very old and traditional song that is very popular in the Latino community (Mi Burrito Sabanero) that every child grows up listening to. So, to bring out that CD and play that song is an instant flashback to past holidays. I also like to watch at least one holiday movie with the kids, and i like that it is and will always be the same one – It’s A Wonderful Life. We also read one book with the kids, usually one of the books that they received as a gift. We’ll read it during the holiday break from school. So, every time they read that book, they’ll be reminded of a particular holiday season. I’m a huge fan of “creating experiences” that will foster memories for a lifetime.

  179. Jennifer

    It’s gonna sound silly, but we always have KFC on Christmas Eve, open one present, and always go to Midnight Mass. It’s a silly tradition, but it fits our silly family! Thanks for the contest!

  180. Jamie Snyder

    We love baking together as a family, participating in an advent as a family and waffles for breakfast on Christmas day.

  181. Shelley Mayo

    I always look forward to spending an evening filling out our Christmas cards, sipping hot cider, and listening to Christmas music.

  182. Rachel in PA

    We have so many Christmas traditions in my family! From baking cookies for weeks, wrapping presents for hours, and just spending time together, celebrating the true meaning of the holiday.

  183. Jordan Chae

    This is a fantastic giveaway!!
    One of my family’s holiday traditions is to make date balls on Christmas eve. They’ve got brown sugar, dates, rice krispies, sugar, and they’re all rolled up in powdered sugar. Everyone always loves them!

  184. Tiffany

    I love Christmas! My favorite tradition is spending time with my family. This year we have a little one to make our own traditions with!

  185. Melissa Borgan

    Thanks for the chance to win! Our favorite holiday tradition is getting everyone together and bake holiday treats

  186. Aimee

    A cozy Christmas Eve with the family, then wrapping the Santa gifts with my husband after the kids are sound asleep. I love the anticipation of Christmas morning!

  187. Laura

    Favorite holiday tradition… Every year my family drives around looking at the beautiful Christmas lights while we eat ice cream cones. Heaven!!

  188. Traci L

    We watch Polar Express on Christmas Eve (with hot chocolate) and enjoy family time on Christmas Day, opening gifts, eating, snoozing and hanging out together.

  189. Layne

    We go ice skating, make homemade marshmellows, sit by the fire and drink hot cocoa (with our marshmellows) and watch the cutest Christmas movie of all time…Elf. Oh, and open most of our presents on Christmas Eve! :)

  190. Melinda

    Thank you! My favorite Christmas tradition is to make hot chocolate, turn on Christmas music and decorate the tree with my husband and 4 children. It is always a magical evening for all of us.

  191. Katie

    We spend Christmas Eve with my in-laws and play the white elephant game, then we come home to get ready for Santa’s visit with new pajamas for the kids. Christmas day is spent with my family, with more gifts and an awesome meal!

  192. Rhea

    Perfect giveaway! My favorite holiday tradition is Elf on the Shelf. Although we didn’t call it that growing up, my parents had a mini elf who moved throughout the house each night. We looked forward to it every year and now, I look forward to it with my girls.

  193. Jessica

    What a great giveaway! My favorite tradition is listening to Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ while decorating the tree. Love every second of it, I do! :)

  194. Christina

    Every year on Christmas Eve, after all the guests have gone home and after my younger sibblings (and my lovable father) are asleep, my mom and I stay up wrapping all of our family’s presents. I couldn’t even say when it all began, but on year my mother found herself a little behind on the wrapping (not to hard to do with a family of 6), so I offered to help her. We ended up staying up until 2:00 in the morning, only to be woken up at 5:00am by my little brother on Christmas morning!! Ever since, it became our special mother-daugther Christmas tradition…And even though we’re all older now, you can still find her and I up until 12, 1, or 2am, and you can still find all of us being awakened at 5:00 (on-the-dot) by my not-so-little brother :) Wouldn’t give it up for the world! Happy Holidays.

  195. Connie R.

    We open our gifts Christmas Eve at midnight. My oldest son came up with this idea and since there aren’t any little ones it works out. We have alot of fun.

  196. Kimberly M.

    Time passess so fast…so, I want to savor every minute with my two children, husband, and family…there’s nothing better. Since I have a large family, our tradition begins with the 24 days of RAOK (Random Acts of Kindness…Don’t have to cost a penny) …then we begin Christmas Eve with a huge feast prepared by my Italian sister-in-law (and her family), then wake-up to find Santa’s goodies, have a huge Christmas Brunch (prepared my me), lounge around, then have a huge Christmas Day supper. All of this is followed by the drive around to see Christmas lights (with hot cocoa or coffee). So much fun and boy are we stuffed!! Of course, each meal consists of LOTS of coffee and cocoa…so this would REALLY make the festivities even more exciting! Thank you for such a great opportunity! Happy Holidays!! :-)

  197. emily g.

    My favorite holiday tradition changed when I got married….now it is making tamales (my mother-in-law taught me how) and giving them away.

  198. Ryan Goldhammer

    One of our family traditions each year during Christmas is a hayride to look at all the pretty light displays!

    Thanks for the chance to win. Happy Holidays!

  199. Norma in NC

    We have our big meal at Thanksgiving, then on Christmas Eve we have appetizers, snacks, sweets and open presents. My kids are teenagers now so we get to sleep in, then have a late lunch.

  200. Kim

    Great giveaway! Looking forward to baking cookies, driving through the neighborhood to see Christmas lights, & of course watching our little one open gifts.

  201. Debbie

    What a great giveaway! I love coffee …

    My favorite Christmas tradition is spending time with my family on Christmas Eve quietly. After attending church services, I love to serve a few appetizers and sit in front of the tree listening to Christmas music.

  202. Susan Fennell

    Thanks for this opportunity to win! I love opening presents with family on Christmas Eve. We always have oyster stew and goodies! Merry Christmas!

  203. Shawn

    We always go to church and then Grandma’s for Christmas. The kids get presents from Grandma and Papa and have to sing Christmas carols to get them. It is so much fun.

  204. Emily

    I love coffee!! :) My favorite tradition growing up was having Chili and Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve every year.

  205. Carol Graham

    My favorite tradition is that I give my three grandchildren a present of new pjs that they open on Christmas Eve and then their dad reads “The Night Before Christmas” and then they hop off to bed:) Thanks for the chance to win!!

    Merry Christmas,
    Carol

  206. Stephanie B

    My holiday tradition starts on Christmas eve with church and presents with my family and Christmas day with his family. Ending out the night with just the two of us going out to the movie. Popcorn and milkduds! Mmm. Mmm.

  207. Allison

    My favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas morning, my sister and I would wake up at 5 am, spend the next two hours in her room contemplating what was wrapped for us under the tree, and at 7 we would rush to our parents room and jump on the bed with out stockings in hand. My mother always filled them and left them on our door knobs to find when we woke up. She would have a huge bowl ready for all the candy and my sister and I would open up our “stocking stuffers” together. Meanwhile, our father would be setting everything up in the living room-turning on the Christmas music, the tree lights, getting a trash bag for all our wrapping paper, and he would make us all a cup of hot cocoa. It really was a perfect morning and now my husband and I do it for our daughter and I hope she continues the tradition on.

    Merry Christmas,
    Allison

  208. Jennifer

    My favorite tradition is Christmas morning, reading the Christmas story from the Bible and after each part someone adds that figure to the nativity set.

  209. Lindsay

    What an awesome giveaway!

    It’s so hard to pick a favorite tradition. I just love everything about the holidays. Cookie exchanges, decorating the tree, opening new pajamas every christmas eve, Christmas movies. I can’t imagine Christmas without any of them!

  210. Becky

    My holiday is always busy with 8 family gatherings, but my favorite tradition is spending Christmas Eve at my grandmother’s house. This year is our last year there, as it is getting to be too much for her to prepare. We eat baked spaghetti, shrimp, ham and green beans, and spaghetti bread. We also have a birthday cake for baby Jesus. This is by far my favorite day of the year!

  211. Linda

    Merry Christmas! On Christmas Eve day we spend the day with the kids playing board games and munching on goodies and snacks, by evening its time to settle in where they pick their favorite Christmas shows and we always end with It’s a Wonderful Life. Christmas Day is then spent opening gifts and eating our traditional egg casserole which then leads us into awaiting for extended family to join us!

  212. Rose

    My favorite tradition is eating my dad’s breakfast burritos withe everyone in their pj’s, before we open gifts on Christmas morning!

  213. Karen Seltrecht

    By popular demand from my family, we always have Irish Chowder with garlic toast. It is so easy and soooo good. thanks for the chance to win this great prize! I am a coffee nut. My business tag line is “First We’ll Have Coffee” taken from the wonderful book First We Have Coffee. k

  214. Sharon

    Thank you so much for this awesome holiday chance to win…my favorite Christmas tradition is a story in our family of at midnight on Christmas eve all of the dogs get to talk to the baby Jesus…what a beautiful time for all of our animals…

  215. Kimberley M

    I’m starting the Pickle Ornament tradition this year. It’s going to be fun watching my 7 year old search for it on the tree!

  216. Monica Ackerman

    One tradition we had growing up is spending every other Christmas Eve at my aunt’s house and every other at our house then Christmas day would be spent at home. Once I grew up that tradition faded away as we lost members of our family or they moved away. Today my husband and I like to spend Christmas Eve with his family and Christmas day with my mom. We also like to open one gift from each other late on Christmas Eve and leave the rest to open first thing Christmas morning.

  217. Kristina

    On Christmas Day, we open presents in the morning, take in a movie matinee in the afternoon and come back to a casual dinner of honey ham, potatoes, salad and dinner rolls.

  218. Tracie

    Our favorite family tradition is gather around the tree on christmas morning and everyone say what they are thankful for and have hot chocolate. thanks for offering this giveaway. Merry Christmas to all!

  219. carmel atanasu-teeters

    One of my favorite Christmas traditions is going down Candy Cane Lane in my hometown of Vacaville, Ca. I was lucky to see them this year…. as I had moved clear to other coast almost 10 yrs ago. I was especially lucky this year seeing all the beautiful lights on the houses with my daughter and granddaughter!! She’s 4 yrs old and marvelled at the lights, the blow up decorations and the excitement of the season. I wish we could all see the season thru the eyes of a 4 year old!!

  220. Stacey

    Our tradition is to spend Christmas Eve in our PJs and eat pasta. Then the kids open one present and get ready for bed. Thanks!!!

  221. Lauren

    My favorite holiday tradition is spending time with family and friends while enjoying all of the beautiful lights and decorations! Happy Holidays!

  222. Erin A

    Does anyone out there remember bubble lights? My grandmother had these candelabras of them that she always kept in the kitchen window. As kids we would line up in front of that window and guess which one would bubble up first. Winner had bragging rights for the whole year! I’m in my thirties now and my brother and I still get excited every year to plug in those in lights and make our pick. We even play with our spouse’s and our own children now. Sometimes it’s the little things you pass down that make the happiest memories!!

  223. Heather M

    We each get new Christmas jammies! My parents started this with me and my brother when we were little and I’ve kept the tradition alive with my husband and 2 little boys!!

    Merry Christmas!

  224. Aimee S

    My favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas Day, just being together as a family. We all stay in our PJ’s all day, cook a huge breakfast and a late lunch…snack all day and watch the kids play.

  225. Julie

    One of my favorite Christmas things to do is take a candy cane off of my parents tree as I am leaving. We used to do this at my grandparents and since they have passed on…it has continued through my parents.

  226. Susan

    I love riding around with my hubby and children looking at lights, listening to Christmas music and drinking hot cocoa. Thanks for the chance to win! I have been wanting a Keurig for a while.

  227. Melissa R

    My favorite Christmas tradition is my grandma hiding gifts around her house and giving us all a clue to go find where it is. What a great giveaway!!

  228. Teresa

    Our tradition begins with mass Christmas Eve then a visit from Santa in the morning. We then gather with other family members for food, festivities and gifts!

  229. Kristie

    I love watching classic Christmas movies with my dad while we decorate the tree. (Holiday Inn, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Miracle on 34th Street are the favorites.)

  230. MacKenzy Harper

    Playing the Snow Bowl Football game… Grandpa still plays and is all-time quarterback. We film it and choose an MVP afterward, then award them the trophy that is passed around each year!

  231. Christa

    Since I now have a little one of my own, we are starting new traditions with her like the Elf on a Shelf and mixing in old ones like riding around to see Christmas lights and spending Christmas Eve with the family.

  232. melissa currin

    Each year my daughters take turns putting the angel on the tree. It is the same angel I had on my tree when I was a little girl.

  233. deb williams

    At some point during the week of Christmas we still have our family gathering with just our 3 kids and their spouses. Sometimes we have a traditional meal, other times it’s just potluck….where “luck” is the key word! We are in 3 different states and not everyone can make it every year but we still try. We still do all the other family gatherings but I like to be with my kids at some point, sharing a meal, reminds me of when they were all young. We also go to church on Christmas Eve as a family, even if they head in different directions afterwards. I think they enjoy the quiet time there as much as I do!

  234. BCoan

    One Christmas about 8 years ago, my husband and two sons and I decided to go for pancakes at the Denny’s up the road from where we lived. We had so much fun sitting around that small table laughing and talking and drinking coffee (yay caffeine!) that ever since then we make plans to do it again. My sons are now grown but they are sure to come over Christmas morning and off we go to Denny’s.

  235. Cretia

    My favorite tradition is spending Christmas morning with my husband and kids, opening presents and eating breakfast pizza. His parents come (across the road) to see what everyone got for Christmas and we exchange gifts with them. My dad eats Christmas lunch with us every year since my mom passed away. We spend the day as a family, enjoying each others’ company and remembering the real reason we have Christmas – Jesus. Merry Christmas to you!

  236. Jeanne N.

    My favorite holiday is spending Christmas Eve watching “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby in our p.j’s and snacking on various Christmas goodies.

  237. Beth Sanborn

    I am so excited about this giveaway. I have been wanting to buy a Kuerig but just have not been able to. My favorite tradition is opening our Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve and wearing brand new jammies that night. LOVE IT!!

  238. Azalea

    Every Christmas Eve we open 1 gift (pajamas) and in the morning we have hot chocolate and cake donuts while we open our gifts. It has been this way since I was a kid.

  239. Laura(wr)

    I can’t really remember too many traditions that my family ever prescribed to, when I was growing up. I guess I would have to say I vaguely remember having a tree up, when I was younger.

  240. Megan B.

    I love being with family while making cookies, shopping, and opening presents.My favorite holiday tradition is our Christmas Eve dinner and watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!!!

  241. Christina J.

    My favorite tradition is making gingerbread with lemon sauce and having it for breakfast with my family before all the madness of the day starts.

  242. Audrey

    We have a nice family dinner and then sit around to enjoy all the Christmas lights open one present. Tradition is to make Christmas cornflake wreaths.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  243. deannab1

    My husband and I exchange Christmas ornaments every Christmas morning – they always represent something that was special to us in that year. I love to see what he picks out.

  244. Melissa R

    My favorite tradition with my husband is going to Starbucks to get a warm drink and driving around fancy neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music on the radio. It really gets us in the spirit!

  245. meriel

    Every year I bake a ridiculous amount of goodies to give away as presents! One year I made mini red velvet cupcakes, mini pumpkin spice cupcakes, sand tarts (look them up!), peppermint pinwheels, oreo truffles, and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Let’s just say people were returning their goodie tins for “refills” :)

  246. Jackie

    I just enjoy the happiness and excitement that surround the holidays, regardless of what the traditions happen to be!

  247. Naomi A. of Colorado

    Our holiday tradition is to make Tamales. We all gather around our table and prepare an assembly line in making anywhere between 15-25 dozen to eat during the holidays as well as give as gifts! Thanks for sharing your blog!

  248. Denise

    Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous gift! This will be the first Christmas without our matriarch…this year my new tradition will be to continue those my nana left for me. Make Cookie wreaths, stuffed Italian cookies and always have “coffee and” at the close of every night. I have 2 of her coffee cups so I can still have my coffee with her.

  249. Mell

    Every year my family and I drive to eat at our favorite cafe in the Texas Hill Country and dirve around to look at all the Christmas lights in the Hill Counrty. My husband has been doing this ever Christmas since he was a child.

  250. Sarah C.

    I always look forward to eating pecan chocolate chip pie for breakfast! I used to do that every year with my grandmother, and since she’s been gone I’ve kept the tradition alive all on my own. :)

  251. Kindyll A

    Thanks for the opprotunity to win! I would love to win this for my parents! My favorite memory is sneaking in before time to wake up and standing at the edge of the living room. I could just barely see what was there and see the stockings spilling over. Then I would run back to bed until it was time to get up! :)

  252. Brooke

    I have 2 favorite traditions. My favorite childhood tradition was going to see the Richmond Legendary Santa Claus. There were really long lines and my mom and grandmother (both deceased now) took me. I always had a frilly Christmas dress, patent leather dress shoes and a new purse for this special event. My favorite grown up tradition is the one I started with my son when he was only 2 years old. We make Christmas cookies for sharing with family and for leaving out for Santa of course :)

  253. Tara

    My favorite holiday tradition is decorating cookies with my mom, aunts, cousins, and sisters. It is always so much fun!!

    Thank you for the awesome giveaway!!

  254. Judy

    My favorite tradition is going out with the kids to get a tree, and then decorating it with them while listening to Christmas music and drinking eggnog.

  255. Robbin

    Favorite traditions include going to candlelight service at church Christmas Eve, baking cookies with my mom and daughter, and setting the mood to open gifts Christmas morning….Candlelight, music, breakfast….

  256. Emily

    My favorite holiday tradition is video taping Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning. Not because the activity itself is fun, but it’s so fun to look back on years later.

  257. Heather

    My sister and I made and decorated cut-out sugar cookies for many years when we were growing up, in college, and even after we had both gotten married. I have carried this holiday tradition on with our own children, and we love baking and decorating them together each year.

  258. Erin Cookmeyer

    My favorite holiday tradition is buying my husband an ornament that represents something that happened during the year.

  259. Elizabeth Otter

    Santa would always deliver our stockings to the foot of our beds (mine and my sister Emily’s). She would bring her stocking to my bedroom where we would open them together. We would put them back together and proceed to our parent’s bedroom where we would show them our loot and watch them open theirs. I hope to make the stocking experience just as special for my boys.

  260. val lewis

    We celebrate a very traditioanl Christmas, but New Years Day we eat corned beef and cabbage. We also love taking a picture of each family member on New Years Day! Fun to see how we’ve all changed!

  261. Lynn

    Fabulous!
    My favorite tradition would have to be Christmas morning with the family, stockings first, then opening presents one by one (no wild free for all here) and then a yummy brunch that wouldn’t be complete without my mom’s cinnamon rolls.
    Thanks for the chance.
    Happy Holidays!

  262. Dawn Ritchie

    We have tons of traditions that I love around here for Christmas… but our newest is the Elf on a Shelf and our 2 year old LOVES it!! Best idea since sliced bread!! :)

  263. Agneris A.

    My favorite family tradition is driving around with our 5 & 2 year old to look at christmas lights and decorations.

  264. Crystal Sanders Thompson

    oh my goodness, this is a fabulous giveaway!! We are AVID coffee lovers in my family, all the way down to my 2 year old! (yes, I know, bad parenting!) My favorite holiday tradition is making cookies and candy..and then eating them over hot chocolate and coffee!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

  265. Emma

    Thanks for the give-a-way. We love to bake cookies with the little kiddos, baking both sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies (yum)! :-)

  266. Mary Beth|Cupcakes and Crinoline

    Being with my family is more important than anything…the gifts are nice…the food is wonderful…but more important than any of that is being together.

  267. mlb

    Christmas Eve has always been our immediate family time in the evening. The morning is a celebration brunch for family and friends but that evening we have our own supper. From the age of 3 on, our son has always picked the meal. We’ve had a variety of things – from waffles, green beans and water at age 3 to prime rib and the trimmings in later years. This year at age 30, he and his wife will be here and we will, once again, honor the tradition. On the menu is Dungeness crab two ways for appetizers, steak, baked potatoes and a veggie yet to be decided. Dessert will be bread pudding. I love this tradition!

  268. Tricia

    Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous prize! My favorite holiday tradition is to be able to honor this time of year by spending it with the people we love – baking cookies, eating too much and having lots of laughs!

  269. Heather Mayberry

    i look most forward to sausage cheese balls and playing rook. this makes my holiday. and being with family of course!

  270. Amy

    My husband’s side of the family always get together at his mother’s house on Christmas Eve. We read from the Bible, eat, the children exchange gifts, and the adults play dirty santa. It has been a tradition since we have been together and I live it!!

  271. Susan

    Favorite Christmas tradition is now still making the same Christmas Eve mean of 7 seafood courses to keep the ethic family recipes. Lots of great memories of years past.

  272. Robin

    My favorite tradition is trying to get candid photos of the family over the course of the day. They either start posing or run and hide, so it’s like a photo safari! This year I have a new DSLR, though, and a zoom lens, so I can hide in the hallways and dark corners and they won’t spot me.

  273. Christina Stagner

    Our holiday traditions include waking up early to get Christmas dinner on cooking, making BLTs or pigs in a blanket for breakfast, watching my nephew open his presents, opening my 4 month old niece’s presents for her, and spending the day with family, food, and love. :) A Keurig would make that day even better!

  274. YM

    No specific traditions but Christmas is the only time of year my whole family (in-laws included) is together, so I really enjoy catching up with everyone.

  275. Cassandra

    My favorite Christmas tradition is simple but I love turning off the lights in the house and just sitting by the tree when its all lit up. It’s cozy and puts me in the holiday mood.

  276. JoEllen

    My favorite tradition is that we don’t travel over the holidays. We spend time at home with each other as a family. We bake cookies, eat meals, play games, and enjoy each other.

  277. Leah Rose

    I am so looking forward to our new (2 year) tradition of opening all our gifts, but then when the kids wake up all of “Santa’s ” gifts are unwrapped under the tree…I just love, love, love Christmas time with my babies!!!

  278. Genevieve

    Thanks for this giveaway. My family tradition is to gather at a restaurant and eat our heart out in between beers and wines and sweet treats!

  279. Meghan

    My favorite tradition from when I was younger was hanging our stockings on Christmas Eve and then my mom would read Twas the Night Before Christmas to me and my brothers before we went to bed! We are a bit too old for that now but it is a tradition I will definitely continue when I have children!

  280. lori DeCoite

    In the mix of all the craziness of the holiday and seeing all the family I love our Christmas eve…we spend it with just our little family of 5 at home, eating a nice quiet dinner, and listening to holiday music..thanks for the chance to win… happy hoilday to you both!

  281. Pam

    My favorite tradition is “games and goblets” (playing games and drinking wine) with my family on Christmas night. It’s a great way for the adults to talk and have a fun evening after tons of gift opening for the kids.

  282. Lori

    One of our favorite traditions is we have this advent calendar that each day you move the little mouse into a new window, one day closer to Christmas eve. It’s one of our favorite kids memories that they still love, even though they are grown up with babies of their own! It’s awesome. Merry Christmas

  283. Stephanie

    My favorite holiday tradition has to be how my family celebrates Christmas Eve. The food, the parties, the excitement, the anticipation. I love it all!

  284. Stephanie G.

    OMG….what an awesome giveaway! We go to my in-laws on Christmas Eve, sing carols & play SANTO…it’s like BINGO. The kids look forward to playing and win small prizes. It’s a wonderful evening with the family.

    thank you for the chance to win….Happy Holidays Kevin & Amanda!
    hugs,
    Steph

  285. Karen

    My favorite tradition is getting to spend time with family and friends. I am getting very excited to watch my daughter open presents this year…she is 1 1/2 years old and I am loving watching her aww over Christmas lights, Santa, and snow!! It has been fun starting new straditions with her–looking forward to baking cookes for Santa :)
    Merry Christmas!!

  286. Dawn

    Thank you for the opportunity! My favorite tradition is time off work to spend time just hanging out with the kids or more like being available to them, as teenagers they don’t really want to ‘hangout’ with mom, but they do want you available!

  287. Susan Lew

    My favorite tradition is making Christmas eve dinner in my house where we open our presents and spend time together.

  288. Emily

    When I was younger, my mother would create a scavenger hunt for my niece and I. We would have to find the items that fell out of Santa’s bag as he warmed up his cookies, for example. Now, since we are much older, she still does this, but for the grandchildren! It helps keep the kids occupied that much longer!

    I love the holidays and thank you very much for this opportunity to win the Keurig!

  289. Patti Olsem

    Awesome giveaway, thanks! My favorite traidtion is hiding the pickle ornament and having the kids look for it! The winner gets a special prize, which is also a favortie traiditon because I like to chose something completely out of the ordinary! That can be challenging because my kids ages range (oldest os 15 youngest is 5) and I always have the prize ahead of time wrapped and waiting for the winner!

  290. Ashley Shelton

    I love cofee! I think I might be addicted! My favorite holiday tradition is every Christmas Eve we have a cookie cook off contest with family, extended family, and friends! It gets intense but the cookies are amazing!

  291. melanie

    my favorite tradition is having the family together on christmas eve. someone always plays santa and gifts are passed out, all marked from santa!

  292. Tracey C

    Our family tradition is to have all family members meet for dinner at the grandparents home. We exchange gifts at the end of the evening to be taken home and opened the next morning. When I was a child, another piece of this tradition was to get up early to open all gifts and select one gift to take along, as we visited family and friends on Christmas day. Now that I am an adult, my daughter takes along her gift of choice.

  293. Danelle Reilly

    My family opens new jammies christmas eve, and my sons always has a movie for family movie night with popcorn and candy. Other than that it is cooking christmas breakfast with family and just hanging out in our pjs most of the day.

  294. Brenda B.

    It’s just been my daughter and me for the past 12 years. On Christmas Eve we go to church, then to P.F Changs for dinner, drive around and look at lights, then home to open one present (which of course is always new PJs). Not too exciting by some standards, but we like it. She is almost 20 now and I know that it won’t be long before she has her own family and will be making her own traditions so I savor every minute now.

  295. LolaT

    When I was little, we would stay up until midnight and open all the presents then. But now that we have kids, we just do the early morning.

  296. Christy B

    Every year my mom would buy/make an ornament that we would open on Christmas Eve, so through the years we had built up our own personal ornament collections for our own family trees. This is a tradition, I plan on carrying on with my own two children. Merry Christmas!

  297. Lynda

    being asian, we dont’ really celebrate christmas in the traditional sense, so we make our own. we actually have hot pot every x’mas eve where we cook meat and veggies in a big pot and eat around a table.

  298. Leisel Harder

    Traditions…they seem to shift a bit as I “grow up.” Hearing my dad read the Christmas story on Christmas morning before we open gifts, puts it in perspective. I’m hoping to develop new traditions. Last year we spent the day at the hospital with our new babe who came too early, but we did get to hold her a bit. This year it will be fun to experience the day with a one year old! and no more hospital!!!

  299. Arilla

    Merry Christmas Kevin & Amanda! My favorite holiday tradition is making pizzelles and then wrapping them up in tall stacks with ribbons and bows to give to all of my family.

  300. Natalie

    We go to church Christmas Eve, then off to look at Christmas lights, then home for chicken chili, and finally the kids open their Christmas pjs – love!!

  301. julie daughdrill

    Thanks for the opportunity to win. I’ve been wanting one of these. Our family tradition is eating shrimp and grits on Christmas morning and then taking turns opening gifts. I love watching the kids in the neighborhood ride their new bikes and play with their toys. Merry Christmas to all!!!!!

  302. Pamela Palmer

    I have been wanting one of these. One of my family tradition is on Christmas Morning we open presents then I fix a big breakfast for everyone.

  303. Peggy

    I always have Christmas Eve at my house for all the family. Christmas day is more casual with all of us relaxing and enjoying all the leftovers.

  304. Kaela

    Great giveaway – thanks Amanda! Two favorite traditions: watching Christmas Vacation with my husband and Nachos with my family on Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  305. Wilma King

    Spending ALLLLL day with family! Starting at 9ish in the morning and going strong till 10pm or so!! And thats usually 2 different days :) Once with my family and once with my in-laws — I love it!

  306. Amy

    I love your site! Our favorite tradition is to drive around with friends and hot chocolate to look at the lights…I’m extra excited to do it this year as I made your DIY bokeh filter and can’t wait to try it on the houses with super crazy lights! Thanks!

  307. Tammi C

    We just love everything about Christmas….from watching Christmas movies every day, listening to Christmas music, the shopping and celebrating the birth of Jesus! On Christmas Day we open presents at home as a family, then travel to the in-laws and open presents, then to my parents for more presents then back to the inlaws for dinner, at like 10pm! It’s a crazy busy day and exhausting, but we are so thankful to have both of our families here in town and I love being able to share Christmas day with everyone!!

  308. juls

    Thanks for this great chance at winning an awesome prize! Our favorite holiday tradition is to pull a tag from the Giving Tree with some child’s Christmas wish on it. We have been doing this since my girls were very young and they are now 15.5 and almost 22 years old! They read most all of the tags and it’s really hard to only pick one each and then we go shopping for that gift. They look forward to it each year!

  309. Elizabeth

    Putting up my Uncle John’s Christmas tree every year. RIP Uncle John. I miss you more than you will ever know, especially around the holidays.

  310. Tessa

    My favorite tradition is at Christmas Eve dinner, my father in law gives everyone a special book with an inscription. I love how thoughtful and personal each book is for the recipient. This is my son’s first Christmas and I can’t wait to see what book he gets~

  311. Beverly

    My favorite Christmas tradition is having the family over on Christmas Eve. This would be such a blessing to win this. Thank you.

  312. Nicole B.

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking tons of goodies with my mom. Nothing smells better than a kitchen full of baked goods!

  313. Kristin Maurer

    Every year we get to open one present on Christmas Eve and that present is always new PJs and an ornament that reflects something about that year.

  314. BrandiHope

    We always get together with friends and family on Christmas Eve and have some food and exchange gifts. On Christmas day…we open our presents and have a wonderful family dinner.

  315. Caroline Utz

    My favorite holiday tradition is rushing around and spending time with my family and my fiancées family. We share Christmas eve with my family and Christmas day with his. His father always has stockings for us when we wake up and it makes us feel like kids again!

  316. Wendy D.

    We LOOOOOOVE doing “Elf on a Shelf” with our three little girls! They love to look for him every morning and it brings extra good behavior for the month of December! :)

    ~Wendy

  317. Sharon

    A favorite Christmas tradition: we purposely leave Baby Jesus out of the manger scene (I hide him away) and everyone else waits patiently for his arrival on Christmas Day (including our family). He appears on Christmas morning and we celebrate…happy birthday, Jesus!

  318. Chelsea

    We spend the week leading up to Christmas baking a different Christmas cookie (or treat) every night! By Christmas morning the house smells amazing!

  319. Debbie Pearson

    On Christmas eve, my husband and I stay up late watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and wrap Santa’s gifts to the kids. We drink lots of COFFEE to stay awake! We look forward to this wonderful time together every year!

  320. Kelly Jo

    We have a holiday tradition of presents after a big holiday lunch. It was torture as a child to not be able to open gifts immediately in the morning but now I think it helps stretch the day and keep the fun going.

  321. Barb S

    Good friends, family, good food, church, Christmas carols and a little snow. What more do you need?
    Happy holidays and thanks for the chance to win.

  322. Suzanne Bond

    Merry Christmas Everyone! We never had much traditions, things changed to rapidly for much in the way of traditons to set in. My youngest just got married and no one will be home this year so my husband and I are going to start a new unholiday like tradition. We’re going fishing!

  323. Angien24

    I think one of my favorite traditions is watching It’s a Wonderful Life with my daughter every year. She’s 17 now, but we’ve been watching it together since she was about 9 or 10. Now my boys are starting to be interested in it also. It’s one of those little things we look forward to that doesnt involve gifts or treats, it’s just good old family togetherness. =D

  324. Heather

    My favorite tradition is Christmas brunch with my Mom’s side of the family. We do our own thing at home, then go to my parents’ house for more gifts and brunch. It’s gotten pretty crowded with the addition of grandkids, but it’s always fun!

  325. Elaine

    Christmas Eve we open one present-new PJ’s. We always have raclette for Christmas Eve dinner and fondue on Christmas Day.

  326. Wendy

    Setting up my Santa tree and remembering who gave each one to me or the trip I was on when I bought it. This year you helped me learn how to take a bokeh picture of it! Thanks!

  327. Jennifer

    When I was growing up, my mom always made cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate for us on Christmas morning. My husband always had a breakfast casserole. I have continued making his favorite casserole for Christmas morning.

  328. Lacey RW

    We always watch “White Christmas” while putting up the Christmas tree…always puts me in the Christmas spirit!

  329. Candace Blanks

    Christmas is the best! I love to photograph the excitement on my grandkids’ faces as they’re ripping the wrapping off their gifts. And then I love for us all to acknowledge the Reason for the Season, and then spend the rest of the day nibbling on hors’ dourves and “chill-axing!”

  330. Ann Schmoeger

    The favorite thing about Christmas is when our four kids, their spouses, and the wonderful 16 grandkids they have given us come for dinner. I try to make the best I possibly can so they know how special they all are to us.

  331. Shawna

    About 5 years ago (my boys were 1 and 3) I organized a Christmas caroling night. We meet at a neighborhood, I serve hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies from the back of my car, and we go caroling. I always have a great turnout (around 40 kids) and we look forward to it every year. Merry Christmas!

  332. Melissa

    We have a silly stocking tradition. Even the grown ups get their stockings filled with all kinds of silly things- coloring books, crayons, fun things from the dollar store (this year all 10 of us will have foam ball guns to shoot at each other on Christmas Day- even Grandma and Grandpa). Everyone buys a little something to put in the other’s stockings. I think we all look forward to the stockings as much as anything else!

  333. mandy

    My extended family on my Mom’s side of the family gets together Christmas Eve at my Mom’s house (we used to do this at my Granny’s berfore she passed). The kids all get a gift (we draw names at Thanksgiving) and the grown-ups play Dirty Santa (or Steal-a-Gift, whatever you want to call it). We eat and laugh and visit and have a great time ‘stealing’ presents from each other!!!

  334. C Cole

    Through the years, our Christmas traditions have had to change to accommodate new families and jobs. Since childhood, the one simple tradition that has remained the same for us, and some extended family as well, is having Cheese Toast and coffee for breakfast on Christmas morning.

  335. Heather Michelle

    We’re reinstating the tradition of cutting down a tree for the first time since I left for university. I’m soooo happy! =)

  336. Lisa Alvarado

    I got divorced three years ago, so all of my traditions have changed, but the fact that family is still the number one reason for the holidays hasn’t changed. Tradition = family!

  337. Jamie

    My favorite holiday tradition is putting up our outside lights and checking out all the lights in our neighborhood. I enjoy making our home look festive, and I love the houses that really over-do it every year.

  338. Beth B.

    My favorite holiday tradition is our annual pajama party and Scattegories. We don’t eat a traditional meal, but just eat desserts instead while we play fun games :) Sometimes having a non-traditional holiday is just as fun!

  339. Carrie

    One of my favorites has been happening since I was little. My dad puts on a Santa hat to hand out gifts and you have to say (shout) “HO! HO! HO!” before he will hand you your gift. It must be done prior to each and every gift. Even my 83 year old Grandma does it. It’s cute to see how quickly the little ones learn to say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” in order to get their gifts.
    Kind of cheesy perhaps but still fun and one that has been a part of every Christmas memory!

  340. Joanne Gregory

    We always watch A Christmas Story and have a formal Christmas dinner on Christmas eve. Planning the menu this weekend!

  341. Jeanette @ Travel and Photography Today

    I love this giveaway! One of my favorite holiday traditions is waking up Christmas morning and watching my girls follow a trail the elves made to a hidden gift around the house!

  342. Heather

    My favorite tradition is baking the cookies that my grandmother used to make every year. When she couldn’t be with us, she would send a care package full of her delicious cookies and fudge! Merry Christmas to you and Kevin, Miley and Howie!!

  343. Cindi Hunter

    I love just getting to spend relaxing time with the family after all the hustle snd bustle leading up to the day. Christmas morning I always have a breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls made up and ready to pop in the oven while we are opening presents. Then we spend a lazy morning eating and a video chat with my parents in Canada so they can see the grand kids Christmas morning.

  344. Pam

    I always make my family pose for the family Christmas card. When my son was little it was easier (because he was cooperative) but now as a teen I’m afraid the tradition is coming to an end.

  345. april

    thank you for this giveaway. My favorite tradition is opening a gift with my kids on Christmas Eve and then waking up so cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. I would love to include a Kuerig coffee with them this year.

  346. Erica D.

    I love negotiating the menu with and cooking for my family…if we’re all awake Christmas night, we go to a movie like many other people!

  347. Jenna

    My family and I go to a Christmas Eve service at our church and then return home and watch It’s a Wonderful Life!

  348. Jennifer

    We have so many traditions, but my favorite would be the kids getting to open one present…. new jammies on Christmas Eve after attending Mass and having dinner, sitting by the Christmas tree, and reading The Night Before Christmas.

  349. Leah Geary

    Our family tradition is to always get together a play a lively round of dirty santa and then we always pray around our meal thanking God for all he has given.

    Leahforlove at aol dot com

  350. Morgan M.

    Being with family and friends. No matter how many months go by without seeing one another, the holidays are a guarantee. Love that!

  351. Lynn

    My favorite holiday tradition is setting the nativity under the tree. My son made it when he was just a child…many,many years ago. He is grown now.

  352. Solange Greaux

    My Christmas tradition, well it’s when we get our Christmas tree from our local church..smells so fresh! Then my favorite part is putting on the ornaments that display our family photo for each and every year. We have one ever since our son was 4.. yeah lots of photo ornaments. But, what’s not better than having ornaments that mean something to you?

  353. Jan Labas

    Triple F, Forced Family Fun. When the kids were young they moaned at the thought but the night always ended up being FUN. We all dress up and hit the town doing the same thing: Go through the light ups at the zoo, stop at Coney Island for gooey coney dogs and walk around town making the oohs and awes at the lights. It is funny now that all the kids are grown. When they come back to town for the holidays we must revisit this to make it Christmas.

  354. Amy L.

    Thanks for the great giveaway! My favorite holiday tradition is when my sisters, their families, and my husband & I go to my mom’s house on Christmas Day. We usually have appetizer-type foods like chips & rotel, sausage balls, cocktail weenies, a cream cheese dip ball with crackers, etc. By this time of the year I am burnt out on the traditional family get-together foods like turkey & dressing and am ready for some fun foods. Then we usually play bingo for small “prizes” or do “dirty Santa” with gifts that each person brought. There’s nothing better than food, family & fun in my book!

    Merry Christmas to you & your family!

    Amy L.
    amos404(at)netzero(dot)com

  355. Lauren

    The girls of my family all make huge batches of fudge on Christmas Eve – and we always put out fudge instead of cookies on the mantel for Santa!

  356. Lauren Degenhardt

    My husband and I buy each other an ornament every Christmas and open them as gifts on Christmas morning… it’s so fun to pull out the decorations for the tree and hang the new ornaments from the year before for the first time!

  357. Stephanie

    Every year we would all anxiously await Christmas Eve, when all the family would have made it home by that time. We would have some sort of late night snack and get to open one present early. I remember being a kid and just hoping my mom would let me open one of the “good” presents early…but it never failed…the Christmas Eve present was always a new pair of pajamas!! My mom loved to give us a pair for Christmas. She passed away 10 years ago and this year for the first time I’m getting to keep that tradition alive cause I got my loved ones pajamas and they are getting to open those up on Christmas Eve :) It’s a tiny little tribute to my mom and her love.

  358. BONNIE

    Thinking about the AWESOME LOVE of our Heavenly Father to send us Jesus, our deliverer, spending time with our kids and families, great food, and driving around looking at all the beautiful decorations!!!!

  359. Debbie Peterson

    On Christmas Eve…..we read the Christmas story from the Bible, sing a few songs, while the grandkids play little hand instruments……and always eat homemade stuffed shells!

  360. Lori S.

    There’s a house just a few blocks away that has tons of lights that are synchronized to different Christmas songs (the house also collects donations for the Food Bank of the Rockies) and it’s become a tradition that we hit the Starbucks drive thru for hot chocolates and then we go and sit and watch the light display and leave a little donation while we’re there. The display is about 15-20 minutes, but we’ll gladly sit through a couple rotations, sipping away and cozy in the car.

  361. Lindsey

    My favorite holiday tradition is the Christmas morning brunch that my mom makes every year. My dad always puts christmas music on to play in the background, and my family gathers around the table mid morning and enjoys a large, yummy brunch before opening all our present.

  362. Candi

    I have 2 favorite Christmas traditions. The first one is, my girlfriends and I go and watch a movie on Christmas Eve morning before the celebrations with family begin. The second one is with family. We have a large family and spent most of our time at my inlaws house. But on Christmas morning my parents come over for breakfast and gifts. It’s the best, everyone still in their pajamas with their hot chocolate!

  363. Christie

    Our favorite Christmas tradition is our snow village. It fills a whole room and now the kiddos can help with it also! We also take the month to really reflect on the birth of our Saviour and how blessed we are. :)

  364. Marlo

    What a wonderful giveaway :).

    One of our favorite traditions is with my in laws…every Xmas eve we have a huge family dinner and every family brings a quick and fun game (with prizes- that’s the best part). Everyone, including the kids, looks forward to it. It’s a night of good food, great family and lots of laughs!

  365. elizabeth

    When I was in high school my parents redid our kitchen over Christmas break. Because of that, we couldn’t have a huge Christmas Eve thing, so the deal was that everyone got to pick whatever appetizer-type item they wanted – but it had to be something that could be done in the microwave because it’s all we had! We also ate on plywood propped on saw horses because there was no table either. We named it ‘Ghetto Christmas.’

    Now we have a kitchen, but everyone still gets to pick an appetizer. It’s fun!

  366. Narita

    My favorite tradition was a tree trimming party. We had homemade summer sausage, veggies, dip, cheese ball, crackers, smoked oysters, and fruit salad with whipped topping. Then we all watched a Christmas movie. Sweet memories

  367. Haley Grossman

    My fave family holiday tradition is to have my parents come over on xmas morning before the kids wake up and then we all it and have coffee while the kids open presents. Although we spend xmas eve together….it’s nice for them to be there for my kids special xmas morning!
    hgrossman at cableone dot net

  368. jessica w.

    I am German, and my favorite tradition was always opening gifts on the evening of the 24th, always seemed more cozy and we got to open them up early!!!

  369. Sarah C

    We always open a board game and pajamas on Christmas eve. Then we all go change and play the board game in them! Its so much fun!

  370. Catherine

    I grew up in the Philippines and my favorite Holiday tradition is Noeche Buena (Christmas Eve Feast) right after the Midnight Mass!!!

  371. Rebecca

    Oh we have been looking at one of these. My room mate and I just started building our own traditions and this would help us!

  372. Shawna

    My most favorite Christmas tradition is making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas with my children. The reason for the season! :)

  373. Kim W.

    Our favorite family pre-Christmas tradition is one I started about twenty years ago. After we fill our tummy with tasty appetizers, anyone that wants to is encouraged to join us for a round of Christmas Bingo. I buy a number of inexpensive (but usually very popular) prizes and then the games begin. I didn’t realize this had become a “tradition” until one year I was really struggling to get the food and the house ready for the family get together, in addition to the Bingo prizes purchased and wrapped so I decided just not to play Bingo that year. When I announced we wouldn’t be playing Bingo, I had a bunch of very disappointed children. They told me they liked to play Bingo because they used the prizes they won as their Christmas gift to their parents! I thought that was very (cute and) clever of them. I don’t know that I would have thought of doing that at their age!

  374. Susan Peoples

    Favorite time is Christmas Eve Communion Service, spending time with family as this is out main time of getting together all year, and the Christmas Day we started going to the movies and wow, I think this tradition has grown with a lot of people as it is packed out! The best part of CHRISTmas if CHRIST our Savior was born! Happy Birthday Jesus! Thanks guys for a great give a way. I would love love love to win this as I cannot afford to buy one as I looked at them the other day .

  375. Misti

    One of my favorite Christmas traditions, especially now that our son is a little older, is driving around & looking at lights. They’re so pretty & so much fun to look at. I love that my son loves them too.

  376. Amanda Norin

    My favorite is family. This year will be even better since we have a 4 month old little girl, Avery. I can’t wait for Christmas this year with her. I love to take pictures. I just bought a Nikon D5100 and I am extremely excited to use it. I look to your blog for information and help, as I have no idea how to use it!! Your blog is great, thanks!!

  377. Sharon

    I love the time I am able to spend with my mom and dad. We will not be able to do this this year because my husband is working out of state and we will be going to be with him

  378. erin

    Our favorite tradition is Christmas Eve…we have an awesome dinner, then midnight Mass and a stop at a local diner on the way home for cocoa and hanging out.

  379. Janet

    My favorite tradition is stretching Christmas out the whole day. My girls were never early risers, even when they were small. We start with stocking presents late in the morning and open gifts all afternoon. I wrap each little thing separately, like a one pair of socks. It’s great fun.

  380. carlita gonzalez

    Since my husband and I do not live close enough to family to go home for the holidays, we spend it just the two of us. We ALWAYS ALWAYS watch Elf on Christmas Eve and spend the night in the living room next to the tree. It is the only night we leave the tree lights on all night long. After ELF we ALWAYS ALWAYS skype the families and then fall asleep talking …. simple but something I love.

  381. Jen Judy

    One of our traditions is to write a note to Santa with milk and cookies on Christmas eve. Santa always responds on the back of the note telling my son about the things he has been watching him do over the year. Santa’s note always ends by telling him to keep up the good work! I have the notes in a red Christmas album for a special memory from each year. Thanks!

  382. Traci

    Favorite traditions…exchanging ornaments the day we put up our tree, baking Christmas cookies, my Grandpa’s potatoe casserole, my Great-Grandma’s roll recipe, advent calendars, zoo lights…the list goes on and on. Just spending time with family, keeping old traditions and starting new ones with my girls. I love this time of year!

  383. Sally

    One of our family’s favorite traditions is watching all the Christmas specials on television throughout December. Thanks for the chance to enter such a wonderful giveaway!!

  384. Keli Young

    We are still building traditions- but we have one where the wise men “travel” through the house to the stable throughout December. the kids love it.
    Thanks for the chance to win- Love your ideas!
    Keliy

  385. Miamnai

    Thank you so much. On Christmas Eve, we usually have a family night complete with dinner and movies! Merry Christmas!

  386. Susan

    My favorite tradition is driving around looking at Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate or peppermint mochas!

  387. Stacey

    Wow…lots of comments! : ) I love Christmas traditions…riding around looking at Christmas lights with my family, breakfast with my hubby, kids, parents, grandparents and siblings on Christmas morning, decorating the tree with my kids, and a not-to-be-missed Christmas Eve party with extended family that includes great food and lots of fun games and laughs. This is truly my favorite time of the year!

  388. Debra

    I have worn one of these out, they are fantastic and I am in need of one. :) I have my fingers crossed, hoping to win.

    One of our favorite traditions is a special ornament for each person at the dinner table on Christmas Day – representative of something special going on in that person’s life.

  389. MelindaB

    My Mom and Dad have big Christmas Eve dinner that they invite friends and family to. But my family started making Jesus a birthday cake and making reindeer, santa, and tree pancakes on Christmas Eve for breakfast :)

  390. Lizbeth

    My favorite holiday tradition is watching movies all day on Christmas Eve and drinking hot cider. We mainly watch old Disney Christmas movies.

  391. Jenn K.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win this! My favorite tradition? Since my girls were born, we’ve gotten them new pj’s for Christmas. It’s the one gift they get to open Christmas Eve and I love picking out the new set each year. They’re 12 & 14 this year and they still get excited to open their gifts even though they know what’s behind the wrapping paper.

  392. Stacy Addor

    Throwing the dinner rolls to family members like football players instead of passing them. Makes scorekeeping more fun!

  393. Brande Vaughn

    My favorite holiday tradition is reading one part of the Christmas story from our Advent Calendar to my daughters (7&2) every night!

  394. April

    My favorite tradition is Christmas Eve. We have a birthday party for baby Jesus, then make some great hot chocolate and go look at Christmas light in our new pajamas. Good memories!

  395. Mindy

    One of my favorite traditions is celebrating my in-law’s anniversary at Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. It’s in early December and the restaurant has Christmas carolers throughout the dining room. This year was their 59th anniversary!

  396. Caren

    My favorite holiday tradition is a family celebration of my sister-in-law’s birthday with a huge turkey and sweet and sour meatball feast, since she was also born on Dec. 25th.

  397. kate

    My immediate family is small, but extended family is large. Right now when my moms side of the family get together at my aunts house there is 104. We have a great time, play family trivia, laugh, eat. It is one of the funnest days of the year for me.

  398. Judie K.

    Awesome giveaway! We have many traditions, but one of my favorites has to be setting up and decorating our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We pop popcorn, turn up the Christmas music LOUD and drink cocoa. I LOVE every minute of it!

  399. Lisa

    Favorite holiday tradition? I’m Jewish, so I guess pulling out all my family menorahs – my kids each have one, plus the one I got when I was married. Love to see them every year!

  400. JoAnna Grimsley

    What a fabulous giveaway. One tradition that we have every year at Christmas is to watch “A Christmas Story”; it reminds my husband of his childhood. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

  401. Dee W

    We stay home, just us and our kids mainly because my husband rarely has a day off, and it’s one of the few times we get time with just us. We cook and bake together. We see everyone else usually the next day.

  402. Taryn

    Growing up my uncle always made Julia Childs’s insanely delicious chocolate mousse on Christmas Eve. When he died a couple of years ago, I took over the annual tradition, and now it’s something I look forward to all year round, and a great way to keep his memory alive.

  403. Nanette

    I have owned a lovely flower shop for 33 years and, since I am a Christmas fanatic, that involves stocking my store with wonderful ornaments to sell. Of course, many of them made their way to my home. Now, I eagerly unpack each one and recall the many buying trips to Dallas, New York, Chicago and Atlanta. So many fabulous showrooms. Many are no longer in business and that makes me sad. But now I have all these ornaments and all their glittery memories to hang on my tree.

    And, it looks stunning!

  404. jahree

    WoW!!! Thanks! My favorite tradition is midnight Candle Light Service, actually lighting candles from your neighbors candle, lights out….Beautiful!!!
    jahree

  405. teresa

    ever since my kids were little beginning dec 1st all the way through dec 24th they receive a gift under their christmas tree in their rooms every morning. sometimes it is just a piece of candy wrapped up (or maybe a christmas pencil)….they love getting their daily gift. my kids are both in college now and they still get their bag of gifts (marked with the date on them) to open up each morning…..

  406. Tina

    My family spends Christmas Eve with my side of the family. We attend church then go to my aunts house. After everyone eats gumbo, the kids play games and open presents. Later, the adults play cards, sometimes till 2 or 3 in the morning. On Christmas day we go to my husbands parents house. We spend the evening eating and opening presents.

  407. Brandi

    My favorite Christmas tradition is going to the late night church service on Christmas Eve….it’s so peaceful, hopeful and beautiful!!
    brandi

  408. tiffany n

    What an awesome giveaway. My favorite thing to do around the holidays is to donate to less fortunate people who live in my community. nothing feels better than knowing you re making someones holiday a million times better!

  409. Jessica

    We have a gag gift tradition with my husbands aunt. It is a riot every year and lots of family members vicariously enjoy through our exchange. Everyone looks forward to finding out what we gave each year. We have sent her some whoppers in the last ten years – an old motorcycle tire with a DVD for a redneck herb garden (it’s on youtube http://youtu.be/-V4es3ngr4A), a certificate for “Best Living Aunt on Dad’s Side” (she’s the only Aunt) and then listing all her names on the certificate (she’s been married like 7 times), and a fake vacation gift package with all the trimmings to look like we’ve booked her a vacation in her home town in the worst hole-in-the-wall hotel…to name a few. It’s fun. It’s the only gift-giving my husband really gets excited about. Thanks for the great opportunity to win! Happy Holidays!

  410. Jen

    My family is from England, and so we have cornish pasties with turkey, my absolute favorite: roast potatoes – that my brother and I always fight over, and yorkshire pudding. We wear out “hats” from our crackers proudly and drink wine until we can’t laugh anymore. And then for desert we pass around a couple of boxes of After Eights, spotted dick, and a different special desert that my mum and I make each year.

  411. Lisa Syler

    We have so many it’s hard to choose! First we go to my inlaws house on Christmas Eve Eve and play games and eat finger foods. My husband has 4 siblings, and all have children and some of them have children, so it’s a HUGE gathering.

    When decorating my Mom’s Christmas tree, we have some clip on bird ornaments, and years ago my husband started sneaking up behind people and clipping them on people’s back sides. The idea is to not know it and look silly walking around with it. Now, everyone wants to get each other with birds and we walk around rubbing our butts to make sure we have not birds hanging off of them!

  412. Stacee

    My extended family has always had a big Christmas Eve get together with lots of laughs, good food, scripture reading about the Nativity, and a visit from Santa with new pajamas for everyone!

  413. Lisa Rodriguez

    What an awesome prize! Thanks for the opportunity! My favorite Christmas tradition is riding around and looking at the list with my daughter. There’s a great display close by that is choreographed to music. Take a thermos of hot chocolate and some lawn chairs!

  414. Candy

    We of course have the tradition of dinner with our families and spending lots of time together but outside of that, we don’t have a real “tradition”… unless you count that my daughter wakes up every year at about 3am… with so much excitement we can’t dare send her back to bed! :)

  415. Heather

    My favorite Holiday tradition is on christmas eve when all four of my siblings arrive at my parents house with all their dogs and spouses. It’s very rare for all of us to be together at once. It’s like a crazy hotel but I love every second of it!

  416. Katie

    Oh! I’ve been drooling over the Keurig Coffee Maker!!

    Our favorite holiday tradition is spending the holiday with family.

  417. Sara

    My favorite Holiday tradition was getting to open up a gift on Christmas Eve. The gift would always be new pajamas for us to wear to bed that night. It was always so exciting. :)

  418. sarah

    My family has always spent Christmas Eve together. It’s super relaxed. We eat dinner and open presents. We always have a great time. It works out nicely that my husband’s family has all their festivities on Christmas day so we get plenty of time to see each family.

  419. Sonya Gilstrap

    I love our tradition of having our kids gather at the top of the stairs before coming downstairs to see their gifts under the tree. Even though they are 18, 14, and 12 now, I love to hear them giggling and begging to come down. Their father and I usually have fun teasing them by saying things like “Wait ’til I get the camera! Hmm…where is that camera? How do you work this thing?” etc. to really drive them nuts! After opening their gifts, we have a breakfast casserole together. Love Christmas Day!

  420. Mandy P

    My family started a tradition over fifteen years ago of getting a pizza and driving around to look at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve.

  421. Pat Upton

    We grew up opening family gifts on Christmas eve and Santa gifts on Christmas morning. 2 days of opening presents is the best for a little kid!

  422. Carrie

    Spending Christmas morning with just my husband and daughter. It’s our only time all season we really slow down and totally enjoy eachother!

  423. Holly

    My favorite tradition is going to Christmas Eve service at church and coming home to see that Santa is just leaving our house, having dropped off the first gift of Christmas!

  424. Nancy

    One of my traditions has been allowing the kids to open one present on Christmas eve…and it always turned out to be new pj’s!

    I’d love to win the coffeemaker for Bob because he loves coffee, but I have never been a coffee drinker, so he does not get it at home. It would be nice if he could. Thanks.

  425. Lindsay C.

    My favorite holiday tradition is reading Polar Express to my students (2nd grade) and then giving each of them a bell to keep safe forever.

  426. valerie schucht

    favorite new holiday tradition (now that we have kids) is leaving a plate of cookies and a mug of milk for santa. and a bowl of carrot and oats for the reindeer.

  427. samantha

    Watching Miracle on 34th Street, going to NYC during christmas to see the tree in Rockefeller center and go ice skating there and of course baking cut out cookies then decorating them afterwards

  428. Michelle S

    My favorite family tradition is starting to play Xmas music starting Nov 26th through Christmas day. We’ll just aways have it on in the house or the car and basically my family and I sing together all month :)

  429. Tina Hicks

    We get together at my Grandma’s house ( she will be 89 in Feb) and the grandkids and the great grandkids get together and bake and decorate Christmas Cookies and then we play games and sing Christmas Carols. It is so much fun. My Aunt sends all the moms to the grandkids out for a nice dinner on her! So this year there was 5 of us! It gives us a chance to catch up since we only see each other 3 times a year! We started this tradition about 5 yrs ago! We also take pics of our grandma with each child every year. It is fun to see how much they have grown! Merry Christmas Amanda! Thank you for the opportunity to win ! This is on my Christmas list lol!

  430. Diane

    Decorating the Christmas tree as a family. I still have ornaments that I put on the tree when I was a little girl. Every year I buy my boys a new ornament. When it’s done, we all stand back and say, “That’s the most beautiful Christmas tree ever!” And it is. Because every year it’s decorated by a family who knows how to love and enjoy the season!

  431. Heather

    We always had “slumber parties” in my sister’s room on Xmas Eve as kids. I can’t wait to start new traditions with my family. I have a 3 year old and a 3 month old. :)

  432. Leslie

    Wow what a generous give away. At Christmas time I simply love being around family and friends. This is the first Christmas that I am married and I am looking forward to starting new traditions. We are going to spend the morning together making breakfast and goodies to take to family =)

  433. veggiemom

    My favorite tradition is stockings at home…just my two girls and me…before heading to the grandparents’ house for the big festivities.

  434. L. Swartz

    Thank you for the chance to Win! Our tradition is baking cookies together, a
    nice cup of coffee would really go well with cookies.

  435. PatriciaD

    One of my favorite traditions was my mom filling our stocking with an orange, lots of nuts in the shell, a pair or two of socks, a pair of handmade (knitted) footies, and a couple of little trinkets. I didn’t even realize how much I’d miss that till I went to college and didn’t get my Christmas socks. She did send me an Easter basket all the way from Alaska to Arkansas though after I told her I didn’t have my socks…funny!! But a cool memory. Wish I’d taken photos of those stockings. Great prize, btw!!

  436. Robyn

    My family has always driven around town to look at Christmas lights. We always made it a contest to see who could spot the tackiest houses first.

  437. Felicia

    I just stumbled upon this website and I love it!! Just made the Cheeseburger Macaroni and it was delicious!

    My favorite Christmas tradition is all the baking and cooking! I love having an excuse to bake in excess.

  438. Amy

    My birthday is on Christmas eve so we celebrate my birthday that day and the Christmas morning always starts with hot cocoa, homemade cinnamon rolls, and mimosas.. then we move onto the presents! So looking forward to next week!!

  439. Ana

    I love waking up too early and enjoying a cup of coffee and cinnamon and caramel rolls with the family. Every holiday we celebrate with cinnamon rolls at my parents’ house, and I can’t wait for this year!

  440. Lexi

    Hoping today is my lucky day! My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas morning breakfast. The tradition has morphed over the years. Sometimes friends come over, sometimes it’s just me, Dad, and my brother. But we always have a good time with great food!

  441. Jennifer

    My favorite tradition would have to be our stockings. They are always stocked to the brim with the most random but greatest things and we open those first on Christmas morning. We also have one for each pet and they have a treat or something for them in it too. I am grown up now but I still do this for my fiance and when I do make it home my mom has a stocking full and waiting for me.

  442. LaWanda

    What an awesome give-away! I would love to give this to my husband. My favorite tradition is driving around town on Christmas Eve admiring everyone’s decorations.

  443. Carol in Florida

    Spending time with my grown children – my daughters come and spend the week before Christmas at home with me and their step-dad (we are all in education, so we have the week of Christmas off work). And, of course, I always watch Miracle on 34th Street while wrapping presents!

  444. Karen

    When my children were little, I read them the book, Santa Mouse. I bought small, stuffed mice for each of them to put on the fireplace on Christmas Eve. Santa Mouse brings them a book each Christmas. I’ve been an elementary teacher for over 37 years and treasure the gift of reading to and with children. Now my children have carried this tradition to their little ones–and spouses! So fun!

  445. lou

    a new holiday tradition I started a few years ago…Elf on a Shelf. I highly recommend it for anyone that has small children (available at most book stores).

  446. Pam

    My favorite holiday tradition is when we put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We turn on Christmas music first thing in the morning, start the hot cocoa and it is an all day event. We just take our time and everyone enjoys it.

  447. Noah P

    I come from a family of 10. Every Christmas Eve, my dad would read us a biblical story and then we would all sing “Silent Night” together. Starting with the youngest, each person would get up one by one and go to bed until it was just my mom and dad singing.

  448. Vikki

    We have Monkey Bread every Christmas morning. I use to get up early and make it when my girls were little but now they are older and they love doing it. It bakes while we open gifts. The house smells so wonderful. Thank you for the giveaway!

  449. dianemarie

    Growing up we NEVER put baby Jesus in the manger until after midnight mass. When we got home we sang happy birthday to Jesus and I (being the youngest) got to put the baby Jesus in His rightful place. My Mom put the manger up on the fireplace mantel and we would move the Three Wise Men a little bit every day across the mantel until they “arrived” at the manger on the Epiphany:) I continue this tradition with my three boys. It’s such a special way to remember what Christmas is really about!

  450. Sara

    We love to watch our favorite Christmas movies at Christmas time! Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, and A Christmas Story are our favorites! We also have made a tradition of baking with the whole family for a day! When we were young my Grandpa would take us Christmas caroling at a local nursing home! It was so fun to bring smiles to the elderly that did not have family to visit them. It always makes me thankful for the wonderful family I have! I am so blessed!

  451. Angi Snyder

    Our family’s favorite tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve, then having chili and potato soup with whichever family members are in town that Christmas season!

  452. Joy

    I’ve been loving your blog! My favorite Christmas tradition is the lump of coal we pass around to the person who does the worst thing the previous year. Sounds malicious- but it’s tons of fun!

  453. Cathy

    My favorite Christmas tradition is hosting my annual Cookie Exchange! It’s a great way to start the holiday season with friends and family. This year marks my 15th year for the exchange.

    Merry Christmas!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  454. Danni

    Our favorite things to do are make cut out cookies as a family & watch Christmas Vacation. This time of the year is great for slowing down the pace of our crazy every day lives & these things are wonderful family time moments in our home.

  455. Crystal

    My favorite tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve with my family. The service is ended by singing SIlent Night in candlelight. My favorite!

  456. Michelle

    My favorite tradition is going to get the Christmas Tree with the husband and kids. We got to this Christmas Tree farm which is so big and has such pretty views all around. This year the weather worked out great….nobody complained abou the temperature. The other favorite tradition is decorating the tree. I love to see the kids get excited about the ornaments they’ve been given…and they have their favorites just like I do.

  457. Amy C.

    My favorite holiday tradition is going over to my grandparents’ house and spending time with my family there. We always have breakfast and then open presents! I love this time of year!!! <3

  458. dawn

    Our nuclear family sits around the fire Christmas Eve and has appetizers for dinner–very, very mellow and loving after the frenzy of holiday preparations and before the bigger family/friend events.

  459. Mindy

    Now that my daughter is 3, soon to be 4 it’ll be so much fun having her open her gifts this year. I always look forward to watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as it’s the best Christmas Movie ever!!! Thanks for the giveaway and hope you have a Merry Christmas.

  460. Candice W

    My favorite Christmas tradition is to get in our PJs and make hot coa coa. Then get in the car with the family and drive through all the neighborhoods looking at all the Christmas lights.

  461. Stacie

    My favorite holiday tradition is to cozy up with my family and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”. It’s so calming to watch the movie while enjoying the Christmas tree. The Keurig will make it even better! I love to cozy up with a good cup of coffee too!!!!!

  462. Christa

    Getting up extra early the last morning of school before winter break and going to the store for bags of marshmallows…vanilla snowmen, gingerbread men, peppermint…whatever flavor my boys want. Then we take our bags, park and watch the sun come up, stuff our faces with marshmallows and head for school. So fun!

  463. Beety Amaral

    My fiance just loves his coffee. He is an avid coffee drinker. I know he would just LOVE this as his Christmas present.

    Thank you and wishing you a very joyous and blessed Christmas season!

  464. Sheryl G

    A tradition that my mom started, and I have decided to carry on, is to make a special Christmas ornament for everyone in my family. I do this every year, and plan to pass this tradition on to my future children :)

  465. Terri

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies with my daughter. My daughter is now 20 yrs young and we having baking ever since she was a toddler. Thanks for a chance to win this great gift : )

  466. Denise

    My favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas afternoon all the presents are open and the meal has been eaten, sitting with my husband and kiddos and atching a movie together!

  467. Diane Dean White

    Being raised in a college town in Michigan my parents rented rooms in our old rambling home to students. When it was close to Christmas each year we couldn’t wait as my younger brother and I knew the “guys” would be leaving to go back to their own homes and we’d have the house to ourselves.

    Those days were special and after cutting our own tree down, we’d put the large egg size lights on and with home made ornaments look at our special tree, standing in the living room corner. Early mornings I would creep down the stairs in my nightgown and robe and just sit next to the tree. I’d plug in the lights and sit in the darkness with the tree lights glowing and think about the special day and all that Christmas meant.

    Things changed over the years and we moved from that first house, but memories of early morning tree sit-ins, and mom making egg nog and special cookies and watching the lighting of the large tree on the MSU campus, will always remain special in my heart.

  468. Beth M.

    I have two favorites. The first is taking the kids to the Hallmark store every year so they can each choose one collectable ornament. We usually go a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving so we can get there before the most popular ornaments are gone. Then I write a little note about why that ornament was chosen on the inside of the box lids. I have fun every year opening the boxes and putting the Hallmark ornaments on their special tree (we have a tree just for Hallmarks!) When my kids are ready to move out, they’ll have enough ornaments to decorate a small tree, and my words and memories written on the box lids.

    My second favorite holiday tradition is giving my kids new PJs on Christmas Eve. They always know they’re getting PJs, but I still love seeing them open the boxes and get dressed all alike. My kids are 13, 10, 9 and 7, so I know this matching thing won’t continue much longer. I still love the PJs, though; it’s something my mom did for me and my sister when we were little. Hopefully my kids will pass on the tradition!

  469. Tina Marie

    Baking cookies with my mom. We’ve done it every year since I was a little girl, when I probably made things harder rather than helped, lol.

  470. Katie

    This was one of my gifts on my wish list this year, but we don’t have enough money for this :( I would love to have this! Like, overly excited for the opportunity to even enter to win it!!

    My husband and I started a tradition a couple years ago where we go buy 1 to 2 “ugly” ornaments each year! We just got a different tree for it. I love this tradition because we have so much fun picking them out together!!

  471. Amy

    My favorite Christmas tradition is making some hot chocolate and the whole family riding around looking at the lights.

  472. Kris Weber

    My favorite christmas tradition is after candlelight services at church, we head home for soup, and goodies before opening our gifts on Christmas eve. We open gifts christmas eve as we have to get up early to do chores before going to church at 9am.

  473. Pam

    Just getting together with all the family. We do my husbands side Christmas eve in the evening and my side brunch Christmas day. Merry Christmas!!

  474. Jhinnah

    My favorite family Holiday tradition is to drive around the town with the family sipping yummy hot chocolate and looking at everyones Christmas lights/decorations. It still makes me feel like a kid. =)

  475. Emma

    Reading the same specific copy of The Night Before Christmas every single Christmas Eve since 1978 and then dating it on the front inside cover.

  476. Katie

    I am so excited about this one!! – My family always has the tradition of finding the glass pickle ornament on the Christmas tree!!

  477. Selena

    My favorite holiday traditon is going and getting our tree the day after thanksgiving after going out to a nice big breakfast.

  478. martina Fegan

    Our favorite tradition is spending Christmas Eve with my Mom (she is now 82), singing the 12 Days of Christmas (our own goofy rendition) and enjoying our Christmas Eve traditional dinner – spaghetti!

  479. Lindsey Gage

    Holiday baking and passing out all of the goodies to my neighbors on Christmas Eve. We always have a fire and open one present. It’s a tradition I always look forward too :)

  480. brillke

    One of my favorite traditions is playing games after eating and opening gifts. The entire family, at least 25 people, plus friends and strays we pick up throughout the year, play charades, cards, dice games, Pictionary, Uno Attack, etc… Its a lot of laughter that makes great memories.

  481. Mary Tamboia

    Our favorite family tradition is getting “Happy” the Elf out of his box. He reports to Santa each night and is found sitting in a different location each morning when they get out of bed. It is so much fun to see them try to find him and makes a great motivation for the kids to get out of bed and get ready for school !!!

  482. Marlena

    Of course children have the hardest time going to sleep on Christmas Eve. It’s turned into a tradition in our home to take them for a ride late at night to see the Christmas lights. By the time we return home Santa (aka Dad) has already dropped off all of the gifts and eaten the cookies because “our house was his first stop”. The kids are amazed every time. It’s my favorite tradition.

  483. Meagan

    Every year since we were born, my brother and I get an ornament that represents something that happened during the year. This is the only gift we are allowed to open on Christmas Eve. I hope to pass this tradition onto my own children one day!

  484. Daneilia

    My new fave holiday tradition is picking out an ornament that describes us as a family and shows our love. Its fun when we are able to go back home and be with all our family and we play white elephant and everyone keeps swapping or trying to get rid of what they got. It makes Christmas much more entertaining haha. All to have a good time together as a family.

  485. Zelda

    What a great giveaway! My favorite tradition is celebrating Jesus birthday and spending time with family and of course, enjoying all the good food.

  486. Pam Nelson

    Every year I make a digital scrapbook for each of my grands. They cover everything that happened in their life from one birthday to the next! I’ll continue the tradition until they are grow, at which time they will have the complete history of their childhood!

  487. Crystal

    Instead of keeping the Christmas presents under the tree, our family hides them and sets up a scavenger hunt to find them! So much fun, especially for the kids!

  488. Cindi

    We have an advent house- my three children take turns opening the door of the day- inside is an ornament that they put on the tree. They love it!

  489. Cheryl Newton

    With my family (before I got married and had some young ‘ens of my own), it was always to go to midnight Mass at Christmas. Now that I’m a grownup (did I just admit that out loud?) there’s no way I could stay up that late! I still go to Mass with hubby and kids; it’s just much earlier these days. 5 p.m. this year.

  490. Erin D

    This is a great giveaway! My favorite holiday tradition is baking Lefse (the Norwegian version of the pancake) with my mother. My grandmother’s parents were first generation Americans from Norway, and they taught my grandmother how to make Lefse and so on. I can’t wait to teach my kids someday! Merry Christmas!! :)

  491. Melanie

    Pick me, pick me! I love coffee :)
    My favorite tradition is opening one gift on Christmas Eve after going to church. All of the kids would anxiously await to open one gift, carefully chosen by mom, of course :)

  492. Melinda Wilson

    One of our favorite Christmas traditions is making homemade Bonbon Candy with my son who is now 22 years old. We do this every year and give these out to relatives.

  493. brandi

    my favorite is opening 1 gift on christmas eve. my mom always let me, but she always gave me something that went with something else…one year it was batteries for a gift i couldnt open till the next day. one year it was a candle stand (i didnt figure out what it was till i got the candle). it was always frustrating but fun! now my kids get one gift on christmas eve. my 10 year old always asks me weeks ahead of time if he gets to open one!
    also, my very large extended family (my grandma had 12 kids!) always goes to the movies on christmas night after everything has settled. i sometimes dont get to attend, but there are always many of us that go!

  494. KTG @ Igloo Life

    I’m so excited for Christmas! I can’t wait to spend the day with my family listening to Mannheim Steamroller and eating homemade cinnamon rolls.

  495. Janelle

    My favorite tradition is being together at my Mom’s house with lots of friends and food! And we always pick names but for some reason we all end up buying a gift for everyone, I guess we can’t help it!

  496. Cheryl

    My favorite tradition was opening one present on Christmas Eve and then having to go to bed. When we were young, our parents usually chose the gift and it always turned out to be pajamas. Once we were on to them, we started selecting our own gifts to open. We always tried to wait as long as we could since we had to go to bed afterwards.

  497. robyn

    My Christmas traditions have radically changed since unfortunately I now live on the other side of the country from my family, and my children visit their other father during the holiday…so now my favorite tradition is eating whatever I want for Christmas dinner.

    Thank you for a wonderful giveaway!

  498. Cortney

    My family doesn’t really have any traditions…. I did like that when I was little, my mom would always make Santa’s footprints in our house out of baking soda for Christmas morning.

  499. Leesa Gentry

    More favorite tradition was with my Dad and Step Mother. My brother, sister and I would all spent Christmas Eve night with them and got up at 4 a.m or whenever Dad could be held off to, always before dawn. After opening presents it was a big breakfast and a HUGE nap. As we got married our spouses joined in the fun. However when grandkids came along it got harder and harder to do. Kids are not to happy to take naps in the morning when they have tons of new toys. Tons of great memories and even more pictures of bad hair mornings.

  500. Jillian

    My favorite Christmas tradition is opening up our new Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve and then taking a picture as a family before everyone heads to bed!

  501. Amanda C.

    I can’t decide my favorite tradition between these two: Listening to Christmas music and baking candies with my mom OR decorating the Christmas tree with my husband.

    Merry Christmas!

  502. Connie

    My favorite tradition is decorating the tree with the old and new ornaments…some are handmade and some are from trips made with special people (and recorded on the ornament: names and date). It brings back great memories.

  503. Louise

    My family enjoys going to the Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at church and celebrating our Savior’s birth!! Jesus is the Reason for the Season :)

  504. Holly Moser

    My favorite holiday tradition would be the “unofficial” annual cookie baking weekend with my aunt. It started when I went to college. She lived closer to me than my hometown was so I went there before Christmas and we baked cookies. It’s been 9 years and we still do it. I love the time we spend together and all the goodies we make : )

  505. Dianna

    My favorite tradition is Christmas Eve. We snuggle with the kids and reading “The Night Before Christmas”.

    Thank you for this opportunity!

  506. Kristen

    I love getting up on Christmas morning, in my new PJs that I always get, and eat a wonderful breakfast that we all cooked as a family.

  507. Andrea Haywood

    My Grandma Anna used to always buy her daughters, and then granddaughters a dated Hallmark ornament each year. For a few years after she passed, her daughters would take turns buying ornaments for everyone. That soon became to expensive. We have now modified the tradition, each buying one ornament and doing a grab bag exchange. So much fun and we get to keep Anna’s spirit alive!

  508. April was in CT now CA

    I’ve been wanting one of these, yay for giveaways!!

    My wonderful hubby is in the military so being so far from family to spend the holidays with them has made it hard to have any yearly traditions. No matter what we’re always together on Christmas and that’s the best I could wish for.

  509. Dara M.

    My favorite Christmas tradition is going to visit my family for Christmas, and having a huuuge delicious meal on Christmas Eve. :)

  510. Rebecca

    My favourite tradition besides the traditional food we eat, is watching the Sound of Music and now I share that tradition with my kids. Thank you for the opportunity.

  511. Nancy Munroe

    Happy Holidays Kevin and Amanda. I have two traditions that are my favorite things to do since my children were little. They are now 19, 23, & 27. When we get our Christmas tree, we decorate it together. After the children went to bed, I put fake snow on the tree to surprise them the next morning. Also we make cookies one or two nights before Christmas for our family and friends that come to our home. Each of my children get a cookie sheet and roll, cut out and decorate cookies with all kinds of toppings. We have had some pretty interesting looking cookies. They are yum and most of all, I love the gathering. It is so much fun and they have always loved doing this. Thanks!

  512. missy rothermel

    one of my favorite traditions is no longer -when i was still living at home, i loved going to christmas eve service, visiting with my grandparents, then coming back home and staying up all night long (or at least trying to) and watching “a christmas story” with my dad. now i’m working on building traditions with my two favorite little people – my daughter and son…

  513. Lisa

    I love holiday baking! My mom and I used to do it together but she lives in Florida now and I’m in Missouri. I’m thinking a Skype baking session may be needed.

  514. Nicola

    I love taking the dogs down to the beach the day after Christmas. It’s chilly, deserted and perfect for them to run around and chase seagulls.

  515. Ginger

    We celebrate Christmas big-time on Christmas Eve. We’ve been serving the same things since I was a child and Mama did all the cooking. Now I’m the Mama who does all the cooking and I love it. Toll House cookies, shrimp cocktail, country ham, chicken salad, dip and chips. I’ve added a few things that my grandsons requested but it’s basically the same menu we’ve had all these years and it wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without those old favorites.

  516. Cathy B

    Even at 50, I love going to my mom and dad’s house for breakfast on Christmas morning. It is great to see my grandson and hear his excited tales of what Santa brought him with the smell of bacon in the air. Yum

  517. Heather

    The Sunday before Christmas we always do a family dinner with my mom’s side of the family, Christmas Day I make my mom breakfast and head over to my dad’s side of the family Christmas – where I play Santa by being in charge of passing out gifts… an honor so GRACIOUSLY bestowed upon me by being the first born grandchild… and one I can’t wait to pass on to a willing cousin (all of them are at least 10 years younger than me.. by all of them I mean all 18… its a little crazy)… Then my brother’s birthday is the day after Christmas :)

  518. Lauren

    We have a wonderful tradition of trading “gag” gifts on Christmas Eve! We draw names about a week before and then each of us tries to find the most ridiculous gift. We’ve gone through neon blue house shoes, a giant pickle lamp, and dollar store cologne! Now that I’m engaged, we’ve introduced my fiancee into the madness and he is loving every minute of it!

    Thanks for such a great giveaway!

  519. Anne

    Time with family is most important. Fun, laughter, games and food (glorious food) is the center of our celebrations (what to make? what to bring? who can outdo who?). But one thing we’ve started doing is going to a movie with as many family members who are interested. A nice respite after the cooking, presents and clean up is over.

  520. Michelle

    First- I love your blog, your fonts, and your tutorials! Our favorite holiday tradition actually just started this year. Each day we from Dec. 1-25th we are doing random acts of kindness. Partially just because it’s a nice thing to do, but also to teach our boys that Christmas isn’t just about gifts for them. We’ve taken toys to the children’s hospital, paid for people’s lunches behind us in the drive through, made cards and treats for neighbors, given toys to the poor, etc.

  521. Melody B

    My favorite tradition is getting to open one present on Christmas Eve. I loved it as a kid and now I can pass it down to mine.

  522. amy

    My favorite tradition is giving my son and daughter Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve. They wear them to bed that night and we have great pictures of them opening presents on Christmas morning in their matching PJs!

  523. Wendy

    My favorite holiday tradition is just being with family. The older you get—more are added to a family but you also lose some real special ones along the way. So savor each and every get together you can. Thanks for the give away Kerurig is the only way to drink coffee!

  524. Stacy Merrill

    We always get together with my family on Christmas Eve. It’s all about the kids and the crazy house and LOTS of food!! Merry Christmas!

  525. Laurie

    My favorite holiday tradition is just being in the kitchen, cooking various holiday dishes — ham, scalloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole.

  526. Lisa

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies- every year my mom and my 4 sisters get together for one full day of holiday baking. So much fun!

  527. Christi Kurtz

    Caroling to our neighbors and passing out candy canes. I love how my kids get just as excited about this as they do Trick-or-Treating.

  528. Brenda

    I always like our family just being together. We never know from year to year, so I want to cherish the time we have together.

  529. Jill

    I have been wanting a Kuerig for so long and my husband keeps telling me I don’t need once since I’m not a daily coffee drinker. Please let this be my chance to win one!! I can’t wait to try the hazelnut cream flavor! Yum!!

  530. Teresa Millar

    My favourite holiday tradition is one that doesn’t happen anymore sadly. I grew up in a very small town. Every Christmas Eve when I was a kid everyone in my family came to my Grandparents for Christmas dinner. Then the entire town gathered at the Hall for Christmas carols. The last song we sang was always Jingle Bells, and if we sang it loud enough – Santa arrived with a sack full of presents for all the girls and boys.

  531. Kristen

    I just love Christmas! My favorite tradition is on Christmas morning, I will read the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth to my family before we start our exchange of gifts. The reminder of the true meaning of Christmas is refreshing. About half way through our gift opening, we always have cinnamon buns and orange juice!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  532. Megan

    On Christmas Eve, we always eat my dad’s famous cheesy potato soup and then open presents. It’s our tradition!

  533. Janice E.

    When my husband and I first lived together we made minimum wage – so our first Christmas Eve meal together was boxed macaroni & cheese with cut up hot dogs in it (fancy!). 21 years later we are still having that as our Christmas Eve meal because it’s a nice reminder of where we started. FYI: Our 14 yr old son is not a fan of this tradition. :)

  534. Andrea

    My mom used to always go all out for Thanksgiving and Christmas with the white linen tableclothes, wine glasses, wine, cloth napkins and the fancy china. This year’s Christmas won’t be quite as elegant, but I always loved it!

  535. cortney van weerdhuizen

    We have a few family traditions but the one that I love is we make a birthday cake for Jesus. I want my kids to know the real reason for Chirtmas!

  536. Mary C Civello

    Lasagna with garlic bread and salad for Christmas Eve before opening one present each. Big ham dinner on Christmas Day and enjoying the family and friends.

  537. Susan J.

    My favorite holiday traditions include watching “Christmas Story” over & over, having tamales and opening 1 present on Christmas Eve!

  538. Anne Weber-Falk

    We have a number of traditions but I think we’ll talk about the food. The one I remember the most are the Swedish tea bisquits. We have had these since my mother was a little girl. We would get them from the Swedish Bakery on Clark St. in Chicago. Now we are all living in the suburbs and it can be difficult to get to the bakery so I worked on finding the recipe. Now I make them for every holiday at home. I’m also sure to make enough for everyone to take home to enjoy too.

  539. Kristin T

    I always go to church, open presents, and then drive to New Jersey to see some family. We always finish the night with a board game.

  540. Teresa Hoffman

    Thanks for the opportunity for Mom to get a gift! I love Christmas and our favorite tradition is having a yummy dinner with my family and then making a flaming coffee. We pour good whiskey warmed with sugar cubes and cinnamon over an orange peel cut in one piece off an orange, light it on fire and watch the flaming liquid as it is lifted and poured into a bowl with a spoon, then we add coffee when we are done. My childhood comes flooding back as our faces are all glowing and we are ooooohing and ahhhing together.

  541. Celia Smoot

    My favorite Holiday tradition is changing the theme of our Christmas tree. For days leading up to buying the tree (and yes it has to be real one) my husband and I debate on that year’s theme and color. This year the color is gold and the theme is reindeers. We basically buy new tree decorations from discount stores and I make some of them (either from beads or paper crafting) and we take a night over some nice red wine and do the job of decorating. He takes the bigger ornaments while I concetrate on the smaller ones. Its something we look forward to every year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

  542. LUcy

    We always buy an new ornament for our tree to celebrate and remember something from that year—many are from that year’s vacation.

  543. Jenn

    This is a WONDERFUL give away!! I have been wanting one of these for months now.

    A Christmas tradition for my family is to open ONE gift on Christmas Eve. The kids all know what it is…pajamas!!! Sounds so silly but they look so forward to it. I usually get my girls the same color scheme as well as the boys the same color scheme. Hubby and I also match. We take a picture every year in our jammies!

  544. Karen

    I love all of the holiday craze…shopping, wrapping, giving and receiving holiday cards, watching the kids open their presents, good food and the family being together. Also love our traditional holiday cocktail – eggnog with coffee flavored brandy. YUM. Will put a smile on any Grinch!

  545. adie

    I would love to win this, I have been looking hard at these awesome machines!

    My fave tradition would have to be decorating the tree. All the ornaments, tree topper and tree skirt belonged to my grandma who raised me. She always made the holidays and actually any day seem special. I miss her so much but I will keep the tradition of family ornaments alive!

  546. Renee F.

    Our favorite noliday tradition is to take what we would all spend on each other and go buy toys for Toys for Tots. It takes all the stress from the holiday shopping away, helps others and we really do have fun doing this. We usually take the toys to the center, they know us very well there. :)

  547. Katherine

    I love sitting in our pajamas, sipping coffee, and watching everyone open their presents. We have a nice breakfast together and then head to Christmas Mass. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

  548. Alison

    My favorite Christmas tradition is all the girls and guys wearing matching PJs for Christmas morning pictures! :) I hope you have yourself a merry little Christmas! Cheers! :)

  549. Jennifer Lassiter

    We load up all our presents and take them to my sister in laws house christmas eve night, we eat finger foods, and get to open 1 present (which is always pj’s from my mother in law). Then we come back in the morning after Santa has been by, and open all the presents.

  550. jenny@boxandb

    One of my favorites traditions is: put on our pj’s, crank up the Christmas music, and decorate the tree!

  551. Diane

    Mine is that even though my kids are all grown and I have grand kids that every year they are all home on Christmas and looking on the tree for those school Ornaments they made as little kids that I have been hanging on the tree for over thirty years now :))
    And also that they call ahead every year to make sure I’m making their favorite cookie or candy!!
    I can’t wait !!

  552. Shelby

    We always watch Christmas movies the night before. I love reading so many of the traditions. Gives me some ideas! :)

  553. Heather Spooner

    We love to bake holiday sweets and and have a holiday themed movie night. Complete with hot chocolate of course. Thanks for the giveaway!

  554. Kaylee Nelson

    My favorite Christmas tradition is going outside and greeting the firemen that drive by on their fire trucks handing out bags of peanuts to the kids!

  555. Carol

    My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Eve at mom’s house. The whole family, 20+ of us, (it keeps getting larger) get together for a fabulous dinner, gift exchange & card games. It’s the best time of the year.

  556. Alvina

    Married a year and a half, I think we are still working on our traditions! We are alternating Christmases with each side of the family so it’s fun and different traditions every other year! I’m excited to see what will come together when we have our own Christmas someday!

  557. Brittany

    My husband and I always make a date out of putting up our Christmas tree. Every year we make a nice dinner, decorate the tree, and then we watch the movie Love Actually :)

  558. Juliet

    My sister makes us cinnamon buns and then we open presents. In the past, we have gone to the movies on Christmas.

  559. Carrie G.

    We have pretty typical traditions… all the ladies get together to bake cookies using old family recipes for a day. And then every year we pick out a special Radko ornament that represents the family over the past year. It’s so neat as we decorate the tree every year to see everything we’ve been through!

  560. Adrianne

    My favorite tradition is baking TONS of cookies and because it’s Christmas, having license to eat as many as I want! I make at least 15 different varieties and everyone looks forward to my contribution to the family gathering.
    Thanks for the opportunity to win the Keurig – it would be so awesome to win!!

  561. yuki

    For 11 years now, I’ve hosted a big oyster and sushi party for my family and friends! It keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. At first, I did ALL the cooking and for the last 2 years, it’s gotten to pot luck (although I still make my own sushi and buy the case of oysters to shuck).

    Thanks Amanda, for another great giveaway!

  562. Amber Hayes

    My family is very into traditions, so we have MANY that we’ve done for years…But one of my favorites is my mom’s famous Christmas Breakfast. My sister shares a birthday with Jesus, so she always got to pick the main part of the breakfast, but it always ended up where our table is covered in breakfast foods and we all gather around the table after we open gifts. Even though my brother and sister and I are grown and have added spouses to the tradition, we still keep it alive and do it each year!

  563. Katrina

    My favorite tradition is baking a fresh batch of cookies on Christmas Eve and setting a few out for Santa. We also look forward to opening our first gifts of the night, which are always new jammies! :)

  564. Tessa F

    My favorite tradition was opening one present Christmas Eve and it being new pajamas, putting on the new pj’s and hopping in bed, and having such a hard time falling asleep knowing Santa Claus would show up soon hahaha Miss those days…

  565. Kristen D'Angelo

    My favorite Christmas tradition is making holiday cookies.. Some of my favorite are frosted sugar cookies and chocolate rolo cookies!! yum!

  566. maureen

    I just love being with the ones we love. It is a blessing that we will be doing a lot of traveling and seeing my family for Christmas. Look out everyone, here we come.

  567. Heather dela Cruz

    One of my favorite traditions is spending time with my family and opening gifts on Christmas Eve at my grandma’s house. I just love the happy sparkle in the air at Christmas-time!

  568. Kris L

    My favorite tradition is helping my daughter get ready for Santa to come on Christmas Eve. We put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer. She is so excited at this point, sometimes I think she may just burst!

  569. tiphaniefaith

    My favorite tradition is spending Christmas Day (the whole entire day!) with my sweet family. It’s the one day year we don’t have a million other places to be. And then a late movie with friends! :)

  570. Jennifer Tait

    Making sugar cookies with my mom and decorating the Christmas tree. Now my husband, daughter and I go up and cut a Christmas tree every year. I love the hunt.

  571. Amy

    We see a movie at the theater every Christmas! I remember being a child and seeing Hook on Christmas Day. This year, I think it’s going to be Girl With A Dragon Tattoo – not the most family-friendly flick, but we’ve all read the books!

  572. Megan

    Spending time with family (of course)… but my favorite “tradition” with my boys is taking them each year to pick out their own ornament. LOVE!

  573. Nicole

    One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to go to the candlelight service at Church and then have people over after Church for good food and fun. Merry Christmas!

  574. Matty

    We always go to see my family for Christmas. We live in Texas and they live in Virginia so we do not get to see each other as often as we would like. It is always a wonderful time when we get together..

  575. Danis

    My favorite Christmas tradition is getting out our Nativity scene and setting it all up! The kids have fun setting all the animals around and looking at that baby Jesus and remember why we all celebrate the Christ in Christmas!! Merry Christmas Amanda!

  576. Elizabeth

    Thanks for offering this giveaway!! My favorite Christmas tradition is my family’s Christmas breakfast that we do every year. We make homemade eggnog and, as we term it, Christmas bread, which is German Stolen with candied fruit in it. Every Christmas nothing can happen until we’re all up and then we’ve made breakfast together, then our Christmas can start.
    Hope that you have a merry Christmas and that Christ blesses you this year.

  577. Bobbie

    I always look forward to looking at Christmas lights throughout the neighborhood with the family. We all load up in the motorhome grab our hot cocoa and drive around. Fun family time.

  578. Carrie V

    I would love to win this for my Dad! My favorite tradition is making and decorating sugar cookies, while watch some favorite christmas movies, like White Christmas and Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas :)

  579. Katie

    We always get together with my family to decorate cookies, then we spend the 23rd at my grandma’s house with about 60 of my closest family members. Christmas morning, we go to my mom and dad’s in our jambes for brunch and presents. It’s wonderful! This year, we will do church before we go to Mom and Dad’s, but we’ll be changing back into our pajamas before we go!

  580. Erin @ GoBananasBlog

    One of my favorite traditions is the food we eat on Christmas morning and all the Christmas Eve festivities. We literally do the same thing every year! Christmas Eve service, pizza from Dominos (used to be the only pizza place open), eat while watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and then open one Christmas present.

  581. Courtney

    I adore Christmas morning tradition. Everyone in Jammie’s even if they are driving over, fruit smoothies, monkey bread, egg casserole, Christmas music and presents!! Love!

  582. Mrs. H.

    my birthday is on the 11th.. ever since i can recall we would by the tree as my present since it was so close to christmas and my parents could do birthday and christmas gifts so close together. Now tha ti have children i still have found memories of this and passed this along to my girls.. We go out on the 11 for lunch the off to get us all a tree!!!

  583. Heidi V

    My favorite tradition is reading our advent book and surprising my boys with little goodies/activities every day in December.

  584. Keri Jarvis

    I so want one of those. My family has to watch chevy chase’s chistmas vacation movie every year. The whole family can recite the whole thing!

  585. Amanda

    Favorite tradition? Putting up the tree and decorations after the kids have gone to bed on Christmas Eve. The reaction the next morning is priceless…

  586. Alicia

    We love to read a different Christmas story each night in December with our two little girls, and then sing a Christmas carol before we tuck them into bed.

  587. Jenny E.

    On Christmas Eve, my husband’s family gathers in the piano room, and sings Christmas carols while his mom & sister play the piano. It’s a special time with us all gathered together. We only spend Christmas Eve with them every other year, but I always look forward to that special time.

  588. Kelly Robison

    Growing up out in the country it was tradition for our family to hike into the mountains and cut down our own Christmas tree. There is no comparison to doing this versus getting your tree at a tree farm. I wish I were a kid again.

  589. Michelle G

    My favorite holiday tradition is our Christmas Eve. My husband and I cook a traditional meal for us and the kids. We eat early, then prepare hot (mildly warm) chocolate in travel mugs and cookies in travel plates. Then we go and look at all of the Christmas lights. It is so much fun to see all of the festive decorations and the gatherings of families and friends!

  590. Barbara J

    My favorite “tradition” is simply having kids and grandkids at our house on Christmas morning. Lots of noise, paper, laughter, and good food.

  591. Bev

    We always pick a family less fortunate and in need in our surrounding area, bought presents for them and provided all the fixings for a yummy Christmas dinner. On Christmas Eve, we deliver everything to the families home, knock on the door and run, hoping they don’t see their “secret santa”. It’s always fun to be hiding and see their faces when they see presents and food on their doorstep!

  592. Kallyn

    My family and I grew up in Germany so we love to incorporate German traditions into our everyday lives. For Christmas, we hide a pickle ornament on the tree. Whoever finds the pickle ornament first on Christmas day wins another Christmas present!

    Happy holidays!

  593. Lauren

    We love getting hot chocolates and driving around to look at Christmas lights! Thanks for hosting the giveaway :)

  594. Wendy

    Our family tradition is to put some hot chocolate (chocolate milk in sippies for the little ones) and go drive around and look at Christmas lights on Christmas eve. We do it every year and the kids LOVE it!

  595. Anne

    Our favorite tradition is not actually on Christmas but on the day of the epiphany – January 6th when we follow the french tradition of taking down the tree and eating a “Gallette de Roi” which is the french king cake. Someone finds the baby Jesus in the cake and gets to wear the crown. So much fun…

    Thanks for the giveaway – I have been dying for a Keurig.

  596. Krystal L.

    My favorite tradition would probably be opening up one present on Christmas Eve. :) That & spending Christmas morning snuggling with my Fiance & drinking warm coffee. :) Next year, we’ll be doing it as husband & wife. :)

  597. Julie K

    I don’t know if I should give my favorite holiday tradition (latkes) or stick with the trend and give my favorite Christmas tradition (Chinese food and a movie), so instead I’ll share my favorite part of the holiday even if it doesn’t quite count as a tradition. I love the time and excuse to catch up with friends and family members around the world!

  598. jenn w

    my favorite holiday tradition is going to the midnight Christmas eve service at my church…it’s always such a special time and i love that my whole family gets together. we end the service singing a Christmas hymn by candlelight….

    awesome awesome giveaway! i love the hazelnut creme flavor, too!!

  599. Stephine Gutierrez

    I Love Love Love Coffee!! I would love to win this (fingers crossed)!!

    My Favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas Eve everyone will get to open one present before Christmas of their choosing (This always helped us be less anxious to peak into our presents the night before LOL)!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

  600. K. Cassidy

    What an awesome giveaway! My favorite holiday tradition is reading “The Night Before Christmas” to my kids before tucking them in on Christmas Eve. My dad did the same thing for me and my sister growing up (all the way through college!) and I am honored to now carry on the tradition with my own family. Thanks and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

  601. Gina Atkins

    My favorite tradition is decorating the tree with my kids. I love to just let them put their little touches on it. It makes it so special to me.

  602. Shannon

    We have so many holiday traditions. The one that I’ve kept as an adult is to go see the local production of the Christmas Carol. They do such a phenomenal job every year! This year is the 27th year I will be going and cannot wait to see the little changes they’ve made to keep us traditionalists coming back for more.

  603. Sarah @ pão e queijo

    Great giveaway! My family and I usually watch the movie, Miracle on 42nd Street, we have a special Christmas breakfast, and open (mostly) homemade gifts together. Holiday baking is also in order!

  604. kristin

    My mom, my sister and I watch White Christmas, drink wine and eat cookies. I have no idea what all the men are doing, but they are missing out on the fun!

  605. Kaylene

    ohh, I’ve been DYING for one of these!

    let’s see… one Christmas tradition: My husband and I always give each other an ornament, relevant to our year, each Christmas. It’s a fun way to keep a collection going and our tree is totally a story of our lives. With a little one coming in February (see why I need this giveaway??), we’ll have to decide if we want to just start getting her ornaments or do 3 ornaments a year!

  606. Amy

    Growing up, our family would always try to find a restaurant open for dinner on Christmas Eve. Then my brother and I would exchange our gifts when we got home.

  607. Amber Barber

    My dad always read the Christmas Story from the Bible to us. (Luke 2) He has every year, since we were babies, and still in our cribs. He now reads this to us, as well as OUR children. :) It’s one of my favorite holiday traditions, with the most important message!

  608. Beth

    Oh, wow! What a great giveaway! Let’s see.. a favorite Christmas tradition. Well, when I was little, we didn’t have a lot of money so instead of getting a Christmas tree, my mom hung garland across the entry to our hall and we decorated it with ornaments just like a tree. Now, even after so many year, she still does that!

  609. brenda smith

    Our old Christmas tradition is making tons of different homemade candies, and this is the only time of the year candy is made. No summertime fudge in this family! Our newest family tradition is to have a pajama party on Christmas Eve. Everyone participates, from the babies, to the guys, all the way to great grandma. It’s a blast!

  610. Patti W

    My favorite holiday traditoition is baking sugar cookies. I did it with my 2 kids and now I have 2 grandsons and this is the first year they helped. My 4 yr old did all the sprinkles and tasted every color of frosting. It was so much fun with little ones again.

  611. Serey

    My daughters & I would watch the whole 6 cd’s of Pride & Prejudice on a scheduled day when we have nothing to do. A cup of hot coffee would be good during the required movie break…. :-)

  612. Mis

    Our favorite Christmas tradition is picking out new ornaments for each family member to represent something they did that year. Fun to see our tree fill up as our boys grow. :)

    Hooray for giveaways and HOORAY for coffee!!! :)

    Merry Christmas, Amanda!

    Blessings,
    Mis

  613. Trish

    I almost forgot! One of the reasons I looked at your Blog is because my daughter is an Amanda too! Our tradition is to place the Baby in the Manger on Christmas morning!

  614. Lauren

    My husband and I are starting a tradition as newlyweds. We have begun to pick up ornaments on each of the fun places that we visit. I imagine after a few years that our tree will be filled with fun memories.
    We are also staying home this year, which is brand new for us.

  615. Norma

    My favorite holiday tradition is making tamales at my parents home. Each of the “kids” and their spouses or significant others show up in the morning and lend a helping hand at making yummy pork tamales. Once they are done and cooked we have lunch together; eating them fresh from the pot. Then we wrap up the rest of them and give them away as Christmas gifts to those on our special “hot tamale list”. By far my favorite tradition!

  616. Trish

    Wow what a super giveaway! My daughter is coming home from college to spend Christmas with me and her Step-Dad, and this would be a great addition to the kitchen! She and I are the coffee drinkers in the house, he is a Mt. Dew guy. It has been a tough year, with my job loss, our having to move since we lost our home, and his Mom having lung cancer, but we are OK, because we have the Lord to guide us and comfort us, and give us strength. Thank you for the opportunity to read your blog, and post my 2 cents. Happy Christmas to all.

  617. Candice

    My favorite tradition is bringing my kids to see all the pretty lights around town while listening to christmas music… :)

  618. Lori C

    My favorite holiday tradition would have to be celebrating with family and friends. Food, music, a movie or two, and conversation. It’s relational, it’s fun… It’s a huge part of what makes this time of year so special.

  619. Laura

    My family always eats chili off of our fine china on Christmas Eve. It’s a very appropriate scene for my family.

  620. Tracy W.

    One of my favorite traditions from growing up was going to church Christmas Eve and then staying up to see where Santa was on the 10:00 news. The weather person always knew where he was and I loved it. We would also get to open one small gift before bed.

  621. Pam Tetreault

    Years ago our family started doing something a little bit different than the traditional Christmas dinner. Now we pick out something that we really like, but don’t have too often and that is what we’ll have. This year we’ll be enjoying Skyline Chili. My husband is the one that picked this year and it surprised me that he picked that because he’s not a big fan of it.. but he said he’s excited to have it because he knows how much the rest of us all love it. Merry Christmas to you all. blessings ~ Pam

  622. Kerry LeWarne

    My favorite holiday traditions is Christmas Eve – we give the kids one present to open – Christmas pajamas. Even though, they know what it is, they look forward to it every year.

    We also read a Bible story each year with the WHOLE family – 25 of us! So much fun!

  623. Rhadonda

    Great give away. Thanks! For about 15 years now we have never tagged our gifts to our children in the normal to-from way. We have done many, many unique, fun, crazy ways. They are in college now and still want us to keep up the tradition. It is stretching our brain to figure out new ways but it is fun and i am sure a tradition they will carry on when they have families.

  624. Paige Burnett

    Favorite childhood tradition was being allowed to open ONE present on Christmas Eve from my Grandma, which always contained a brand new pair of PJ’s for bedtime that night!! I still do this for my two daughters!!

  625. Maria

    We have a Christmas Eve tradition of getting together with all the cousins on my moms side of the family for lots of food, laughter and fun!

  626. Carrie

    I love spending Christmas Eve with my family for dinner (finger foods… my favorite!) and then attending the midnight Christmas service at church.

  627. Christa M.

    My favorite tradition is Christmas Day at my mom’s. After all of the hustle & bustle of shopping and dinners and gatherings in the weeks leading up, Christmas Day my siblings and I spend a quiet, stress-free day at my mom’s, in our pajamas. We just relax, snack, and visit. Later, my brother will cook dinner for us, his gift to the family, and we’ll open gifts in front of the fire. Holidays can be so stressful, enjoying this one day with only my closest loved ones is extra special.

  628. cara marie

    whenever my family gets together for the holidays we make 7 layer bean dip! it is delicious and massive and my family only makes me for me, because i love it so much. or at least they say it’s just for me. everyone else really seems to enjoy it too. :]]]]

    cmb

  629. Melinda T

    Awesome giveaway! Would definitely love one in our house! One favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve and wearing new pjs! And drinking hot cocoa and coffee!

  630. Bekah

    My favorite holiday tradition is gathering at my parents house on Christmas Eve after the candlelight service at church. We exchange gifts (now that we’re all grown and do Christmas day at our own houses) and watch “A Muppet Christmas Carol.” My brother and I spend part of the evening making Monkey Bread to be baked the next morning for breakfast. :)

  631. Kasi

    My favorite holiday tradition is spending Christmas Eve with my mom and brother when they travel home for Christmas. We play games, watch movies and exchange the gifts we bought for each other before the big family get-together on Christmas morning.

  632. Kristine S

    My favorite holiday is to sharetraditions with my loved ones…baking cookies, decorating the tree and giving to those in need.

  633. Heidi

    My favorite tradition is driving around with my boys to look at all the decorated houses. They love driving down different streets and looking at all the lights.

  634. jaimeg

    We invite our friends over Christmas afternoon. We all enjoy a bonfire and a pot of chili, along with the rest of the Christmas cookies!

  635. Doug R

    We always open one gift on Christmas Eve and it’s always the same gift PJs. Not sure why but it’s always fun!

  636. Heather Conroy

    My fav tradition is making and decorating homemade gingerbread houses with the kiddos. Tomorrow I have 12 teenagers coming over to decorate their houses, some for the first time :)

    thank you

  637. Christy

    My favorite tradition is one my mother started when I was a kid. She’s buy a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle sometimes it was holiday theme and sometimes not and we’d set it out on the dinner table on December 1st and work out in throughout the month until it was finished. We’d work on it while we ate, or just gather and socialize at the table while working on it. It was something I always loved and always looked forward to. It’s not quite the same now since we don’t all live together and I don’t have any kids. But if I ever have kids I will definitely be that with mine.

  638. KAPP

    an annual tradition i have is baking cookies with my mom…we talk and laugh, sometimes so hard our sides ache. We celebrate Christmas as a large group on Christmas eve, with traditional food. then spend Christmas Day with our individual families by opening gifts from Santa and spending practically all day in our pj’s. Thank you for this giveaway…have a merry Christmas!

  639. Rachel

    My Dad passed away in 2006, and while browsing Hallmark for an ornament for a friend, we found a candle that smelled just like him. Our first Christmas without him, we lit that candle when we sat down for Christmas dinner… and we have lit the candle every year since. Lighting the candle is my favorite holiday tradition, it lets us remember him without being all mopey around the holidays.

  640. Melanie

    My favorite holiday tradition is with my fathers side of the family…..since I can remember we have been playing BINGO and in the last few years we have added bunco! Everyone LOVES this family tradition! I cannot wait to pass it on to my own children one day!

  641. Wendy Awald

    One of my favorite traditions is doing the 12 days of Christmas with my boys…the gifts are something small and very inexpensive, but they really look forward to opening them each day. It is the first thing they want to do when they get home from school. They first have to write down what they think it is and then get to open it…it is neat to see if they get close or not! Some of the gifts are funny/gag gifts (like a blinking reindeer nose) and others I make more meaningful (like a new ornament).

  642. Pam Hodge

    After our firstgrandson was born, I found a small blue enamel cup that I thought he might enjoy drinking from. After our second grandson came along they both enjoyed eggnog, calling it “Christmas Milk”, so I decided to look for another cup to match the first one. I never found one as small as the first one, but I did find a set of the small enamel cups and a pitcher and tray to match. Every Christmas, I try to bring out the enamel cups and pitcher so that we can all enjoy “Christmas Milk”.

  643. kay

    Christmas with family is a must ! And baking special foods each year…some for family and some for friends. Thanks for the opportunity. Merry Christmas to everyone.

  644. Ashley H

    Awesome giveaway!! I love spending Eve with the IN Laws and Day with my family. Just makes it such a special few days!

  645. Sophia

    Our holiday tradition is to watch ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Love Actually’ in our comfy chair and half on Christmas Eve, and race downstairs to open presents in the morning!

  646. Rachel Elliott

    Oooh, I hope I win.

    My favorite Christmas tradition is teaching my child that Christ comes first in Christmas. Before she can open her gifts on Christmas she has to find Jesus. How does she do that? Well my child has a special nativity set just for her. We set it up for her and then we take the baby Jesus and we hide it. As the years she grows the hiding places get harder. But this year – she is young so the hiding place will be easy. Well – she finds once she finds Jesus she gets all excited! We want our child to be excited to find that Jesus is the reason for the season. After she finds Jesus we read Luke 2. And then we enjoy family time as we open the gifts under the tree.

    Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

  647. Linsey

    My mom is from Germany, so we spend Christmas eve having German food for dinner and then opening our gifts like she did as a kid. It’s one of my most favorite parts of the entire year.

  648. Bri

    Our favorite tradition is breakfast casserole on Christmas morning. Love the smell of that cooking while we open presents!

  649. Mawiyah

    My fav tradition is sleeping UNDER the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve – me and my kids camp out in the living room and sleep nestled extra close 2 our tree :) They love it!

  650. Jen

    My favorite tradition is definitely christmas eve “dinner,” which is really just a random assortment of appetizers. We always ate really healthfully growing up.. so eating a bunch of mini eggrolls and pigs in a blanket for dinner without a vegetable in sight always felt like something really special.

  651. Mary Lea Wolf

    What a great give-a-way…thanks! So I think my favorite Christmas tradition is the meal that our family shares on Christmas Day…with my dad saying grace. We all are pretty spread apart now…so sometimes this happens post-
    Christmas when all the family can actually be together…but it is wonderful all the same.

  652. Terry

    Great giveaway! My three sons insist it isn’t Christmas morning with our our favorite breakfast casserole to start the day.

  653. Marla

    Our favorite tradition is fairly new one, but we (just the hubby & kids & I) find a night when we’ll all be home together & have our own little Christmas, just the 4 of us! I make a big pot of chicken & dumplings & we open presents & just spend the evening together. We usually do this on the 23rd!!

  654. Kathy Iverson

    My favorite holiday tradition is the my husband’s family sleepover on Christmas Eve! We all gather together at his sister’s home, we drink hot chocolate and everyone puts on their brand new jammies. When the kids go to sleep, the parents put out gifts and prepare for the morning! The whole family wakes and spends Christmas morning together!

  655. Denise M

    Our favorite family tradition is having a big steak and eggs breakfast! It is a big hit with everyone, even my teenage nephews and grown kids look forward to it every year :)
    Thanks for the chance to win, happy holidays to all!

  656. Juliana Walters

    Growing up we always opened Christmas gifts on Christmas morning. After I got married my husband talked me in to opening gifts on Christmas Eve. We told the kids that Santa just could not make it to every home in time so he had to go to some homes on Christmas Eve. Every year he takes the kids sledding, or something like that, then when they get back I have everything set up. I absolutely love this new tradition because Christmas morning is now lazy and quiet. There is no rush, just relaxing and enjoying!

  657. kaylene

    my favorite tradition is the yearly christmas portrait of our dogs. we try to pose them just like an awkward family photo. last year we dressed them up in down vests next to the tree, this year we wrapped them in christmas lights …it makes for some hilarious photos and great christmas card material!

  658. kristin t

    Our first “Christmas Tradition” starts on Thanksgiving – we watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and drink egg nog! It really brings in the season…”real nice”! :)

  659. Amanda

    We always open presents one at a time, going from youngest to oldest. It’s nice because we get to see what everybody else received and who it was from :)

  660. LoriU

    Thanks for offering this!! DH and I have a tradition that we exchange gifts with each other at midnight Christmas Eve, after we put the kids presents under the tree! It’s our own little personal time during the busy holiday season!

  661. Sarah T

    Just got engaged and my fiance decided to start the tradition of me (or future kids) getting on his shoulders to put the tree topper on. It is a little thing but I think it will be fun to continue.

  662. Jessica

    I love our new tradition of spending Christmas Eve in front of the fire place with blankets, hot chocolate and a movie!

  663. Courtney

    Now that we are sharing our first Christmas with our son – we are creating the tradition of the infamous walking down the stairs to see that Santa has come, eaten the cookies and had the milk, along with bringing more gifts! Our son won’t remember it, but we sure will!

    A fresh brewed cup of coffee that morning wouldn’t be so bad either ;)

  664. Beth

    I love having the extra time off work and school with my kids and seeing their excitement. We always take an evening or two to ride around and look at all the Christmas lights.

  665. Lisa

    One Christmas tradition started when my children were little. We always have breakfast pizza on Christmas morning. You can make it the night before and pop it in the oven after you open gifts. Now my children are grown and they still look forward to breakfast pizza!

  666. Kerry F

    Our favorite tradition is to have cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. My kids look forward to the ooey goodness every year!

  667. Cynthia

    Christmas is a very special time to “wallow in your family’s love”. Even though we cannot lavish gifts this year like we used to in the past, we are finding that we are going to enjoy the wonderful annual cookies that great-grandmother and grandmother have made. Why is it only once-a-year cookies? Its TRADITION and that is something everyone looks forward too and we all say we cannot wait until next year for those wonderful cookies and smells of Christmas.

  668. Lori

    Ah… love it all! Especially the advent calendars, stocking gifts, driving around looking at lights, cookies, just the beauty and wonder of the season! Merry Christmas to all & best wishes for a wonderful celebration!

  669. Veronica

    I love just the time with family and the glow in my children’s eyes. I have no particular tradition but that’s what I look forward to.

  670. Sara

    My husband and I have been together for almost 12 years and we love watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation while opening our gifts. Now we have a 6 1/2 month old, so we’ll be starting some new traditions with our son!

  671. grannymike

    My children are now 44 and 40, and I have six grandchildren between the ages of 2-18. I think my favorite ongoing tradition (other than all making sure we are together for Christmas) might be one that started many, many years ago. Each child always got a special ornament celebrating that Christmas. When my daughter and son each married, they had a nice little collection for their own tree. That tradition has continued on. Each of them gives their own children an ornament each Christmas, and they also count on one from us as well. Thanks for the nice givewaway.

  672. Terri D

    As a Moravian, I attend Christmas Eve Lovefeast, which is a church music service where you are served a sweet type of bun and cup of coffee. Moravian candles are lit and distributed at the end of the service to signify Christ’s light of the world. This is done while singing “Christ the Lord, the Lord Most Glorious”. Very beautiful and moving. Merry Christmas!

  673. Angela Sarris

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking gingerbread houses with the children. We do this each and every year. Then making cider and cookies and watching a Christmas movie ~ Tangerine Bear LOVE IT!!

  674. Amy

    this hasn’t been a long time tradition, but my favorite thing to do is to take out all of the christmas presents out in hiding and get together with friends & family to have a super fun wrapping party!!! we all get to show off our wrapping skills and pick out the best wrapped presents!! so fun!

  675. Lisa

    I would love to win a Kuerig! Our favorite Christmas tradition is the Christmas pickle. I hide a pickle ornament on the tree on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning the first child to find it wins a special present. My children are grown now, but we still carry on the tradition, they love it!

  676. Karla A

    My favorite holiday tradition is making peanut butter fudge with my grandmothers secret recipe. My grandmother passed away unexpectedly and luckily the Christmas before I spent with her learning how to make all of her “treats” including the families favorite fudge. My uncles say it’s the only fudge that pairs well with beer…lol. I am the only person in our HUGE family that knows how to make it and look forward to passing the knowledge on to my daughter in a few years. Thanks for the chance to win.

  677. GinaE

    Christmas Eve we put on new Christmas jammies and eat a variety of our favorite appetizers as our meal. Christmas day is for opening stockings, gifts and then having a movie day for the rest of the day, until we have something special for dinner. Many thanks for the chance to win. Wishing you and Kevin the Happiest of Holidays!!

  678. Ken Kovach

    I love to watch my boys eyes as they open the many (probably too many!) gifts from Santa….it brings a joy to my heart.

  679. Katilynn Allan

    Every year my dad gets a new Christmas children’s book and reads it to us on Christmas Eve. We now have about 20 of them and the tradition is still going :) Thanks for the chance to win!

  680. Karlea

    Awesome giveaway…thanks! My favorite holiday tradition is stockings. My mom (I mean Santa), was a PRO at filling our stockings. Now it’s my turn and it’s my favorite and most fun part of Christmas.

  681. Janice

    We have open house at my dads every year, we have been doing it for over 50 years, its so great to see people you havent seen in a while.

  682. lindsay

    We always have Christmas Eve dinner at my parents house and my Mom always cooks prime rib. This Christmas Eve we will all be in front of the TV watching the 49ers play the Seahawks. GO NINERS!

  683. April Bentley

    This is awesome. It’s on my wishlist for my husband to get me, lol. We combined a little of both worlds for our kids. I grew up making cookies, breads, brittles, and candies the week before Christmas. And now my kids are doing it (same recipes), plus my neighbors kids come and help too. My husband always had cherry candy canes on his tree. So the kids help buy them and add to the tree every year. We see the lights at Santa Land the week of and get sonic and drink hot cocoa. Last year we added our elf on a shelf to our family tradition. His name is Elvis and he loves to hide everywhere.

  684. Amy

    My favorite Xmas tradition is watching “while you were sleeping” and “Christmas Vacation” on Christmas eve. I love those movies!!

  685. YvonneC

    I think my favorite tradition is sitting in the living room with all the lights off except the Christmas tree with my husband after the kids go to bed on Christmas eve. It’s so peaceful and relaxing to just unwind with my guy. Thanks for the chance at winning such a great prize.

  686. Jenni W

    What a great giveaway! Growing up, we always went to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve to exchange gifts with my extended family. Now our family has expanded to add spouses and kiddos, so we’re trying to decide which house is big enough to hold us all, but regardless of where we end up, we’re always together!

  687. Darla Poulsen

    Christmas eve The grandkids open their Christmas Jammies and we all head to get hot cocoa.
    Then we go look at Christmas lights of course as my family has grown, is multiple cars.
    After wards the kids go home and decorate their ginger bread house kits we get them.

  688. Cecilia

    We always have cracked crab and clam chowder on Christmas Eve then we all open new pajamas to wear on Christmas Morning.

  689. Nellie

    My favorite tradition is having my husband dress up as Santa while we are at my sister’s house who lives in the boonies and just watching “Santa” come through the expansive yard to the back door of their house gets even me, an adult, giddy with excitement! It’s really magical and the faces on the little kids faces is priceless. The holidays are not about the gifts and what you want or what you are getting, it’s about spreading the love and joy that is childlike, innocent and still full of wonder and awe in each of us – young and old alike!!

  690. Holly

    My Holiday time is craziness! My b-day is the 23rd, so I am lucky and get to open presents three days in a row! Tradition is that we spent x-mas eve on my Dad’s side and my Mom’s side on X-mas. Lots of laughs, family ha! Mom always makes fudge and Auntie always makes oyster stew. I always make mimosas for Christmas bfast which usually leads into the afternoon. :) Happy Holidays everyone!

  691. jackie

    We go to church, then have a meal with our family, and then we always go for a walk downtown with our girls. It is so pretty…especially when it is snowing

  692. SuzieQ

    My family has a tradition of getting together on Boxing Day. My sons and I bake a gingerbread house and bring it over for the family to enjoy. It usually only last a few minutes before hands are tearing the walls and roof off! It is a great tradition, that hopefully my sons will continue to do some day:)

  693. Cecilia

    We always have a cracked crab and clam chowder dinner on Christmas Eve then we each open new pajamas that are worn on Christmas morn.

  694. Linda M

    Every year we (my hubby’s entire family) all get together and talk we learn more and about each other each year!. Then we’ll take turns opening our gifts. It’s nice being around family!

  695. Alyssa

    A favorite tradition is mom’s homemade cinnamon rolls, mimosa, and a Johnny Mathis Christmas record playing on Christmas morning!

  696. J Chapman

    Growing up it was always baked ham for Christmas Eve supper. I can smell it now! These days it’s watching Christmas movies, driving around looking at the lights, and lots of goodies to make and take.

  697. Trish

    Christmas morning breakfast is always a Wreath – a traditional pastry, handmade, filled with a ground pecan & cinnamon filling. My grandmother taught me how to make it years ago, and now I do it for my family. YUM!

  698. Sherell

    Our tradition is celebrating Jesus’ birthday! We have a special cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before we eat it.

  699. Mami2jcn

    We always go to farm in the area that has a Christmas light show. We take a hayride and they play Christmas songs and have all kinds of amazing lights.

  700. Emily

    Growing up my favorite tradition was the special breakfast tea ring. We still have a special breakfast. I am hoping to start a new tradition this year of baking a cake to celebrate Jesus’ birth. I am still trying to decide what kind of cake to make.

  701. Jamie Harrison

    Besides just being with family and friends I love that we all open one present on Christmas Eve (usually pjs or a book) and then waking up Christmas morning to see what Santa left us.

  702. Jill

    Merry Christmas!
    My favorite Christmas tradition is putting out my decorations. So many of the decorations have special meaning such as who gave them to me or where I bought them. It’s fun remembering all those things.

  703. katie

    My son is 2 1/2. This is the first Christmas he really can understand and get excited, so we are starting our own traditions. This years new traditions: The botanical garden Christmas lights and family christmas cookie baking night!

  704. Sara pendarvis

    One of my favorite holiday traditions is going to one of our huge parks and seeing the lights. You drive around a few miles and see all kinds then you can stop and walk through the forest with the lights!

  705. melissa

    My kids open a present on Christmas Eve and it is always new jammies for them to wear – they know what they are opening but still get so excited to see their new Christmas PJ’s. I bought matching when they were smaller – now I try to have similar colors.
    My husband really wants one of these coffee makers!
    Thanks for the chance!

  706. Sarilyn

    We get up early on Christmas morning and go to the home of the little ones. We’re there when they wake up and see the excitement of the morning. This year we’ll have 4 generations sharing the joy!

  707. Mrs. K Rasmussen

    This is such a generous giveaway!
    Our family tradition is baking and decorating cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Then we snuggle in for a Christmas movie, usually “One Magic Christmas” or “Home Alone” :)
    Thanks!

  708. *kristi*

    What a lovely giveaway!! Our family tradition is to have Chinese food on Christmas Eve :P We do so much prep and cooking for Christmas Day dinner that we like to take a night off from all of it and enjoy our family time together.

  709. Laura

    Looking at Christmas lights with the family… making gingerbread houses… decorating the tree… making yummy goodness in the kitchen!

  710. Jamie

    My favorite holiday tradition- there are so many to pick from! I’ve always loved making cookie making with my mom, brother, & sister while growing up. Our favorite were snowballs, Christmas wreaths (like rice krispie treats), and Spritz cookies :)

  711. jeny

    My favorite holiday tradition is a tie. I love the date that my husband and I go on when we pick out the oranment for our tree. It always reminds me that I picked a good man. Second- would be the Christmas Eve festivities at my Mom’s house. She always manages to make her house seem warm and glowing.

  712. Leslie Kiley

    Oh what a fabulous way to celebrate the season! I have wanted one of these babies for a long while! This is awesome. My favorite way to celebrate the season is when the whole family gets together and visits the live Nativity and has hot chocolate, warm cider and flavored coffee to keep warm! We play Christmas music all the way there and it truly is a family moment we all remember.

  713. Sara Ellis

    We do family gifts, dinner, and attend our church’s latest Christmas Eve service. Its a candlelight service and at the end we sing Silent Night with all the lights off, acapella. Its absolutely beautiful. As kids, my brother and I would wake up at 3am to sneak downstairs and see what Santa had left us. Now that we’re grown and 600 miles apart, there is no more of that, but we always send each other a message about how we miss getting up at 3am together to see our gifts.

  714. Sarah

    favorite holiday tradition, would be the signing of the christmas cards. my family sits around the table with hot chocolate, christmas cookies, while we all go through and sign, address and stamp the christmas cards. after that we play a board game. :)

  715. Jennifer

    Before the big family Christmas on the 25th, my husband and I pick a free evening to have our own little Christmas exchange. It’s a sweet, special time that I look forward to every year!

  716. Sarah Parker

    A tradition that I’m carrying on for my grandmother is her homemade rolls and pies for Christmas Eve. She passed away three years ago and I’ve slowly been learning and trying to perfect her recipes. This year I’m adding her lemon meringue pie. I’m a little nervous, since I’ve never made it before, any tips would be welcomed!

    Thanks for the great giveaway! Merry Christmas Kevin & Amanda and Miley & Howie, too!

  717. jessjess7304

    Going to my momma’s house (what used to be my grandparents house) for Christmas morning breakfast! I loved going there as a kid to see my grandparents and I’m so glad my mom took over the tradition- especially in the same house!

  718. Lisa

    My favorite tradition is our silly Christmas pictures. We have one photo taken with our ‘serious’ faces on, and another with all of us making faces. Too fun!

  719. Kelly Trunnelle

    My Aunt always makes these French donuts called beignets. She fries them up fresh right after dinner, sprinkles them with powdered sugar and piles them up on a paper towel lined plate. The entire family passes the plate around, burning our fingers on the hot oil and popping the little balls of heaven into our mouths!! They are so delicious and I look forward to them every year.

    Thanks for the chance to win the Keurig, we love coffee in our house and it would go great with our beignets ;)

  720. Heaven Harvey

    My favorite holiday tradition is watching a series of Christmas movies on Christmas Eve with my family, as the house is lit only by our christmas lights and tree. =]

  721. Melinda Shapro

    My holiday tradition is baking spritzer cookies with my son and using my grandmother’s recipe and meat grinder to make them.

  722. Sheryl

    It’s going to be everything for my 3 grandkids! We have custody and they are 1, 3, and 5! We are kept very busy with my husband and myself working fulltime and keeping the 3 little ones 24/7! I really need this coffee maker! I need the caffeine to keep me going! We are looking forward for Christmas morning to see the joy in their eyes when they wake up and see what is under the tree! They love to undecorate my tree now, bulbs are misplaced everywhere but it is so fun to watch them awe and oooh (sp?) when they take the bulbs off! Have a Merry Christmas! We have 2 boston terrorists and I love looking at pics of Miley and Howie!

  723. Amanda

    Thanks for this awesome giveaway! My favorite Christmas tradition is time with friends and family, eating delicious food (there’s always way too much), drinking, and visiting.

  724. Sarah

    Well over the years our traditions have kinda fallen through because our families are getting bigger and older but one thing we always make sure to do is just be together at some point over the holiday season. We get together on some random day and play cards or board games and just have a great time together.

  725. Julie L

    I live out of state from my mom/sis/family…my favorite holiday tradition is going to see them thanks Happy Holidays

  726. Kristi

    We always all celebrated Christmas at my grandparents house with tons of food and goodies and usually watching Christmas Vacation. This year will be our first without the grandparents and I’m not 100% sure what this year will hold for us all.

  727. Kate

    My favorite tradition is getting together with the family for Christmas Eve! It’s my all time favorite time of the year!

  728. sara debo

    My favorite part about the holidays is getting together with my family and friends and eating as much food as I can!

  729. Judy

    Our favorite (& simple) tradition is Mimosas on Christmas morning while we open gifts. I would love to win your giveaway…no one loves coffee more than me. No one.

  730. Jackie

    We have a couple of traditions… we always get to open one gift on Christmas Eve and my personal favorite – riding around town checking out the Christmas decorations.

  731. Linda

    On my mother’s side of the family, many years ago someone bought a funny hat and wrapped it nicely as a “legitimate” gift. It was hilarious when the recipient opened it. Each year, one or two more funny hats have appeared on the scene. The funny hats have surprised and welcomed new spouses into the family, and the grandchildren get a big kick out of the hats. We have everything from the Statue of Liberty to a pioneer woman!

  732. Beth

    I love Christmas Eve!! Santa always makes an appearance after our dinner. My husband’s family has been doing it for over 40 years now (Aunt, Uncles, Cousins, Grandparents all take turns “being” Santa) and it’s a true blessing. I love to see all the pictures (kept in a special book) of all the kids growing up over the years and now to see their children sitting on Santa’s lap!!

  733. jules p

    Our family has a lot of traditions for Christmas. But one of our favorites is making and putting together our gingerbread house. Everyone is involved…everyone helps decorate it. And we have lots of fun and laughs sitting around the table putting it together!

  734. Kimberly

    I love this giveaway, on my Christmas wish list!
    Our new family tradition is to have my 9yr old (we are finalizing the adoption next week, just in time for Christmas!!!) decorate grandma’s windows with snowflakes. Last year it was with a snow spray, this year it was Martha Stewart Snowflake clings, less messy!

  735. Emily

    My favorite Christmas tradition is probably doing an advent calendar together. We go together to pick out a really cheap chocolate advent calendar every year. It’s important that it’s cheap because when we open the doors each day there is nothing showing except a chocolate smear. We’ve made a tradition of guessing what shape is under that chocolate smear before we pop it out of the candy mold. The best part is when our silly guesses like “toadstool” or “Easter egg!” are actually correct (yes, we’ve actually had both of those and I don’t get it either).

  736. Amy

    My favorite christmas tradition is pretty simple. Spending as much time with my family as possible. Waking up early to open presents with my kids!!! I love to see their faces on christmas morning!!

    Thanks for the chance to win

  737. Melissa Reuss

    Would love to win a Kuerig. I would give it to my husband for Christmas. He is the coffee drinker in our house. Thanks and Merry Christmas.

  738. Sara

    Christmas Eve services…then to a restaurant we’ve never been to before. Could be 4 star or a diner….whatever comes our way. Our most memorable was going to a dump of a Mexican restaurant, but had the most fabulous time. Thanks for the chance.

  739. Danielle Sommer

    My favorite Holiday tradition is our families Christmas Eve party. We have been having this party since before I was born. It is an open door party and about 200 to 300 people come in throughout the night. It is a time that I get to see friends and family that I may not have seen since last year!

  740. Danielle Enriquez

    This is such a great giveaway! Thank you for offering it. I have a 7 1/2 month old so my only traditions thus far are just things with my husband, which we make a special french toast, called Coast Toast. BUT I can share one of my future traditions. I just bought an antique key and plan to set it out on Christmas eve each year so Santa can bring our daughter presents. I think it will be an adorable way to explain how Santa comes in and will be so much fun to take her outside so she can find the perfect spot to put it.

  741. Gloria

    My favorite holiday tradition is waking up Christmas morning at home and opening presents just our family in our pajamas before we go to grandparents/extended family. That intimate time is the best!!

  742. Zendi F.

    Our Christmas tradition is opening a present Christmas Eve and going to the Christmas Eve mass and bake lots of cookies with our families but now since we just moved from Seattle to Hawaii we’ll just have to do it with my own little family.

  743. Jenn T.

    We do a Christmas countdown tree each year which the kids enjoy so much. It’s a wooden tree with a cabinet full of small ornaments that go onto it & each day a new ornament is hung. The kids take turns hanging the ornaments each day (we have to print up a calendar so they don’t fight over who’s turn it is). It’s really helpful for my youngest to countdown, but as they grow older, they still enjoy the tradition.

  744. Lori

    Our family always watch It’s a Wonderful Life & Christmas Story on Christmas Eve and then the kids each open up their new PJ’s to wear. It’s always a wonderful time together. I love Christmas

  745. sarah J

    I love that we give our kids Jammies and books on Christmas eve. They get to open something and sleep in their new Jammies.

  746. Ann

    My favorite holiday tradition is giving my children and grand children an ornament each year. I have been doing this since my oldest child (age 40) was born. ~Ann

  747. Jen C

    My favorite tradition is getting together with my mother-in-law a few days before Christmas and baking lots and lots of goodies to give away to friends and family.

  748. Rachel

    Our family waits until everyone is home (I have 3 siblings) and we all watch White Christmas together. Christmas isn’t complete without Bing Crosby!

  749. JULIE REYNOLDS

    Our favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas Eve we attend a candlelight service with my parents at their church and eat supper with them. After we get home, the children open 1 gift from us and it is usually pajamas, then we all curl up with hot cocoa or coffee and watch Alabaster’s Song – a great movie about a Christmas tree angel and the birth of Jesus. My children are all grown now and they still insist we watch the movie every year!

  750. Mindy S

    We have a lot of traditions including baking cookies, several visits with Santa (his helpers, of course, since he is busy at the North Pole), driving around looking at lights, decorating a gingerbread house at IKEA (and eating a ton of candy), and my personal favorite is listening to Christmas music everyday for the entire month of December (and most of November too).

  751. Jennifer Jenkins

    My favorite all time christmas tradition is going to my grandmas on Christmas Eve. we eat until were stuffed, then open gifts and just spend some very needed quality time with everyone. I have been doing this since I can remember. I now have children and get to share this tradition with them…LOVE LOVE THIS!!! Thanks for the chance to win a awesome prize.

  752. Lori

    One of our favorite family traditions is this old nativity calendar that each day in December you move the little mouse to a new number ending on Dec 24. Our four kids, even though they are all grown up still love seeing this hanging in our house and they are always joking about who gets it when I’m ready to hand it down the line. It’s a great memory for us. Merry Christmas to you, and the other of course is watching It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve.

  753. Karly

    Christmas Eve is all about family time. We spend time together, usually shopping in the morning for Christmas Breakfast/Brunch. We’ll go to the coney island for lunch, then we head over the small mall in our community to shop a little more. Then we go to the bookstore for a snack, and my parents buy each of us a new book. This is a yearly tradition, that ends with us all heading home to get ready for Midnight Mass, which is held at 6 pm…then we come home and make Chinese from scratch dinner. We stay up until midnight, and we all get to open one present, which is our new pj’s. Then we sleep in until about 10 am, open presents and have brunch, clean up and host the annual Open House at my parents on Christmas Evening for my dad’s side of the family. And repeat it again on Boxing Day afternoon for my mom’s side. Both my parents come from huge families.

  754. Kim

    Christmas Eve candlelight service and my husband cooking breakfast Christmas morning after all the gifts have been opened…it’s the only day of the year he cooks! :-)

  755. Nadine

    Happy Holidays! Our favorite holiday tradition is new… we just got an Elf on a Shelf! My kids love it and Mommy and Daddy love it because it inspires great behavior… it even stops fights! =)
    Thanks for this opportunity! =)

  756. Kjersti Morris

    My favorite holiday tradition is the party my family has on Christmas Eve… we all are so excited to see each other we sing and dance and have such a fun time!

  757. Cindy

    In honor of my husband’s heritage, we always celebrate St. Nicholas Day. We leave our best shoes out on the night of December 5th and St. Nicholas comes and leaves treats for us. I cannot tell you how excited my children’s classmates were when they found out about our tradition :)

  758. Christine Lynxwiler

    Like so many others, our Christmas traditions are centered around family. We have never spent a Christmas Eve/Christmas Day at our own house because we go to my family’s house for Christmas Eve and my husband’s family’s house on Christmas Day. Those are two of the most special days of the year for us. But what that means for my husband and our two daughters, even now that they’re in high school and college, is that we pick a date around the third week of December and have our immediate family Christmas on that day. It’s always special to look at the calendar together, pick the day, and then anticipate it. When the girls were little, they loved that Santa came several days earlier to their house than he did anybody else’s. And now that they’re older, we all love that we can have our time together and open presents, then still have the whole Christmas with the rest of the family to look forward to a week or so later! Thanks for doing this giveaway and for the chance to share a tradition!

  759. Kayla

    My favorite Christmas tradition are our Santa presents! Santa wraps his gifts in red and green tissue paper and each year we (as kids) got to open our “Santa gifts” first. This tradition is still carried on with my family even though we’re now in our late twenties!

  760. Keri

    My favorite Christmas tradition is making cookies with my dad on Christmas Eve. We still try to do it every year that we are together! Thanks!

  761. Tabitha A.

    Oh my gosh, I want one of these so bad!

    One of our favorite traditions has become the Elf on the Shelf. It is great because each day we wake up and have to find our elf Sally. She is always doing funny things, like making things with legos, hiding way up high in the chandelier, or leaving funny notes. My son just loves to find her and we talk about her all day! Such a fun little tradition we started a couple years ago!

  762. melissa

    my favorite holiday traditon is, even though our ages range from 24-31 my father still reads the five of us, plus multiple grandchildren, the night before christmas on christmas eve, from the same pop-up book we have had forever.

  763. Jennifer

    My new favorite tradition this year is the Elf on the Shelf. My kids think he is the greatest. Bad behavior stops the instant I mention Jack.

  764. Christine E

    My favorite holiday tradition is getting together with my best girlfriends and family and baking our favorite treats all day long. We all bring containers and zip lock bags and divide everything between us so we have tons of goodies to take home to share with others. We have done this for 10 years now and I look forward to it every year!

  765. Melissa R.

    My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree. It’s like reliving all the Christmas markets in Germany…drinking gluhwein, shopping the stand and eating wonderful food!

  766. Lindsay {life and kitchen}

    Our “tradition” is to always be on the move. Our family is all over the country, so Thanksgiving and Christmas are both very busy and usually a lot of time is spent on planes or in cars. :)

  767. randi williams

    we have lots of traditions but one of them is what i cook christmas morning. i make my famous creme brule french toast and a large fruit salad. oh, so yummy!

  768. Mary Katherine

    Even though we don’t have kids yet to wake us up, my husband and I still get up early on Christmas morning to exchange presents with each other. I love this time when it’s just the two of us before our families start calling and we have to start making the rounds!

  769. Emily

    My hubby and I are joining our traditions now that we have our own family. From my side, it’s the reading of the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve. On his side it’s opening one gift on Christmas Eve.

  770. Maryrose

    My favorite holiday tradition is fondue on Christmas eve at my in-laws! I’ve only been married 3 years, but dated my husband since high school and have been going to their house for Christmas eve for many years!…I look forward to it every time :)

  771. Jennifer

    I don’t have just one favorite holiday tradition. I would have to say that watching A Christmas Story and a couple other Christmas movies while wrapping gifts with my mom is a great one. I also love baking cookies with my sister and then walking around the neighborhood and looking at Christmas lights. On a night that it gets too cold to walk (too cold, for southeast Texas is maybe in the 50’s – ha!) then we make hot chocolate or wassail in travel mugs and drive around Houston and see the big light displays.

    Merry Christmas!

  772. abby lanier

    My mom buys everyone new Christmas pj’s every year and we wear them on Christmas Eve. Other than that, we don’t really have any traditions. We just hang out and I usually bake cookies and my mom and sister make baklava!

  773. Amanda

    My favorite tradition is on Christmas Eve we always got to open 1 gift and it was always a pair of Christmas pj’s, a new book, and a stuffed animal. My sister and I loved it every year. I will be carrying on the tradition my Mom started with my son this year for his first Christmas!

  774. Linda

    Thanks for this opportunity….I have been wanting one for myself. I love spending time with family and friends, making gingerbread cookies with my granddaughter, watching kids open their presents and remembering the reason for the season. A tradition is decorating for it all and sitting the kids down and reading about the birth of baby Jesus.

  775. Katie C

    Thanks so much for the chance to win! This would totally be my mother’s Christmas present if I did win!

    My favorite holiday tradition, is making homemade pierogies with my family for Christmas dinner! We do it every year!

  776. Hannah R

    My family always had a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve and it was a lot of fun and a great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. :)

  777. Lauren J

    Every child in our family (college age and younger) gets to select one ornament a year to purchase while shopping. This way, when they are ready to live on their own, they have memories built and ornaments to add to their tree.

  778. Jennifer Ericksen

    My favorite tradition growing up was waking up extra early christmas morning and staring at all the gifts and wondering what I got. Now my favorite tradition is my sisters and I getting together to make cookies. This year I made us all aprons to where while we make the cookies. We are doing this tomorrow. Can’t wait!

  779. Don Pringle

    My favorite tradition is cooking for family gatherings and baking for friends. What goes better than Millstone, my favorite coffee, with baked goods.

  780. Jill W

    Since we don’t have any younger children in our family right now, on Christmas Eve we have dinner and a white elephant gift exchange that is usually pretty hilarious!

  781. Donna G

    My favorite tradition is making goodies for friends and family. Or maybe sitting around with all the lights out and looking at the Christmas tree while carols are playing. Add a nice cup of coffee, cocoa or whathaveyou and it’s even better…

  782. Susan B

    We go to see Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo. I may attempt some pictures this year with the help of your photography tutorials. Merry Christmas!

  783. Sarah S

    My three sisters and I help decorate our parents Christmas tree. We each have an angel ornament that our mom purchased for us the year we were born and our angel ornaments are the first ornaments on the tree. Mom even takes a picture of us each year hanging the angel oranament.

  784. Rachel C.

    On Christmas Eve we always go to Disney for lunch and to look at decorations. On Christmas after church and presents, we hang out and watch all the NBA games!

  785. Pam Capone

    For the last 20 years our tradition on Christmas morning is having Chorizo burritos for breakfast. Bristol Farms in California makes the best fresh chorizo I have ever had. We have now moved to Utah and when my daughter goes back to visit her boyfriend (yep a long distance romance) she brings me back 3 lbs of chorizo at a time and I freeze it. We are ready for our Christmas breakfast.

  786. Laura S.

    My favorite tradition growing up was my grandparents huge Christmas Tree. Every year, my grandpa would drive up north to the cabin and cut down his own Christmas tree. The ceiling in their dining room was two stories tall, and he would get trees that would touch the ceiling. They would take up practically the entire room, going from one wall to the other. They were absolutely spectacular.

  787. Carleen

    Thank you for the opportunity to win such a great giveaway. My daughters & I bake up a bunch of cookies for family and neighbors.

  788. Samantha D

    Every year our family gets together on Christmas Eve for dinner and to celebrate Grandma’s birthday. Grandma passed away a year ago now, but the family still gets together and celebrates.

  789. Sarah Ramsey

    Every Christmas Eve my husband and I drive through the old neighborhoods and look at the Christmas lights and then go over to his family’s house for a Christmas dinner and gift exchange. And of course our Christmas traditions are not complete without watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” at least once!

  790. Lisa Y.

    One of our favorite traditions is to decorate gingerbread houses. My kids absolutely LOVE it…even my 15 year old son, who is too cool for most everything else!

  791. Amy S

    My favorite Christmas tradition is (well was) waking up super early with my siblings, knowing that Santa came. We’d turn on a Christmas movie and wait for my parents to wake up, giddy with excitement (sometimes we’d peek inside the wrapping paper LOL). When they woke up, my Dad would take out the camcorder (it was a must) and tape us all opening our gifts and thanking Santa!

  792. Deborah Hallenbeck

    I always had wonderful Christmas Memories as a child and then with my children. 10 years ago by father passed away on Christmas eve and it was really rough at first, but one of our treasured memories of my father was sitting at the counter and drinking coffee………the Kureig might remind of my dad and their grandfather.

  793. Lisa W

    I love just about everything about Christmas, but my favorite family tradition is choosing our tree at our local Christmas tree farm and decorating it with our sons, while listening to Christmas music. :)

  794. Sylvia Roberts

    We always spend Christmas Eve with my husbands family and usually do a white elephant gift exchange. We’ve given gifts from old door hinges to a box of used books but we always have a wonderful time!

  795. Véronique

    My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas morning brunch! I am surrounded by everyone I love, we are all in our jammies, relaxing, eating and enjoying our time together! Happy Holidays to all! :)

  796. Regina

    my husband complains every day about our coffee pot, he says it does not stay hot enough. Maybe he would not complain if we had this one!

  797. Jenny Ulland

    Yay! My favorite holiday tradition is getting starbucks with my family and driving around looking at lights while drinking our hot drinks :)

  798. Patty

    Christmas Eve Dinner with family and friends before going to church is the best tradition in our house. I get a lil’ crazy with all of the preparations for dinner, but once we are all seated at the table(s) a peace and contentment settles in as I prepare to celebrate the Birth of Christ. A cool coffee maker would really come in handy, too!! lol

  799. Dani @ Cloud 8½

    My favorite tradition is Christmas morning brunch with my Mom’s side of the family. My grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins – we all used to cram in my grandparents’ house and exchange gifts and play with toys. Now that we’re older and the next generation is growing rapidly, we’ve moved to my Mom’s more spacious home, but the fun and excitement is still there.

  800. Leanne

    Every year my husband and I go drive around looking at Christmas lights. We listen to Christmas music and drink hot chocolate while exploring new areas of town. It is such fun!

  801. Kathee Kiefer

    My favorite family tradition is watching the old version of Christmas Carol, the one with Allister Simms. Our family used to gather around the old black and white TV. Now 2000 miles away from my family, I feel close to them all when I watch this old movie on Christmas eve.

  802. Hattie

    My favorite tradition is waking up to my mom’s famous breakfast casserole on Christmas morning and stuffing my face while we open our stockings!!

  803. CindyML

    Wow. So generous. Thanks for the chance to win. I love your blog.
    I have been toying with the idea of this coffeemaker, but haven’t taken the plunge. It would be great to win this. Thanks so much. CindyML

  804. Rebecca Lopez @ The Crafted Sparrow

    We have a few…Christmas Eve consists of pj’s delivered straight from the North Pole to our boys from the Elves, then a drive around some of the beautiful neighborhoods to check out Christmas lights while drinking hot cocoa in the car! Then home for Christmas stories (bible, and Twas the night before Christmas). Christmas Day consists of an all out buffett of appetizer food all day long, movies, playing games and lounging around with family. It’s a no muss and no fuss kind of day for us, just relax and enjoy the day! Thanks for letting us share. What a great giveaway!

  805. Deneen

    Our favorite holiday tradition is putting up our Christmas tree together and talking about each of ornaments and what they mean to each of us. We also enjoy a favorite holiday snack of Candy canes in Oranges. (you break the hook off the candy cane, cut a small hole in the orange, poke the broken end of the candy cane into the orange and then suck on the candy cane while you sqeeze the orange until you start getting orange juice through the candy cane like a straw yum)

  806. June

    My favorite Christmas traditions is baking cookies with my daughter and Christmas Eve dinner at our house with my family!!! Thanks for the chance to win this awesome giveaway which is on my wish list already!!!

  807. BettyC

    Christmas with family. And my Mom’s peanut brittle. I still make it every year from the recipe that she had used since the 1950’s–Puffy Peanut Brittle.

  808. Kathy

    My favorite family tradition is having champagne while opening gifts on Christmas morning. The fire is going, the room is warm and cozy, in our PJ’s. Ahhh the memories! Happy Holidays!

  809. Amy

    Amanda, you have the best giweaways. We have Kuerig at work and it is so nice just to make one cup at a time. Plus, I’m not really a coffee drinker and it makes the best hot water for tea! Thanks

  810. Kristen S.

    Making holiday cookies with my mom on Christmas Eve day, and then going to church candlelight service at night. My favorite part of Christmas!!

  811. Debra D.

    One of my favorite traditions is we go to a candelight service on Christmas Eve, then out for a nice dinner. It has become even more precious since our children are grown but still always look forward to this special evening!

  812. Megan Doddridge

    Living in Japan this year for the second Christmas in a row, we’re going to start skype Christmas caroling friends and family back home!

  813. Doris

    My newest favorite tradition is me baking sugar cookies so the grandsons can decorate them – only to have their mothers spend HOURS decorating a few until they are perfect. We still say it is for the little kids but the big kids have more fun. Merry Christmas to you and Kev!

  814. Erika

    I love spending Christmas Eve with my mom. We eat yummy junky food and watch Christmas movies. Then, we wake up early on Christmas morning to see what Santa left :)

  815. ruthie

    I love having christmas eve and christmas day celebrations. My parents (and anyone else who is around) will come up on christmas eve and spend the night. We have lots of food and open some gifts. My parents always allowed us to open one gift on christmas eve. On christmas morning my husands brothers and sisters will come for egg nog and snacks before heading home to enjoy christmas day with their families. Our family will enjoy the day, eat, open gifts and we usually have friends that stop over for desserts. It is a wonderful day of family, friends, good food and good cheer! happy holidays to all!!

  816. Krista

    How fun!! One of our holiday traditions is having a Lego Christmas Advent box. My and my hubby put together an advent box filled with ‘christmas’ type lego things. Then my kid get to open a box each day. We have a little mini Christmas village (but a lego version) It is so special to my kids.

  817. Linda

    My favorite holiday tradition is having my husband leave the St. Nicholas bag on the porch Dec. 5 eve. He calls rings the phone when he is close to home and hangs up so i know it is him and I make an excuse to get kids downstairs-I need help with carrying up something-wink wink. He leaves the bag and bangs on the door really really loud. Annnnddddd we all scream and run upstairs. St. Nicholas has arrived!

  818. Lisa

    Our “traditions” change a little each year based on other family plans, but the one thing I like to keep constant is a quiet, relaxed Christmas Eve with only my husband and son. We open a few presents and have a casual dinner and just spend time together. It’s great!

  819. Debbie Olson

    I Love Keurig!

    One of our most meaningful Christmas traditions is hearing Grandpa read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.

    Thank you for a chance to win!

  820. Cheryl Fillers

    I try to make at least 1 handmade gift for each person I gift to in addition to their gift I am giving them, be it a handmade card or ornament , or ediable food or candy . jewelry, something crafty . bookmark, Thanks Cheryl
    ps I was asking for a new coffee pot for Christmas . Maybe I will win 1 of these > could I be so lucky ?
    Merry Christmas………………………………..

  821. Michelle

    My favorite tradition is seafood gumbo at my grandmother’s house with all of the aunts, uncles, and cousins on Christmas Eve.

  822. shara bachman

    keurig! my husband has been DYING for one of these and it just isn’t in the budget.

    our favorite tradition is ‘hiding’ baby jesus in the nativity scene. then first thing christmas morning, the kids go searching for him to put him in the manger. helps keep the real meaning the first thing they think about instead of presents!

  823. Rachael

    Oh, this giveaway is making me ecstatic! On Christmas Eve, my mom’s side of the family comes over and we all open presents and spend time together. My aunt makes a birthday cake for Jesus every year and we sing to him. Then on Christmas day, my dad’s side of the family visits and brings loads of food for us sit around and eat while we enjoy one another’s company and share gifts. It’s never ceases to be a blast!

  824. Donna

    In our family, everyone- even the adults- get a Christmas Stocking. They get opened first to keep the little ones busy while the grown ups make coffee and stick Oven French Toast in to bake!

  825. Deborah Raney

    I would LOVE a Keurig for my office! One of our favorite family traditions when our kids were little was our snowflake contest. We’d spend an evening cutting snowflakes from white paper, then dad (and artist) would judge the top 20 or so (everybody was a winner, of course!) and we’d hang those in our front picture window as cheap Christmas decorations.

    I LOVE your blog!
    Deb~

  826. sarah

    I LOOOOVE the holidays. We have some fun traditions like cooking with my mom or playing white elephant but I have decided when I have a family we will make a birthday cake for Jesus each Christmas. How FUn!

  827. Amy Wetzel

    I would love to own a Keurig Coffee Maker. I live in a small town where there is no coffee shops with variety. This would be a great way to wake up in the morning with whatever coffee flavor that I want. I am a single girl living on my own and can’t afford to buy a nice coffee maker. Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

  828. Teri

    My favorite Christmas tradition…..well, it starts on Thanksgiving day. After our guests leave, we go through the newspaper ads and plot our course for Black Friday shopping. We get up at about 2am and head out for a day of malls, crowds, and plenty of coffee to stay awake. When we get home we wrap what we can, and watch a Christmas movie and prepare for getting our tree the next day and decorating the house. I love the whole season!!!

  829. Gay H.

    Every other year we drive to Houston to spend Christmas with my daughters and their husbands. Because they live less than 30 miles from Galveston, we have a tradition of driving there on Christmas Eve and walking along the beach. It’s a fun tradition!

  830. Crystal

    Driving around looking at all the Christmas lights. My parents used to take us when we were kids and now I love taking my own daughter :)

  831. Tara C.

    I love the holiday seasons. One of my favorite traditions is acting out the nativity with my family on Christmas Eve. My daughter always insists that my husband play the part of the donkey and whoever plays Mary that year has to ride on his back. LOL

  832. Gaye

    Our Christmas tradition started when my girls were very young. My dad started taking them stocking stuffing shopping on christmas eve morning. He would take them to breakfast and then to Freds or Walgreens to buy an item for everyones stocking. The tradition has continued and my first grandson went on his first stocking stuffing shopping trip last year. They now go to Perkins for breakfast and then to Walgreens for shopping. With everyones busy schedule, they might not go on Christmas Eve but always one day during the week of Christmas! This is such a special tradition to me. My dad is celebrating his 84 birthday! Merry Christmas, Gaye

  833. Wanda Cullen

    My family always reads the Christmas story from the Bible right before opening our gifts…a great reminder of what the season is really about! Thanks for the great chance to win a Keurig!

  834. Brenda Hinson

    My favorite Christmas Tradition is probably decorating the tree and also reading the story of Jesus’s Birth in the bible on Christmas morning.

  835. Maria

    Thank you Amanda! Our family tradition for the last 11 years has been to go on a trip (to Disneyland and last year a cruise) but this year we are staying in our new house. We are so excited to have a big decorated tree this year and experience Christmas in a new way… but we are always together. Thank you for this awesome giveaway. We have been thinking about getting one of these. Crossing my fingers :) Happy Holidays!

  836. Jan N

    Besides the “normal” traditions of family, food and friends, my favorite tradition for Christmas is Prairie Farms Peppermint Stick ice cream! Yummy!

  837. Becky

    What a wonderful giveaway! I love coffee! We have many traditions but I love decorating the tree with my now 28 year old daughter…for years our tradition is to sip eggnog out of fancy wine glasses while we decorate. Even though she lives in another city now I always plan my decorating on when she will be home…this year when we set the date she immediately said…”Now don’t forget the eggnog!” Also, I always give her Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve and she wears them that night…been doing that for 28 years…next year she will be married…so I guess I will be buying 2 pairs of Christmas pajamas…one for her and one for my new son! Merry Christmas!!

  838. SalBug

    My family gathers two weeks before Christmas for our 35-year old tradition of lighting a yule log, drinking wassel, and all sorts of other things. That then leaves us free to spend Christmas itself with our in-laws or stay home.

  839. Amy

    My favorite holiday tradition is enjoying appetizers with my family (baked brie and stuffed mushrooms!), followed by midnight mass, and opening ONE gift by the tree! :)

  840. Jennifer@ ItSuxToBeFat

    My favorite holiday tradition is eating breakfast with my whole family, my dad’s eggs benedict and then opening gifts together afterwards. After that, a huge lunch! Yummy!

  841. Tina B

    Thanks for a great giveaway…our tradition is just spending time with my mom, dad, sister and her family and my family and just making memories to last a lifetime.

  842. Shayna

    We love to make sugar cookies and decorate them a few days before Christmas! What fun! Then, if we’re lucky and we have enough snow, we ride snowmobiles the day after Christmas and enjoy a picnic lunch!

  843. Deanna Roumimper

    Every year, I take in “Strays”, all my friends and Military friends who do not have family in the area to celebrate the holidays. I do up a big lunch/dinner and we play games and have a great time being together. We create our very own family holiday.

  844. Patricia

    It has been just me and my two sons for a long time. But this year we welcome a daughter-in-law to join our family. Our tradition has been to enjoy blueberry muffins, juice and, of course, coffee as we open gifts on Christmas morning. The new coffeemaker would certainly enhance our tradition. Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

  845. Katie

    We started a tradition last year of making a birthday cake for Jesus with our son. It helps him connect the true meaning of Christmas.

  846. Koren H

    My children and I bake a birthday cake for Jesus. The, on Christmas Day, we sing “Happy Birthday” to Him. :)

  847. Samantha

    We always go to eat on Christmas Eve, followed by a drive through local neighborhoods to look at lights, followed by midnight mass. Then we get to go to bed. The kids wake up super early and my mom bakes an egg strata and we open presents then it’s time to eat. Love this!

  848. Brittany

    Every year when we decorate the Christmas tree, we watch the movie Christmas Vacation (Randy Quaid, Chevy Chase). Even though we’re in our own apartment this year, we went to my mom and dad’s to help them with their tree and watch the movie. Every Christmas morning, my mom also makes biscuits and homemade sausage gravy. The food is so much better than the gifts! :)

  849. Nicci

    Every year my brother and I get up early, open our stockings, and then start the coffee and tea for my parents before we open presents on Christmas morning.

  850. Charanne

    I cherish time spent with my family in front of the fireplace reading the CHRISTmas Story on CHRISTmas Eve. Jesus and family….. could it get in better???? Thanks for the opportunity to win! Merriest CHRISTmas Amanda!

  851. Lesa

    The family time is my absolute favorite, followed closely by the opening of one present on Christmas Eve – with hot cocoa of course!

  852. Abby

    I love opening my stocking on Christmas morning. We always did that first as kids and now my husband and I do it too.

  853. Mindy Stell

    I love the lights! I think it just brings out the spirit in all of us! Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful prize! I hope you have a wonderful Holiday!

  854. Stacey

    having a new son I plan on starting some new traditions of our own. Our first maybe going to see the tree at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day!!

  855. Karen G

    My favorite tradition is getting to spend time with family….we live close (within 2 hours of each other) but never seem to find the time to get together so its always a family fun time.

  856. Felicia K.

    Making cookies with the kids but our fave tradition is going out day after xmas (my mom’s bday) with my mom looking for deals on everything. We make a whole day of it and this year both my girls are coming with us!

  857. Nancy

    I love getting out all the Christmas decorations and remembering past holidays – it’s like spending time with old friends! Thanks so much!

  858. Valerie Garbo

    We always spend time as a family together and open presents Christmas morning, then we sit down to a ham dinner.

  859. Kristin Kneupper

    I love gathering around the table each night of December reading devotions and lighting the advent candles.

  860. Jill Smith

    So many favorite memories and traditions hard to pick just one but as a child I loved going to my grandma and great grandma’s house to spend time with family and open presents! Thanks for the chance to win! Love love love your blog!

  861. Crystal Loftus

    My favorite Christmas memory is having all the family come together for the holidays. When I was little there was nothing cooler then having cousins coming from far away to camp out in my bedroom & share in the holiday magic. The hustle & bustle of a full house was do fun!

  862. Jynelle

    Eggs Benedict for breakfast for Christmas morning!!! Then the BEST part of the day is just hanging with my family……those are the memories.

  863. Jules

    My mom and dad fix a huge breakfast every Christmas morning. We have every breakfast food imaginable and it’s wonderful!! After breakfast we open our gifts.

  864. Ashley Mays

    My favorite tradition is that we don’t have any traditions! :-) I love doing something different every year and experiencing new things.

  865. Thao

    We would go to the movies on Christmas eve. Then on Christmas day, my family and I would go to the local homeless shelter to volunteer.

  866. Denise

    Our traditions have changed throughout the years now that our children have grown. My favorite newer tradition is wrapping presents for the needy children of our town the saturday before Christmas . My son is a volunteer firefighter and each year on Christmas eve the firefighters take a several firetrucks with a santa to deliver toys to the children. We go to the firestation and watch them load the trucks as high as they can with the toys. All throughout our town you can here the sirens blaring as they make their stops. Some years we get to ride in the truck and visit the children as they receive their presents from Santa. It is such a blessing to watch the smiles across their face. We are starting a new tradition this year as my grandson is 11 months old. We are going to his house for a misfit breakfast Christmas day. A Kuerig would be perfect.

  867. Amy

    We always have a huge family Christmas party on Christmas Eve, we stay very late and the kids actually sleep in on Christmas morning. I love the fact that I get to wake THEM up on Christmas morning!!! :)

  868. Sheri

    Our favorite tradition is leaving cookies and milk out for Santa. We also NEVER forget to leave some cheese out for Santa Mouse, a character in our favorite Christmas book!

  869. Jessi

    One of my favorite family traditions comes from my husband’s family. Each Christmas we all bundle up in our coats and blankets and drive around looking at Christmas lights either in a convertible or with all the windows rolled down. It’s like our makeshift sleigh ride. We make sure to bring warm apple cider or hot chocolate and Christmas cookies!

  870. Lisa

    Our family tradition is making homemade sausage rolls with puff pastry to give to family and friends. Everyone looks forward to their sacks each year. We enjoy roling them out. Great family time. Merry Christmas!

  871. anne marie

    Our tradition is to open gifts from family and friends xmas eve, with a large dinner with friends. The xmas morning we open santa gifts,go to church, then brunch with my in-laws. We also celebrate our anniversary, because we were married on christmas day. Together time with family is top of our list.

  872. Annette Mummery

    Our favorite holiday tradition is to spend a long time looking at the gifts in our stocking. Then take a break for our traditional egg dish, then after a coffee refill, on to the big presents.
    Our daughter is home from college after her first quarter. She wants every tradition to be as it always was!

    I can’t wait!!

  873. Tasha

    We make a movie every Christmas Eve with iMovie. They are usually hilarious and only make sense to the people in them. Hopefully everyone will be able to make this year so that I can improve my editing skills. :)

  874. Jennifer Horn

    My favorite holiday tradition is spending Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve) with my in-laws. We always eat at our favorite Japanese restaurant.

  875. Urban Wife

    What an awesome giveaway!
    Our little tradition is picking out a fresh Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and listening to Christmas music while decorating it.

  876. Gretta

    Each Christmas Eve after we have let the kids open their gifts from us, we sit in the floor around the Christmas tree and read the birth of Jesus out of the Bible. Then we talk about the true meaning of Christmas with them and pray together. As the kids have got older (6, 8 & 10) they are able to read parts of the Nativity Story with us and it is so special each year.

    bamagv at aol dot com

  877. Tammy

    I have a 3 yr old son and each year I am trying to add in a new tradition. This we added the Elf on Shelf and it’s made each morning a lot fun. I love seeing him run around the house looking for our elf named Jolly.

  878. Jaan

    Does doing EVERYTHING at the very last minute count? But, besides that we do have some wonderful home made ice cream from a different area of our city on Christmas Day. I know its a weird one, but it works for us. Happy Holidays!

  879. Sasha

    Cracked out Christmas with mom and sister! We stay up really really late Christmas eve, get “owly” and wrap presents and have cocktails. The laughter that ensues is always the best!

  880. Yer

    My holiday traditions: baking/cooking, big dinner with families and walking in my town 2 miles “Christmas Tree Lane”. (neighborhood with tons of Christmas decorated lights and designs).

  881. Courtney @ Cookin Up Life

    My mom, sister, and myself always watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve :) Dad and the boys always skip out, but us girls have the best time!! Traditions are the best :) Merry Christmas!

  882. ChristiL

    Since our children were babies, we dressed in festive pajamas, loaded into the car on Christmas Eve and rode through town looking at Christmas lights. It was a great way to spend time together and settle the ‘Santa excitement’ before bedtime. Our oldest is home from college for the holidays – he’s a freshman – and already put in his request to continue the tradition.

  883. Angela Hohneke

    We always look forward to eating our Christmas breakfast which I have eaten since I was a little girl. German pancakes with cinnamon apples and vanilla ice cream and kielbasa. (The kids love being able to have ice cream for breakfast!)

  884. Charlee

    My favorite family tradition is Christmas stockings. Everyone gets one and they are always chock full of the coolest stuff.

  885. Beth

    My favorite holiday tradition is the all-nighter Christmas present wrapping extravaganza we (my aunts, cousins and myself) pull every year, without fail, on Christmas Eve. Nothing like a little bit of procrastination – and no sleep – to really kick off Christmas :)

  886. Sarah`

    My favorite tradition is a new one…elf on the shelf! I love to brainstorm new activities and locations for the elves to be in each day =)

  887. Rachel

    Mid-Night mass on Christmas Eve, new pj’s, and monkey bread and bloody marys the next morning while opening presents. I love this time of year!

  888. Lori Smith

    Getting the house ready for Christmas Eve by listening to Christmas music. Finishing the last touches on presents, church, a nice family dinner, wait for Santa and then end with a fire and some roasted marshmellows!

  889. Erin

    We used to all gather at Grandma’s house and make Christmas cookies/candies and then deliver them to neighbors up and down the valley.

  890. Stella

    Our family spend Christmas Eve together at my mom n dad in law’s home every year. Their neighborhood does the lumanaries so it is just so magical driving up to the house when the yards are lined up with the bags and the candles are lit!

  891. krkuntz

    i think my most treasured Christmas traditions are decorating the Christmas tree and going to Christmas Eve Mass.

  892. Beverly S.

    I love hearing the children tell the story of Baby Jesus’ birth and seeing the joy and excitement in their faces!

  893. Aimee M

    My favorite tradition is waking up early on Christmas Day, opening presents with my family in our pajamas and having breakfast casserole!

  894. Sendie

    I have two small children, and we always hind all the gift until Christmas eve. Christmas morning has always been our favorite traditions waiting for them to get up – which is early and looking at both of them got so excited after seeing the gift by the chimney. Another favorite holiday tradition is how I ask my kids t9o pick a toy to donate. It made them feel good that they contribute something to make other children happy.

  895. Maggie

    We have a big dinner on Christmas Eve, everyone opens ONE present, and then we all get our MATCHING Christmas PJ’s! We take our family picture in front of the tree in our PJ’s and watch a Christmas movie. On Christmas morning we get up bright and early and open the rest of our presents and eat a big breakfast…in our matching PJ’s! :)

  896. Sharie

    Where do I even begin??
    Frosted sugar cookies…family gatherings drinking Tom & Jerry batter in milk.
    Waking up knowing Santa has been there (the only day we didn’t get in trouble for waking our parents up before sunrise ;).
    Merry Christmas to you, Kevin & the “boys”
    Thanks again for your generosity this past year!!

  897. Candice

    My favorite holiday tradition is going to my parent’s barn house in the mountains and opening are gifts on Christmas Eve.

  898. Stacy K

    Christmas is not the same now as it was back then for me. But one of the things that really makes it feel like Christmas for me and all the other Caribbean people out there is doing a thorough cleaning of the house. That means, painting the entire house from top to bottom, purchasing new bed linens, window treatments, dish towels etc. Unless these things are in play, Christmas does not feel like Christmas :)

  899. Jennifer

    My favorite holiday tradition is going to my grandma’s house on Christmas Eve and spending time with our extended family.

  900. Haley

    What a great giveaway?! My favorite holiday tradition is opening a new pair of pajamas every year on Christmas Eve. It is the one present my family is able to open the night before Santa comes. I hope to one day pass this tradition along with children of my own.

  901. Carolyn S

    My favorite christmas tradition is on Christmas Eve having all the kids open up their new christmas pj’s and having hot choclate and playing board games

  902. Joy Baker

    My favorite tradition started when I was young. My family would get together and choose a short Christmas book like Twas the Night before Christmas. We would all take turns reading a page (even when we could barely read) until the book was finished. When recordable story books came out we changed it up a little. Now we take turns recording a page and can hear how we’ve all changed. It’s so cool! We have a lot of fun practicing before recording so that we get it just right. My older kids even enjoy it!

  903. Teri Dingler

    We have our children and grandchildren over on Christmas night and have one of the grandchildren read the Christmas Story of the birth of Christ from Luke! They love it when it is their year to read! We hope it drives home the real meaning of Christmas.

  904. Lara

    My favorite tradition is that with my family we open all of our presents on Christmas Eve and then have all day on Christmas to be together doing whatever. We usually go to the movies or watch movies and eat lots of good food!

  905. Allison R.

    We spend Christmas Eve at my mother’s with my sister & her family then Santa visits that night while the kids are sleeping. After a wild morning we’ll go to my in-law’s & do it all over again!

  906. jayne

    My favorite tradition – the smells of Christmas, the laughter and joy we all share as a family! We always take this time of year to slow down and just ENJOY! A tradition that costs nothing but creates wonderful memories – MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL….

  907. Nicole

    My favorite holiday tradition is getting together with my family on Christmas day. It is the one day all year where we come together and spend the whole day eating, talking, exchanging gifts, and enjoying each other’s company!

  908. Dawn

    What an awesome giveaway! I love Christmas!! The best tradition is Christmas morning. We have breakfast and then hang out listening to Christmas music until its time to start cooking dinner. Always a great family day. Thanks for the chance…

  909. Amilia @justeverydayme

    On christmas eve eve (23rd) my sister, grandparents and I get in our PJs, get in the car, and drive to Sonic. We get dinner and then drive around, listening to christmas music, and looking at all the lights. My family has tons of Christmas traditions, but that is one of my favorites :)

  910. Kristen W.

    My favorite holiday tradition is sitting around in a huge circle with my family laughing and talking most of the afternoon on Christmas day!

  911. Julie B

    Our favorite holiday tradition is hosting Christmas caroling hayride for family and friends. My kids love the preparation of decorating the haywagon (trailor) with lights, decorations and sound system while I make dozens and dozens of homemade cookies and 5 gallon container of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. We love hosting friends and family each year.

  912. erin

    My favorite family tradition is to open most of the presents on Christmas Eve (those are from the family) and then Santa comes and leaves you one present and a stocking for Christmas Day.

  913. Misty

    Since my parents moved away we don’t really have any traditions anymore but I am working on starting one for my kids this year!

  914. Teresa

    Gosh, I really want one of these for my daughter for Christmas, and how great would it be to win one! Traditions…leaving carrots for the reindeer…love that..hanging stockings by the chimney with care…and opening gifts on Christmas morning with family…..followed up by a a grand meal in the middle of the afternoon.

  915. Heather

    My mom makes homemade cinnamon rolls. And now my teenager makes them with her. It is great family time. And the neighbors love their special deliveries too!

  916. Karen Pennington

    Our tradition has always been about family getting together on Christmas day. I was lucky to be in a large family of 5 brothers and 4 sisters. Yes, 10 all together. We have lost 2, but all of the others and their children and the children’s children all get together and have just a wonderful time of visiting, eating, sometimes a ride on a wagon across the fields, singing Christmas carols. Love this opportunity to try to win this……who doesn’t love coffee? Merry Christmas.

  917. laura robinson

    This year we’re starting a new holiday tradition of going to see the christmas lights at hartwood acres!

  918. Mario

    My favorite holiday tradition was always setting up the family nativity scene. When I was little, I used to add my toy cars and firetrucks to it!

  919. Courtney Ely

    My favorite memory is being the first one awake every Christmas….waking my brother up…and trying not to look under the tree as we pass by to wake up our parents!

  920. Rachael

    I’d love to win the Keurig! I’ve always wanted one since they made the My K-cup so you can use any coffee you want :) My favorite family tradition growing up was going to Midnight service with my grandparents. They sang in a big choir every year that just echoed the Christmas carols through our old, large church. My grandpa was just like a kid on Christmas day; he often beat me in up and opening gifts. We often spent the day listening to Bing Crosby and other great Christmas hits while we enjoyed the day relaxing.

  921. Katherine

    My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas Eve dinner at my grandmother’s house. We’ve been doing it since I was a little girl. Thanks so much for this awesome giveaway!

  922. Nina

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies with many women (and girls) of my family. It’s so much fun to get together and enjoy each other’s company.

  923. Sharon

    My favorite Christmas tradition is picking out our Christmas tree and placing all the special ornaments on it that we have collected over the years. Our tree tells a story for all to see!

  924. Mandy Larson

    My mom has been wanting one of these, thanks for the chance to win!! My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Eve service at church and then dinner with the family, followed by Christmas movie marathon! Happy Holidays!

  925. Shirley

    On Christmas Eve at granny’s house we have love socks so the children don’t get them mixed up with the stockings Santa fills at their homes. It’s always fun to see the little kids gathered on the floor dumping there goodies. We all used to get a love sock until the family got too big so now you get a sock until you graduate from high school.

  926. Kerri

    My favorite holiday tradition is the walk my family takes after our Christmas meal. The streets are always quiet since most people are warm and cozy inside, but we look at it as a great bonding experience and a way to burn off some calories before digging into the leftovers! :)

  927. Christina G

    Favorite holiday tradition. Christmas Eve we open one present and it’s always CHristmas pajamas. After that we put said Jammie’s on and load up with hot cocoa and drive around the city looking at Christmas lights.

  928. Alana

    my favorite Christmas tradition is our Christmas eve service at my parent’s church. i love it when the lights go out and we sing Silent Night by candlelight.

  929. April C.

    Thank You for the chance to win. My favorite holiday tradition is my husband’s homemade spaghetti sauce. He starts it early in the morning and the scent fills our home all day long. It may not be a traditional Christmas meal, but it is something I look forward to all year long.

  930. Angela L

    Ack! I love the Keurig – we booked a hotel next week based almost solely on the in-room Keurigs! My favorite tradition has to be Christmas breakfast, my boys love my egg nog french toast, yum!

  931. Kim

    We attend Christmas Eve Church service with some friends, who are like family, and they come to our house for dinner and a Christmas movie. It is one of the things I look forward to the most.

  932. Maria M.

    We will be uniting with our children and grandchildren for dinner and celebrate Jesus Birthday, afterwards we will be going to church. On Christmas Day we will celebrate with food, relaxation and the opening of gifts.
    Merry Christmas and God’s Blessings to all

    Maria

  933. Laurie

    Fantastic giveaway!!!! My favorite Christmas tradition is of course spending time with the family, but also on Christmas morning with my husband and kids opening presents and then have monkey bread and sausage casserole for breakfast!

  934. Sarah B

    My mother, sister and I light a fire and decorate the tree while listening to the same CD every year. It’s something I look forward to every year!

  935. Lori

    My favorite Christmas tradition is attending the candlelight church service on Christmas Eve every year. It’s a great time to reflect on the real reason for Christmas.

  936. Allie Q

    My favorite tradition is making cookies with my kids and drinking hot cocoa while waiting for mid night to come. We put the kids to bed and surprise them with their gifts under the Christmas tree.

  937. L.S.

    We’re Chinese, so our holiday traidition is quite simple, instead of gifting each other with presents, we gift money, in traditional Chinese red envelopes. There’s a little bit of guessing game involved because there’s not a set amount. Kids usually get more than adults, well, they should be! :-)

  938. Dawn in HSV

    Every year I plan to make a special holiday treat with my son. He’s a teenager now, but he still loves getting in the kitchen and making a mess … then enjoying whatever we’ve decided to make.

  939. Cara

    I love decorating in general. It’s so nice to spend that time with loved ones going through all the family items collected over the years.

  940. Lgrace2

    My favorite tradition would have to be decorating the tree with my family. We watch the same video every year, have snacks and reminisce about years gone by as we put the ornaments onthe tree Every one of our ornaments has a story!!
    Thanks for the chance to win such a great gift!! Blessings to you and your family!

  941. Sabrina

    Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    My favorite Christmas tradition is going to the candlelight service on Christmas eve. I sing in the choir and play handbells. It really makes it Christmas!

  942. Lorenzo P.

    Our holiday tradition when opening gifts is to get all the family in the living room and play Nat King Cole’s Christmas music and each of us opens our gifts in order one at a time. A traditions as long as I can remember. :)

  943. Marsha

    I’ve been looking all over the internet for the best buy on a Keurig…Oh, I would love to win this. Also, my favorite tradition is just a simple, candle light dinner witht the only lights being candles, Christmas tree, and mantel lights.

  944. Melissa T

    Our family tradition was we always went to my grandmothers on Christmas and then went driving around to look at lights. This year since we are so far away from family I still plan to do the drive around to look at lights with my kids.

  945. AmandaK

    Cookies! Treats! Sweets! That’s what I enjoy about Christmas! Keurigs are so fun – I don’t have one – but I want one for the tea, cider and hot chocolate! Fun!

  946. Evelyn

    We have “The Basket Game” on Christmas Day. Everyone purchases a small gift, maybe $25.00 or so. We try to find something that everyone would love to have enough to “steal” it. After all the activities and Christmas dinner is over, we start the game. We can “steal” it 3 times, then it’s dead and that person gets to keep it. It is a friendly, fun game and our family has so much fun. Its a tradition started many years ago and it never fails to entertain the family with friendly “I’ll take that” fun. We decide several times that we wouldn’t do it anymore, but everyone is dissapointed and we continue the tradition. It’s a fun way to end our most treasured holiday!

  947. Brittni Austin

    When I got married we moved four hours away from my family, so keeping up with our traditions became a litltle bit difficult and my husband’s family doesn’t have many traditions that they do. This year is our first Christmas as a three-person family. I’m excited to think of new traditions to start!

  948. Tina Burrows

    My favorite holiday tradition is the Christmas Eve dinner we spend with my entire family, aunts and cousins. The typical Italian feast!!! Can’t wait!
    Happy Holidays!!! Enjoy!!

  949. Jessica

    oohhh… KEURIG….LOVE!!!!
    My favorite Christmas tradition is definately decorating the Christmas Tree! My parents always made it so fun and special for me and now, I try to do the same for my children!!

  950. marie foshee

    I was sad when my children hit pre-teen years that “santa” excitement was gone I started doing scavanger hunt for the “big” present (even if it was just money) when they were 18, 21 and 23 I told them they were too old and they all insisted this had to keep going. The fun part is that the riddles are about individuals and the sibling has to answer it. ex: since ______ works out alot he has to have fuel to keep going but if he doesn’t fuel this he will go nowhere the next clue would be hidden in the door to his jeeps gas tank. We laugh so much because we get it but the person trying to figure it out has a hard time. Plus it makes the morning present opening last longer and more interesting. this my be corny but we love it

  951. Becky

    We’re still working out our own traditions but one of my favorite traditions is watching Elf each year as a family

  952. Andi T.

    My favorite holiday tradition is the 2 Christmas parties we have on the 23rd – one with my husband’s and my friends and the other with my parents and their friends. It’s such a long night, but so much fun.

  953. Leah

    One of my most memorable holiday traditions was watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with all of my cousins at my Grandparents’ house when we were kids.

  954. Mallory

    Although I am 23 and my sister is 25, my dad still write a Christmas poem for each of us to lead us to our “big” present for the year. We have been doing it since we were little kids and I am not sure I will ever be to old to love finding my present!!

  955. amanda jones

    Every Christmas morning, we have brunch at our house and invite our family over. After our bellies are stuffed, my husband, son & I head to the movie theatre. I think this year we’re going to see War Horse.

  956. Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef

    my family always has the same christmas morning breakfast: easy cheese souffle, apple coffee cake, fruit, and bacon/sausage. amazing!

  957. Jessica C.

    My favorite holiday tradition is all of the chaos that comes with a house full of relatives. Kids running everywhere, ladies busy in the kitchen, lots of yummy food to eat… it’s just not a holiday without your whole family around!

  958. Kim

    One of my favorite holiday traditions that I used to love but haven’t done in a while was going to the melting pot with my two best friends. One of my best friends was born on Christmas eve, so it was a combined birthday dinner and dinner together (instead of getting each other gifts). Since we graduated college, we all haven’t been able to spend the holidays together :(

  959. Heather D.

    My family’s tradition is to do a big Christmas Eve dinner and then a brunch on Christmas Day. Eat, drink and be merry, with all of our family and closest friends!
    Merry Christmas everyone!

  960. Jessica C

    This year we are starting a new tradition of being home for Christmas to open presents instead of at my parents’ or his…I can’t wait for Christmas morning to come!

  961. Carol

    My favorite holiday tradition actually happens the day after Christmas. The whole family gets together we make lots of yummy appetizers and play board games and watch an old movie (picked by the family matriarch) that night. It is a great way to relax and enjoy each other without all of the crazieness of the last couple of weeks.

  962. Julie

    My husband is on the worship team at church and I’m in the choir and we both love worshiping Christmas eve. It’s a long day but but very fulfilling to share Jesus. And then we to to a friends house for their Christmas eve get together.

  963. Michelle

    When I was a child, we spent Christmas Eve at my Grandparent’s house. We’d eat ham and potatoes and green beans and then play with cousins that were more siblings than cousins. After dinner was cleaned up my Grandma, Mom and Aunt would sneak downstairs and spread out “Santa’s Gifts”. We thought nothing of the fact that Santa came to their house while we were awake and our house when we slept. After a bit, my Grandpa would shake some bells and tell us that he heard Santa. We kids would post on the basement steps for a picture. Then the adults would let us run into the basement and tear open presents. Afterwards us kids would play with new gifts and the adults would settle in contently for conversation.

  964. Dana

    Holiday traditions..we don’t have many – but the one we do have was started my my grandma when my older sister was born. Every year grandma got her a Santa ornament. When I came along she started getting me a Santa ornament each year as well. 7 years later my little sister came along and she started getting her Angels. Hypothetically I should have 37 Santa’s but being careless in my early adulthood I am a few short. After my grandma died my mom kept the tradition going, and as grandkids have been born we have started getting them each their own. My mom died almost 5 years ago and my older sister has kept the tradition going. Every year we are on the hunt for Santas, Angels, Reindeer, Snowmen, Penguins, snowflakes, bears, nutcrackers and more.
    When my oldest son (20), got married last year, I decided that each year I would get them (my son and his wife) a Santa and Mrs. Claus each year. When my other two kids get married i will do the same for them. it is fun seeing the different ornaments depicting each theme.
    When my stepdad remarried 2 years ago, she brought with her 4 kids, we have since included them in the ornament search. We are currently each year searching for 16 ornaments, with only 2 being duplicates (Santa’s and Angels).
    Our hope is that our kids will continue the tradition as the years go on.

  965. Valerie

    My grandfather always reads the Christmas story from the family Bible before we open presents on Christmas Eve. It forces us to stop for a few minutes and remember the real reason for the season!

  966. bonnie

    My favorite holiday tradition may actually be wrapping gifts (weird, huh?). It is relaxing and peaceful to me.

    Happy Holidays!

  967. Barb

    my favorite holiday tradition is going out to a tree lot with the whole family and cut down a Christmas tree, usually it is a natural one, we call it a charlie brown tree! We enjoy hot cider and cookies. Than we come home and bring in the little tree and decorate it!

  968. Laura N

    Every year from the time my kids were born, they recieve an ornament on the first of December. I love when they pick theirs out and every year when they hang it on a tree it brings back memories. When they start their own family, they have their own box of ornaments for their first tree.

  969. Lindsey

    Thanks for the chance to win! My favorite family tradition is watching It’s A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve with my family.

  970. Amber DuVentre

    We skip the traditional meal …that we just had for Thanksgiving and we grill! We grill everything ..meat…fruit…veggies….anything. Everyone loves to stop by and get something different to eat. I am excited about Christmas time with my family. We love celebrating the real reason for the season- JESUS!!

  971. Jennifer

    Our favorite family tradition is making fondue for Christmas Eve dinner. Three courses: cheese, broth with meat and veggies and of course chocolate! My kids start talking about it as soon as December arrives. Delish!

  972. Debbi Cuff

    The night before Christmas my parents would read the book ” The night before christmas” after we came home from church. In the morning being the youngest, my older brother and sisters would wake me up to yell down the stairs to make sure it was okay to come down. My mother would have us eat something for breakfast before opening our presents because she knew that we would not want to eat the rest of the day.

  973. Lindsay

    There are too many traditions to choose just one! But some of my favorite include indulging in the 24-hour “The Christmas Story” marathon, drinking wine while opening presents with my family and playing games after Christmas dinner.

  974. Erin B.

    My favorite tradition is that ever since I was a little girl my dad has made pink (they are supposed to be red but never turn out that way!) and green pancakes. Even though my siblings and I are all adults now with our own families, we still get together Christmas morning and dad makes us pancakes. The grankids love it too!

  975. Anne

    Elf on the Shelf has become a tradition with the kids, and we also make a trip to the wonderful Miss Cayce’s Christmas store in Midland,TX and let the kids each pick out an ornament.

  976. Jessica

    My favorite holiday tradition is getting to make a Cuban Christmas for my family and friends. I spend a week getting ready and sharing all the delicious treats my grandmother passed on to me. Eggnog is first made with a lot of sugar and rum. Next is a rush of made my pork tamales (I got grandma’s seal of approval to change it up), beef empanadas, black bean empanadas, yucca, congris (black brand and rice cooked together) and the show stopper- pernil. The slow cooked pork. I let my sister do the flan. I just can’t do it all. I love that now everyone is at house until midnight, eating and having fun. If only there was coffee…

  977. Cassie

    I have two! First, on Christmas Eve we all get together and Daddy reads the story of Christ’s birth from the bible to us and our children.

    Second, after reading, we all go home and get ready for bed. I don’t know how my kids manage it but EVERY YEAR they stay up too late and catch Santa red handed! Santa comes in shaking his bells and saying ho ho ho. My kids go and peek and see him, he sees them back and they both scurry off in opposite directions. Then I have to remind my kids to go to bed or else Santa can’t come back to deliver the rest of the presents.

    PS ~ I think Santa loves this little tradition as much as the kids do! Christmas is my dad’s favorite holiday!! ;)

  978. Sandie

    We have a few little things we do around here for Christmas traditions. But this yr starts a new one with us. And thats having my mom with us for the holidays! Its the first time in 10 years. So its extra special for us this year!! <3

  979. Merely Meredith

    When I was younger, my family’s favorite Holiday tradition was to pile up in the car all nice and cozy and view fantastic Christmas lights on houses around the city. There’s something about ‘ooh-in’ and ‘ah-in’ in a jammed car with the ones you love that says Christmas is near. :)

  980. Luann

    our holiday tradition that I (and my hubby) loves the most is all the cookies I make at christmas…..even if I have to keep him from eating all of them! My sister and I ALWAYS watch The Christmas Story at least once on Christmas Day together!

  981. Tali

    I have had my eye on a Keurig! These things look awesome!

    My favorite Christmas tradition is taking the kids to cut down our tree each year, the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. We had been going to the same tree farm since I was pregnant with our first child, 7 years ago, and this year the farm closed its doors. :( We had to find a new farm and it just isn’t the same.

  982. Maureen

    Growing up we would come home from the late Christmas Eve mass and make a batch of warm chocolate chip cookies and leave them out for “Santa”. When we got older we all used it as a gossip session or just relating what was going on in our lives (I am the oldest of 7 siblings). Now that most are married we do this in our own families and when those of us who are able get together for Christmas.

  983. Amanda Bumgarner

    Our traditions have started to change as my siblings and I have gotten older. But one thing we did every year is the 6 of us went to downtown Chicago to our favorite Italian restaurant, Maggiano’s. We get the same 3 dishes to share, and every year my mom gets mad at the waiters for trying to rush us. When we moved to Texas, my dad found a Maggiano’s in Dallas, so we’ve kept up the tradition by going there! This Christmas, I’m excited to bring my new husband along to experience it with us!

  984. Laura

    My husband and I got engaged over a homemade breakfast on Christmas Eve. It has turned into a great tradition to always make a big breakfast that day to kick off the festivities and remember that fun moment. I am a nurse and he still wakes up to make me breakfast if I’m working that day-and I leave a 6! Great guy, great memories, and a great tradition. Happy Holidays!

  985. Kelly

    My favorite Christmas tradition is having a huge breakfast on Christmas morning with my entire family at my grandma’s. We’ve done it since we were born!

  986. Amanda Thompson

    My favorite holiday tradition is driving up into the mountains to pick out our Christmas tree and play in the snow!

  987. Lacey

    I always look forward to my grandmothers breakfast casaroll. She has made this every Christmas for as long as i can remember.

  988. Melissa

    Christmas Eve at my grandparent’s and our secret santa exchange. Every year we all exchange names, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and then we exchange them after dinner. It is torture waiting for dinner to be done and the dishes cleaned so we can open presents!

  989. Laura @ Laura's Crafty Life

    I think one of my favorite family traditions has be to getting and decorating the tree. Up until the last few years, we would always go and buy a pre-cut tree. The past few years, though, we have been able to get a Christmas tree permit and cut our own tree down. It is a great memory to share that with my husband and kids each year!

  990. Mikala

    Hi Amanda! I love your blog, photography and spunk!! My favorite tradition is fixing a bubble bread breakfast as baby Jesus’ birthday cake and singing happy birthday to Him with my kids. This was passed from my mom.

  991. heather H

    I love to bake cookies and make homemade mini-pizzas with my daughters, sister and mom. I hope I win because I would give this prize to my dear mommy.

  992. Julia

    My favorite? A bunch of family friends and my family get together to eat Chinese food together on Christmas Eve! We have mixed religious faiths, so it’s a fun thing to do together :)

  993. Tiffany Sanders

    My favorite Holiday Tradition is putting out all of my decorations and baking cookies for Santa with my girls!

  994. Tracy

    As kids, we would stay up as late as we could Christmas eve, and wake up as early as we could Christmas morning. If our parents weren’t awake yet, we would sing carols to them until they got their sleepy little selves up!

  995. Diane

    We take a picture of our kids in the empty Christmas tree box! It’s funny to look at how much they have grown each year as they are having a harder time trying to fit in the box each year!

  996. Romina

    Since I can remember, I have spent Christmas day with my mom’s side of the family and New Year’s day with my dad’s. This has been a tradition that we kept even after immigrating to the US. I feel fortunate that we have family here in the US who we can gather with during the holidays.

  997. Amber Lewis

    I have always loved growing up at my parents house, we open one present Christmas eve and it is always Christmas pjs! That way we all wake up in the morning and are festive for the day opening our presents!

  998. Karen

    on our family Christmas all the kids and grandkids come to our house and we all make breakfast, biscuits and gravy, egg casserole, cheesey hashbrowns, cinnamon rolls, and spending the day together playing games and etc and lots of COFFEE, I have a personal size Keurig and they about wear it out would love a big one– and Hazlenut coffee is the all time winner here, thanks for the chance of maybe winning one, Merry christmas to you!

  999. Lisa H

    I married into a family that goes out and cuts down the Christmas tree. So far we’ve done it in rain, snow and sun. It’s really fun! The best year was when there was 5 inches of snow on the ground. We had a huge snowball fight and then found the tree.

  1000. Bhea

    We love visiting Santa every year. We always visit the same Santa, and it’s nice seeing the progression of the kids growing up every year in the pictures.

  1001. Susan Kilmer

    We started this tradition eighteen years ago when my children BEGGED to open a gift on Christmas eve…so I knew they were getting Christmas pj’s and a book in the morning…so I grabbed those from under the tree and it was such a special way to spend the evening, reading their new books in new jammies…so every year it is a much expected, well anticipated time…this year we have a new addition – a son-in-law! The kids are 20, 22, and 24…hope he loves our tradition!

  1002. Andrea Jeanette

    Our best tradition is spending Christmas day at home in our pajamas. Thanks for this great opportunity to win such a nice gift.

  1003. Jennier

    Every year since my sons bith in 98 I have bought him a special ornament foe the christmas tree that is engraved with his name and the year so there are 13 special ornaments that we put on the tree and remember every year that we have celebrated together then one day he will take them and put them on his very own tree and add on hopefully when he starts his family.

  1004. Linh

    Christmas eve: walking through our neighborhood’s street with all the luminaries lit up. It is so beautiful against the snow.
    Have a Merry Christmas Amanda:)

  1005. Lucy Lam

    My favorite holiday tradition is opening our presents on Xmas eve. The entire family gets together for dinner, and then we gather to open our presents. Watching the little ones get so excited, brings me great joy!!!

  1006. Amy

    My favorite holiday tradition is going to the Christmas Eve service at church and then eating a dinner of appetizers. Cheeseballs, hot dips, spreads, vegetables and ranch dip, mmmm!

  1007. Nicole

    My favorite Christmas tradition is waking up Christmas morning and eating a big brunch with the family before we open gifts.

  1008. kathy

    A tradition we started when our daughter was young is to watch Polar Express on Christmas Eve with all the lights off except the Christmas lights. Thanks for the chance to win.

  1009. kayleigh

    we have a fairly common tradition of opening one present on christmas eve and its always pajamas. yeah, we’re typical.

  1010. tracy s

    our family has a tradition of trying to stick all of our Christmas presents into one of the packages our gifts came in. no idea where it came from, but its always hilarious!!!

  1011. D. Dallas

    My tradition is to be with family and enjoy the time together. I love your blog, it’s one I visit consistently!

  1012. Heidi Gore

    My favorite Christmas tradition is to hang the hand embroidered advent calendar that my grandmother made over 40 years ago. I hang candy on each of the loops and my children pick the candy off of the corresponding day.

  1013. Ms. Sew N Sew

    We always have eggs benedict for breakfast on Christmas morning, after we open presents and everyone puts on their new p. j’s!

  1014. Dianna @ Sincerely Me

    My favorite thing we do is the reading of the Christmas story before the kids open their presents. It is always a good reminder of what Christmas is really all about.

  1015. Mitzi Cline

    We have an 18 month old and are starting some of our own traditions – one of which she receives a Christmas letter from Mommy and Daddy. She has definitely brought a new set of lenses for Christmas. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

  1016. April

    Oh I love Millstone!! We’ve been drinking it for the last two years and now we are having a hard time finding it locally! Anyways, my favorite tradition at Christmas is decorating the tree and seeing it all lit up for the first time of he season!

  1017. Lisa Z

    Our holiday traditions are changing since my mother passed three years ago, so we are trying to begin some new traditions. Not sure what they are yet…

  1018. Judith

    Don’t have any holiday traditions to share, sorry. BUT, have lots of coffee ones! :) My favorite is to drag a small, one burner campstove down the beach, start a bonfire and watch the sun go down with a fresh perked mug of coffee. Love it! Thanks for the chance to win. This is an awesome giveaway – as always!

  1019. Steffi

    Sneaking downstairs to get our stockings. Every year as a child we were given permission to get up anytime after 3AM and go get our stockings down from the mantle. My sisters and I would wake each other up and then go to one of our rooms and dump the loot. Such GREAT memories.

  1020. Jacqui

    My favorite tradition is spending time with the family on Christmas Eve watching Christmas movies!! We also drive around our area and look at everyones lights :-)

  1021. Amy Owen

    My favorite tradition (besides decorating the tree, making Christmas goodies, spending time with family) is setting up my nativity sets. My five-year-old daughter loves her Playmobil nativity and advent calendar but our favorite thing is finding the Elf on the Shelf each morning! She loves this.

  1022. Trish

    I love having a bowl of mixed nuts (in the shell) on the kitchen table during the holiday season! When I was a child, my mom had a nut bowl that was a hollowed out tree trunk ,and in the center were drilled holes to hold the nutcracker and picks….it even had the bark on the outside! I have always wondered where she got that wacky bowl, but one of the most special holiday memories I have is sitting around the table cracking and snacking on those nuts, year after year.

  1023. Rose

    My favorite thing is lighting the candles at our church’s Christmas Eve service and seeing how beautiful the sanctuary is when everyones candle is lit.

  1024. Chris

    Our family traditions have changed significantly through the years. I now live pretty far from my family and only see them twice a year so my Christmas visit includes many new traditions. Usually my first few days of my visit are spent having an extended sleepover with my niece (gotta get in that girl time). We make a gingerbread house, watch as many Christmas movies as we can, go to the tea house and ‘do’ tea, get out nails done and on Christmas eve I always help her get all dolled up with special hair and (9 yr old appropriate) makeup. Christmas is all about family, family, family. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

  1025. Cheryl

    The first weekend in December every year for a long time now- my mother has taken our whole family to the beach for our family Christmas celebration. We spend some great family time and do lots of fun things. The annual cook-off gets a little competitive :) but always fun. And of course coffee is brewing all the time for all the adults. Nothing beats a good cup of joe and family time.

  1026. Susan

    On my mother’s side of the family, we all meet for a holiday meal one week before Christmas. We always have a “different” meal such as lasagna, or enchiladas…never turkey or ham! We do a Dirty Santa gift exchange that people will plan for all year. But the most anticipated part of the event is the ….GAME. A different game is planned each year. Everyone wins a prize but the knowledge that you were the big winner of the game is kept alive throughout the year. We are meeting this Sunday afternoon and everyone and I do mean everyone is excited. We have family members coming in from 150 miles away. No one misses this opportunity to be with family.

  1027. Cindy

    Now that the kids are older, Presents are opened on Christmas Eve and everyone sleeps in Christmas morning, Aaaahhh after being awaken at ungodly hours in the morning, we finally sleep in. Although I kinda miss those little ones!
    Dear Santa, I really want a Keurig for Christmas, I have been a good girl! Love Cindy

  1028. Leah B

    My favorite Christmas tradition is Christmas eve dinner [we do a big dinner that night instead of on Christmas day] and then sitting around the fire. I can’t wait!

  1029. Kelley Statham

    My mom always makes a Breakfast casserole on Christmas morning. It bakes while we open presents in our pajamas. Then we eat and play with our new things all morning. I love how laid back and relaxed it is!

  1030. Althea

    My favorite Christmas tradition that my mom started is waking up to Mahalia Jackson’s -Happy Birthday to You, Our Lord. My mom would blast this song Christmas morning as we were all getting out of bed and before opening our presents. I spend Christmas with my sister and her family and we do the same with her daughters. It’s a beautiful song : ) Merry Christmas!

  1031. alisa beth

    What a GREAT giveaway — and what GREAT fun it is to read everyone’s favorite traditions. There are a lot of good ideas there!

    My favorite childhood tradition was to order Pizza Hut, put on our Disco Noel record, and decorate our Christmas tree!

    My favorite tradition as an adult with a family of my own is making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve as a family…and then enjoying it on Christmas Day!

  1032. Maggie @ Midwestern {Sewing} Girl

    Woo hoo!!! Thanks so much for the chance to win this awesome giveaway!!! This is going to sound weird…but my favorite Christmas tradition is having Chinese Food on Christmas Eve…we’ve done it since I was a kid and it’s always something I look forward to…

    Have a wonderful weekend!

  1033. Kate

    We always have Chinese take-out or pizza for Christmas Eve dinner, so that the cooking can wait until Christmas day and we can just spend time together.

  1034. Jenny

    It’s our first year with a baby so I’m looking forward to creating traditions with him. But my favorite tradition from my childhood (and one that we’ll start with our son) is getting new pajamas on Christmas Eve!

  1035. ABC

    Wow! What a great giveaway! My favorite childhood Christmas tradition was spending Christmas Eve with my dad’s side of the family at my grandparents’ house. We had all sorts of awesome finger foods, would watch the Andy Williams Christmas Special (on VHS!), and play games. We were never allowed to open presents until dark, so we kids would always have an eye on the window and try to convince the adults that really, it’s dark enough now to get started! As we would load up all of the presents to go home, we’d watch they sky to try and see Santa’s sleigh. I swear, a couple of years we really did see him fly by!

  1036. Jenna Lucas

    My favorite holiday tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve and returning home to find Santa has graced our family with his presents! On the way home my dad used to always say… “I think we should go look at lights before we go home!” just to get a reaction from my sister and me.

  1037. Ashley Dantic

    I so love your websight and feel like the dogs are good friends of mine! Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

  1038. Mary in Minneapolis

    One of my favorite traditions is baking cookies from my dear Grandmas’ old swedish recipes. Time consuming and putsy, but everyone loves the effort and the fond memories they evoke~

  1039. LM

    Our Christmas day activities:

    Wake up and open presents at home -> go to my sister-in-law’s house for breakfast and open presents -> go to in-laws’ house to open presents -> go to my parents’ house to have lunch and open more presents -> go to grandparent-in-laws’ house to have dinner and open more presents.

    Whew! We are tired by the time we get home but I love it — mainly because I don’t have to cook a thing all day! :) Haha.

  1040. Lauren @chigallauren

    My favorite holiday tradition is waking up at the crack of dawn at my mom’s house to open presents with her, my brother, and for the last 3 years my boyfriend. Its just us in our pjs and I love it!

  1041. Maggie

    My favorite tradition is going to my aunt’s for brunch with extended family. I live hours away and don’t get to see them much, so that’s my real gift every year. Thanks for hosting this contest!

  1042. Jan

    I love to bake cookies and candies with my daughters and grandchildren. Watching those serious little faces while they are decorating, dipping, or stirring. There is nothing like it, and it’s over too soon.

    Thanks for the chance on the giveaway. Merry Christmas from AL

  1043. Debby

    Our favorite Christmas traditions have to do with food. I only make caramels at Christmas, and I also make special cookies only for certain holidays. It’s all about the food!

  1044. Renee

    What a fun giveaway. I would love to give one of these to my mom. My favorite part about the holidays is staying in my pajamas all day and eating lots of yummy food with my family!

  1045. Yvonne

    A favorite holiday tradition that I grew up with was my grandmother spending the night at our house on Christmas Eve and being there to see all the great stuff Santa left for us. Now, my mother spends the night at our house to be with the girls and see what Santa brought them. And she gets the girls great Christmas PJs to wear to bed that night. It is a fun time to share.

  1046. Corrie

    Oh my. Love Christmas morning with coffee & sweet rolls, reading the {REAL} Christmas story, then opening gifts {we draaaaag it out!} and enjoying our loot and each other. Next year, our baby boy should be here, so I know it’s only going to get more special!

  1047. Dawn

    Decorating the tree..I have many Hallmark ornaments collected over the years and it is always fun to unbox them and tell the story again of why they were purchased.

  1048. hope

    Going to church on Christmas eve and then having a party afterwards at my parents’ house! It’s fun to stay up late because then Christmas morning comes so much faster!

  1049. Renée

    Every Christmas holiday we take the kids to the zoo to see the lights and Santa. Thank you for the chance to win!

  1050. Ashley F

    I love the build up and anticipation to Christmas. My tradition however is waiting till the last second to finish my xmas shopping haha.

  1051. Cathy E

    As kids, we all had to wait on the steps, lined up in age order, before we could race to the tree together to see what Santa had brought. I love looking at the photos that spanned the years, especially when we started adding in spouses and our own kids to the photos. Wish we had the camera lenses you talked about yesterday – we needed them! We made our two kids do the same, though it didn’t have quite the same feeling as with my 7 siblings!

  1052. Jodi Krautkramer

    Our tradition is to always go to Christmas eve Mass. After that well all head up to our beds, and then we wait for Santa to arrive. We know when Santa came and gone because he rings his sleigh bell, then we all run down stairs and enjoy the lights of our Christmas tree, sweet trees, and smooth beverage as we open our Christmas Presents.

  1053. Ali

    My favorite tradition is when we all gather around the tree and my dad reads the Chritmas story. I look forward to it even as an adult.

  1054. Kasie

    I actually don’t have an official holiday traditions. I’d like start having an annual cookie decorating competition.

  1055. Anna

    Christmas morning is my favorite tradition – my mom has always loved it and I think she passed that along to me.

  1056. Marissa

    My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Baking Day with my mom. We write out a plan and then spend a good 8-10 hours making a variety of candies, cookies, breads, and bars to give to loved ones and the widows/widowers at our church. marissaebeling@gmail.com

  1057. tiffany ibarra

    I love Christmas! My family has lots of traditions that we do every year -wassail, dance party, lots of eating – but I think this year will be the best! Our son – my parents first grandchild – will actually be awake this year! He was just weeks old last year and slept through the whole day! We are a family of musicians and we love to play and sing Christmas music and praise songs. The baby will even be involved as he is a born drummer….much to his parents chagrin!
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  1058. Lisa Y.

    My favorite tradition has become the fact that I get to stay home with my kiddos for either all or the majority of their Christmas break from school and we get to do nothing if we want – stay in jammies, eat popcorn and play with all of their Christmas stuff. Nice break!

  1059. Danielle R

    My family and I make potato pancakes from scratch and almost always fill the kitchen with smoke from burning bits. It’s not the holidays without a faint smell of burnt potato pancakes and oil at home :)

    Happy Holidays!

  1060. Liz F

    As a family tradition we always make tamales Christmas eve. Spending time making them and with each other is always the best!

  1061. Cindy

    My favorite holiday tradition is decorating Christmas tree cookies made from green tinted dough. We never seem to have any left after we’ve made them, however!

  1062. Hollie H.

    My favorite holiday tradition as a child was to decorate cookies with my sisters and mom. Now that I have a child of my own, we are still continuing this tradition!

  1063. Michelle

    My mom and I always have a day of baking right before Christmas and put together goodie tins for all of our family and friends. It is so fun and brings back so many good memories. Looking forward to it this year!!
    Merry Christmas!

  1064. Kathy

    My favorite tradition is attending Christmas Eve church service, and then on the way home, driving through the different neighborhoods to admire their decorations.

  1065. Andra

    We always read the Christmas Story from the Bible and have a short devotional prior to opening gifts (we always get our stocking first though), usually reflecting on the past year.

  1066. Linda

    Merry Christmas to you guys! My favorite Christmas tradition is attending the Christmas Eve Service at church with the whole family! The season is so hectic and that brings the focus back to the right place before the fun of exchanging gifts.

  1067. Emily

    I just love that our whole family gets together all in one place! And looking forward to new traditions next year with our first baby :-)

  1068. Elizabeth

    On Christmas Eve, all the family, and any neighbours or friends, are together for a seafood extravanza. My father would only eat fish for Christmas Eve supper as he would be partaking in Communion at midnight. When my children were born (30 years ago), I moved the Christmas Eve festivities to my house. The fish dishes remained but grew over the years in both numbers and deliciousness; shrimp, scallops, cod au gratin, salmon, etc but with non fish appetizers and sides.

  1069. Katherine

    This is our first Christmas with our 6-month old son so we are starting new traditions this year for our little family. After Christmas Eve dinner at my grandmother’s, we will come home and open one gift (Christmas pajamas), read The Night before Christmas and The Christmas story, and have all of the granparents over for breakfast the next morning to see him open his gifts!

  1070. Melissa Jones

    We started making Gingerbread people every year with our daughter. It’s been fun to include other parts of the family in this tradition and watch cousins get into the fun of decorating the cookies.

  1071. Lauren

    My favorite holiday tradition is one my in-laws introduced to me. We have a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus on Christmas Eve. It’s a very special time for us.

  1072. Amanda Smith

    My favorite Christmas tradition is still sleeping at my parent’s house Christmas Eve with my two older brothers (even at the ages of 23, 27 & 31) and waking them up at the crack of dawn to open presents.

  1073. Alex

    One of my favorite traditions we’ve been doing for the last 7 or 8 years has been drawing on paper plates what’s happened the past year (what was most important to us) and then passing it around to each other. This way we can really appreciate all that’s happened in only one year – usually quite a lot!

  1074. Heather

    One of my Best Christmas Memories is finding out that My mom was Brest Cancer free right before Christmas. And then I felt I was then free to Try to get Pregnant knowing that she would now be by my side to share with me the wonderful experience of being a grandma. We had a Christmas party on Christmas eve and the song “Christmas Shoes ” came on and my mom and I held each other and cried throughout the song. My sister in-law said “what is wrong with you? Are you pregnant?. Sure enough I was….. So thankful that I can say she still does not have cancer.

  1075. Tracy

    My grandmother gave us a stocking holder with numbered blocks to count down the days until Christmas. Every morning when my son gets up, the first thing he does is change the blocks to reflect the correct number of days until Christmas. It’s a little stressful for me to see how few days I have left to finish up my shopping, but it’s so funny to hear the sound of those blocks being switched around at 6:10 a.m. every morning!!!

  1076. Charlotte

    We go to the Christmas program at church on Christmas Eve. We open gifts on Christmas morning, followed by a big dinner with all the family!

  1077. Candy

    My favorite tradition is just spending time with my family and baking. I also love putting up the tree together and decorating for Christmas.

  1078. Analisa W.

    I love everything about Christmas. One of our favorite traditions is driving around to look at all the Christmas lights in our nearby neighborhoods. Our young children especially love it. My friends and I also sponsor a needy family for Christmas and we all love to go shopping for their gifts.

  1079. Elizabeth

    Our favorite holiday tradition is a antique crystal candlestick for each family member in the middle of the table signifying the light of Christ in each of us. Our table glows with the light and love!

  1080. Eli Ruggles

    We get up on Christmas morning and open presents at home, then pack up and travel to be with family for the rest of Christmas Day.

  1081. Kyra

    One of my favorite holiday traditions from when I was growing up (and continue today with my own children) is waiting to open Christmas presents until after breakfast is done and dishes are clean. Then we all sit down and hand out presents one by one so everyone can appreciate the gifts they are getting and see what everyone else is getting too. It helps build anticipation and fosters patience in the kids. (Although we do get to do stockings as soon as we get up!)

  1082. Susan T

    Open presents with my family after dinner on Christmas Eve. My grandmother loved Christmas, and never could wait for Christmas morning to open her gifts. In her honor, we’ve continued the tradition for 50 years.

  1083. alyssa manno

    My favorite holiday tradition is attending my friend’s gingerbread house decorating party. She bakes 18 houses, assembles them and has them waiting for us to decorate when we arrive. We choose from every kind of candy imaginable! Spending the day with my girlfriends, decorating, eating, drinking…sooo much fun!

  1084. Carla Minton

    First of all thanks for this opportunity! I have made a tradition with my 3 children that I get them each jammies for Christmas but I let them open it on Christmas Eve night, and they get to wear them to bed. They just love this. They look forward to it every year!

    Carla

  1085. Glori

    Our favorite tradition is focusing on the giving of Christmas rather than the getting. We always pass the gifts out to the person “giving” them and them we begin with youngest. They get to give each one of their gifts and that puts the focus and joy on the giving rather than the getting. Even when my children were very small, just 2 & 3 years old, I would take them to the dollar store and let them pick out gifts for all their filt members and they paid for it out of their own banks.

    To this day, they are now 21 & 18, my children are tremendous givers all year long. I believe that this tradition had something to do with that!

    As far as the Kuerig goes, if I win it will be a gift for my very wonderful in-laws who have been wanting one! Thanks for the chance, Amanda.

  1086. Lisa

    As always – super cool giveaway.

    I am starting my own traditions being that I am newly married, but my favorite growing up was baking with my Mom. I still do that today too! Love it!

  1087. Kelli

    This year is the first Christmas my husband and I will be celebrating away from all family thanks to a cross country move. It’s also our daughter’s first Christmas! We don’t have many traditions of our own yet but we’ve always given each other a new ornament in our stockings. I’m having so much fun this year doing new things with the baby and can’t wait to see what traditions she’ll remember when she grows up.

  1088. Brandi Smith

    Wow! What a great give away! So many traditions….but I have to say my favorite is candle light service at church on Christmas Eve. It’s a beautiful way to come together with your family and reflect on your blessings in a reverent way.

  1089. Gail

    Every year we make a gingerbread house, at least one, maybe more. It started about 30 years ago and my holiday isn’t complete until I have made a house!

  1090. Erin N.

    Oh my! What a great giveaway! I love to bake cookies with my boys 10, 5 and 4 and now my daughter (7 months) will be included…then after cookies are baked and decorated, we enjoy a cup of hot chocolate before going out to see Christmas lights. When we get home we pop popcorn and all snuggle up with blankets and pillows and watch a holiday movie together. Thanks for the chance to win! Happy Holidays! :)

  1091. Amy K

    I love cutting our tree…the kids’ cheeks are rosy, hot cocoa awaits and hopefully no one argues as to which tree to choose!!

  1092. Rachel M

    My favorite holiday tradition is getting up early and turning on the “yule log” on tv and opening presents with my sister like when we were young (we’re both way too old to be doing that any more), but it’s still lots of fun!

  1093. Shelle

    We go out for dinner and to a Christmas Eve service with our children and their grandparents and then drive around to see Christmas lights.

  1094. thienkim

    In the 24th,my family would spend the day preparing for our special dinner.I love it when we sit together in the living room,drinking hot choco or eggnog,just simply chatting.I love those little moments.

  1095. Patricia

    Years ago I had a little 4 pound toy poodle, she was very spunky and loved Christmas. After we had set the table for our Christmas dinner we were all cooking and finishing up preperations when we were stopped in our tracks with my little Sheba running across the kitchen with the whole stick of butter in her mouth. She had gotten up on the table and snatched it off.

  1096. Melissa

    we go to the same Christmas tree farm every year and choose our tree. My son loves choosing the tree and helping to cut it down. He also always remembers the candy canes the owners give to the kids!

  1097. Michele V

    …getting up real early…(shhh….) and filling all the stocking….then watching everyone check out their stockings while we enjoy our coffee at 6 am! wouldn’t have it any other way!
    Thanks for a chance to win – Merry Christmas to you & Kevin & you know who else!
    Cheers!

  1098. Beth Gupta

    Thanks for the chance to play! :)
    As my husband took us away from our home of Alabama a few years ago, our holiday tradition has become flying back in for the holidays. :) It’s always so fun to anticipate seeing our loved ones and being back home for a few days!

  1099. LinhC

    We’ve been trying to cut down on our coffee intake, so brewing a big pot of coffee is wasteful. My hubby’s been asking if I wanted one of these Keurig Brewing system so that we can make single cups of coffee.

    One of our Christmas traditions is watching A Christmas Story together as a family.

  1100. Kim

    I’m from Vietnam and we pretty much don’t celebrate Christmas in our country:(.BUt,i’m sick and tired of that “tradition” and i’m aming for inviting some friend of mine over in the 24th to cook a fun festuve meal.Anddd,on the 25th,a warm hearty meal with my family(cuz they’re busy on the 24th).Any ideas for the menu,Amanda?

  1101. Rene

    We go out to dinner and to the show with my sister and her family on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day at our house with our kids and grandkids! Happy Holidays!

  1102. Kim Ferland

    My favorite Christmas tradition is how we put the presents under the tree. We all gather together in the living room and we have a special bell. Each person takes a turn to go out of the room to get their presents for others to put under the tree. When they are ready to come in with the presents they ring the bell and everyone hides their eyes til the presents are under the tree. There is always lots of oohing and aahing when you open your eyes and see new gifts!

  1103. Melanie

    One of my favorites is White Elephant. My grandmother started it out with the usual funny gifts 20+ years ago and it has since evolved into a version with nicer gifts. Either way is great.

  1104. Tiffanie

    Our favorite tradition is the painting of the ornaments. My three kids get one unfinished ornament to paint, date, and then hang on the tree. They have so much fun doing this and seeing the ornaments from past years.

  1105. Amanda

    My favorite holiday tradition is coffee cake on Christmas morning with my family. My mom always goes to one of our favorite local bakeries on Christmas Eve and picks up one of their coffee cakes. It’s always amazing and I look forward to it every year.

  1106. Annie

    After Christmas Eve mass, we always drive through a local neighborhood well-known for it’s outrageous holiday light displays. It’s one long street full of decorations and tackiness, and Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it!

  1107. Beth

    We read “The Three Trees” every Christmas Eve as a family and all the kids open up their presents from the siblings!

  1108. Samantha K

    My favorite family tradition is on Christmas Eve night. We have these huge stockings that are filled with most anything you can think of and we take a hour or more just opening everything that is the stockings. Thank you for this giveaway!!!

  1109. Fern S.

    Decorating the house. Family gatherings. Christmas pageants at Church performed by the children…The soft glow of the tree lights when all the other lights are turned off…Oh! and opening presents….:)

  1110. Mandy

    My favorite Christmas tradition is taking my kids to the Zoo to see the Festival of Lights. We have gone every year since my girls were really little and in strollers. Now they are old enough to invite friends and we make a day of it. I also love going out to my mom’s a few weeks before and we all decorate her tree. I love when my girls ask me about the ornaments…my mom still has all the ornaments from when my sister and I grew up. Christmas is by far by favorite holiday. I definitely get sentimental and shmoopy this time of year. This will be the first Christmas without my Papaw but I know he’s with us in spirit. And for coffee drinkers there really isn’t anything like the Keurig. Yum. My parents have one and it makes such a big difference in the flavor of coffee. MMMMmmmmmm..

  1111. Marcia

    The tradition we had growing up was our mom would bake a cake and we would sing happy birthday to baby Jesus, Christmas morning, before opening our presents. A great way to remind us all what the day is really about.

  1112. Christie

    Our Elf on the Shelf!! He’s our annual tradition and the kids love when he shows up on Thanksgiving!

    Thanks! Christie

  1113. Abigail

    We have lots of traditions, but we read the old Tasha Tudor, The Night Before Christmas and open one early present Christmas Eve :)

    Thank you for the lens post the other day! Very helpful even for a Nikon user :)

  1114. Chrissy

    Food is a big part of tradition for us. We make the same Christmas Eve dinner that my grandmother and mother made… shrimp salad, lobster bisque, popovers and lots of wine. Add family and any friends who are around and it’s perfect every year! I always feel extra blessed at the end of the evening. Merry Christmas!

  1115. Becky

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Our favorite tradition is spending Christmas Eve at my Granni’s. The whole family (all 25 of us!) gathers together to prepare the meal and spend time together. After dinner we exchange gifts and watch It’s A Wonderful Life. This is something we have done ever since I was a young child and now, watching my children enjoy the tradition just makes it that much more meaningful.

  1116. jane crawford

    Although my family has several Christmas traditions, I guess my favorite would be that when my girls were babies, I started buying them matching Christmas pajamas that I give to them on Christmas Eve. They are now 24 and 20 and they are still wearing matching Christmas pj’s! One of the girl’s boyfriend is spending Christmas with us this year, and I even got him matching pajamas! I hope he doesn’t think I’m crazy!! Merry Christmas Kevin and Amanda!

  1117. bakingblonde

    My family (parents, grandparents, siblings/kids) rent a limo and ride around neighborhoods drinking hot cocoa and looking at the lights. Since we all chip in it is not that expensive and it is great to all be in one big, toasty warm car!

  1118. Jeanne ODonnell

    My family owns a resort, so we alway work every holiday. We are closed on Christmas eve and Christmas day, so the whole family gets together on Christmas eve at my sisters! We always look forward to this holiday season.

  1119. Krissy

    Our favorite holiday tradition is to always leave cookies and milk for Santa and to sprinkle reindeer food on our front lawn. ;)

  1120. Amy (Peppermint Mocha Mama)

    Every Christmas Eve, we gather up in the car in our pjs and drive around looking at everyone’s lighted decorations. When we get home, it’s time for a bit of cocoa and then the kids are put to bed… three hours or so later when they’re finally asleep, my husband and I can get down to the serious business of being Santa’s assembly line… lol.

  1121. Kathy Miller

    My Mom, Sister and I would get together and make candy for the family. Now that we live apart we still do this every year.

  1122. Jenn

    Well my favorite holiday tradition is actually one that we don’t do anymore. But it still holds a special place in my heart and memories. I loved that every Christmas Eve my mom’s side of the family would get together and have Christmas together. We all went to church together and then we would head back to the house for hot ham and cheese sandwiches, sugar cookies, cheesecake, ect… It was great.

  1123. Susan

    Since we don’t have kids yet every year the hubby and I make a point to wake up in our own house and have “Santa” for just us. This time next year we’ll have a little one to share Santa with, but I’m hoping that we can still find a minute or two before the kiddo is awake to have our special alone time to enjoy each other.

  1124. Mallory

    my favorite tradition involved stocking stuffers in my family growing up, we always got an orange and apple but then we also got a toothbrush, floss and candy…odd but something my parents still do for us today…and I love it :)

  1125. Monique

    My favorite tradition is when we sitting down as a family on Christmas Eve and read Twas The Night Before Christmas. Then we put out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

  1126. carol broughton

    Our favorite holiday tradition is getting together with our good friends about a week before Christmas, having dinner together and driving through town looking at the beautiful Christmas lights!

  1127. Courtney

    My brother and I used to sit at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning until we were given the all clear to come down. We still do that, only now it’s with our spouses and my son, so it’s gotten a little more crowded up there!

  1128. Jessica Burley

    My favorite tradition is cookie baking! My family always dedicates a day to baking dozens and dozens of each persons favorite cookies. Then we bundle them up for friends and teachers!

  1129. pola katelu

    i love to spend my time with family, especially mom and dad just because i love them so much! really love :*

  1130. Jenna

    Awesome giveaway! One of my favorite Christmas traditions is my mom’s delicious wassail she makes on Christmas Eve. Kinda like apple cider, but with a kick! :)

  1131. Jennifer

    My favorite Christmas tradition is making pierogies with my mom. We make them only one time each year and use a recipe that has been passed down in my father’s family for generations. It’s an all day affair and we make dozens upon dozens. I look forward to it each year.

  1132. Laura

    What a wonderful give away! My dad LOVES Millstone coffee better than any other brand. Our traditions have changed since losing my mom, but I treasure the time with my dad more now, and I am learning to enjoy creating new traditions.

  1133. Ashley M.

    My husband and I buy an ornament each year to capture our year’s biggest moment. This year we have the Expecting in 2012 ornament!

    Thanks for the Giveaway!

  1134. Ruth H.

    When my children were small, I started buying them an ornament every year to commemorate something special for them that year. They would get to open them on Christmas Eve after we got back home from spending the evening with family. They are now 27 and 20 and I still get them an ornament and continued the tradition with my grandson who is now 3! When they move away from home, they get to take their ornaments with them and have an already decorated tree for their new home.

  1135. Amanda Dawn

    Christmas Eve is my Mother’s birthday. I’m not sure why but when I was young we started the tradition of opening all of our Christmas gifts (except our stockings and Santa’s gift) on Christmas Eve. Maybe my parents just liked to sleep in on Christmas morning while we played with our new toys. Now I am 28 and we still get together on Christmas Eve (with our spouses and grand children). We have a cake and let Mom open her birthday gifts…and then we tear into our own!
    This works out well for me because as a married woman now, we spend time with my family and then we spent Christmas Day with his family. It works out so neatly. :)

  1136. Deborah Lancelotta

    My favorite new Christmas tradition is going over my husband’s Grandparent’s house on Christmas morning where we all cram into the living room while all his little cousins tear into presents all at the same time. Paper flies everywhere! It is the happiest day of the year. Merry Christmas!

  1137. Sarah Baldukas

    I am blessed that no matter how far away each family member lives, we are always together on Christmas Day. Our tradition is hold a home made Christmas dinner For the less fortunate. Noone should spend Christmas alone.

  1138. Angela

    With 3 little girls, under 6, it’s amazing to see their creativity @ such a young age! December 1st marks the date our annual gingerbread house festivities, followed. Y the advent calendar and looking for Elfie (our elf on the shelf). It all leads up to tradition of traveling to Chicago to see their grandparents & family (and the candy cane of lights!). Love seeing it through their eyes!! Thanks for the opportunity.

  1139. Jennifer

    We always have a yummy brunch-style breakfast Christmas morning and then all gather around to open gifts… and then we all pretty much take a nap in the afternoon! :)

  1140. chelsea

    I love stockings. My family takes a lot of care in choosing gifts for stockings for each other. With a cup of coffee on Christmas morning, we all unload our stockings one by one and discuss every little nick nack. It is a fun way to let the gift giving linger…

  1141. Kelly M

    We have started the Elf on the Shelf at our house this year. The kids love it. My parents actually still give Santa gifts to us even though we are now grown. It was neat when my husband joined the family and noticed he had a ‘Santa’ gift under the tree. Now – 7 years later – he is excited for his ‘Santa’ gift.

  1142. Sarai

    One of my all time favorite Christmas traditions is watching “Christmas Vacation”…over and over and over again! It never gets old and is just as funny now as it was the first time I saw it.
    Thanks for offering such an awesome giveaway! Merry Christmas!

  1143. KellyM

    Even though it’s just my husband and me, I have a tradition of making a bunch of homemade pierogi which I share with both sides of the family on Christmas! I love the feeling of taking the time and making something that everyone enjoys.

  1144. Sue Carter

    My favorite tradition is baking sugar cookies with my kids. We use my Mom’s old cookie cutters from when I was little. Lots of frosting, sprinkles, colored sugars and of course tasting! Merry Christmas Kevin & Amanda.

  1145. Andrea

    Our favorite tradition is listening to the Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving and baking the nut rolls! Merry Christmas

  1146. Terri A.

    Not so many traditions anymore, but growing up, we’d go to midnight mass and then come home and Santa had come! We’d stay up until 3 or 4am and open gifts and then would all sleep in on Christmas morning.

  1147. Heather @ Side of Sneakers

    My favorite tradition is getting up early in the morning and making cinnamon rolls- the smell wafting through the house wakes everyone else up!

  1148. Lauren

    My favorite holiday tradition is the one we started last year with our baby girl – simply staying home and waking up Christmas morning in our own house. Now that we have two young kids, it’s nice to have the time with just the four of us.

  1149. Jae

    Our favorite family tradition is opening gifts on Christmas morning then enjoying a a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, homemade cinnamon maple rolls, OJ, and coffee. It’s so comforting to be with the family during the holidays!

  1150. CHERIE MISTRETTA

    We have all the children open two gifts from my Gramma one is a toy or book and the other is a new pair of pajamas. They love it and now I do it for my boys, 17 and 20 and I get cute themes. I even get a pair for myself so we all match! I have just started drinking coffee so this would be awesome, thank you!! Good luck to me :)

  1151. Rosalia

    The holidays can be hectic…we have 3 places to visit. No real tradition–I just enjoy time with my family and now my 1 year old son!

  1152. Jessica

    We love to load up in the car in jammies and drive to see Christmas lights. We have some great displays of “dancing lights” in our town!

  1153. Lindsay

    When my husband and I got married we always struggled with Christmas Day because we had so many places to go and never seemed to have enough time to enjoy the day together. A few years ago we decided to open our gifts from each other on Christmas Eve, after going to our church’s service. We spend the entire day together and have made this “our” tradition!

  1154. Donna

    I love having family over for an early dinner on Christmas Eve and then going to church, where we sing the beautiful hymns of Christmas!

  1155. Steven

    Thanksgiving time is my favorite. We meet up at my mom’s, aunt’s, or sister’s for some great food and a good time. We typically watch Christmas Vacation. Then we have coffee and desserts.

  1156. CHERIE MISTRETTA

    We have all the children (not many little ones these days) open two gifts from my Gramma on Christmas Eve, its always a toy or book and then a fresh new pair of pajamas to wear and have on for the big day, Christmas. I am doing this now for my boys 17 and 20 and they love it. New pair of jama pants every year with a cute theme and I even get myself a pair :) I have just started drinking coffee and I’m hooked would love this!!

  1157. Candice

    My favorite holiday tradition is opening one present on christmas eve. we’ve been doing it since I can remember and is always the most fun thing for me and my sister to do even now that we’re in our 20s :) thanks for the chance to win!

  1158. Teresa Kelman

    Traditions are important in these changing times. Love the early morning business of preparing Christmas meal after exchanging gifts.

  1159. Monica

    Our tradition is having a delicious brunch on Christmas morning, with breakfast casseroles, fruits, Danishes, juices, etc! This Kurig would fit in perfectly! Thanks Amanda, Merry Christmas cutie!

  1160. Christina R

    our tradition includes waking up early, opening the presents, having a glass of coquito (its a puerto rican thing), having breakfast, spending time together all day & going to the movies in the evening ! :)

  1161. jessica

    Hi. For a few mins, I was struggling to think of what traditions my family has for Christmas, fearful that we really don’t have any. Reading through the comments made me realize my family is actually quite traditional at Christmas. We always attend the candlelight Christmas eve service at our church, followed by new pjs and a christmas movie. Christmas day is full if family and love, but before any gifts are exchanged, my dad reads us the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke in the Bible. Its easy to get distracted by the craziness of the season, but my favorite time of all is celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and what that means to my family. :)

  1162. Sara

    My favorite holiday tradition is spending a week up north with my entire family. On Sunday mornings, we all bundle up and ride snowmobiles to the local snowmobile club for a delicious pancake breakfast. So far, the weather hasn’t been cooperating here in Michigan, but hopefully there will be snow by Christmas!

  1163. Francesca

    I love Christmas Eve at my parents’ house. We eat good snack food and open gifts. It’s been a family tradition all my life.

  1164. Heather (Heather's Dish)

    my favorite tradition is just spending time with my family…i know that sounds really all-encompassing, but it’s all about eating together, walking together, cooking together and spending that time that makes it special!

  1165. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    favorite holiday tradition = to travel to Aruba with my family. We come here every year for the holidays and this is where Santa comes for our four year old. He makes it all the way down here every year, imagine that.

    Great giveaway!

  1166. Debi

    My very favorite Holiday tradition is being with family and friends. Everyone pops in and out all day long for a visit. I cook and bake for days before.. Fun Fun Fun…. Love Christmas!!! Hope you have a wonderful one!! P.S. Oh, forgot to say…… I make cheese danish every Christmas morning… (my daughter waits for it to come out of the oven) YUM!!!

  1167. Ana Burrows

    Hubby and I started one of our own: putting up the tree while listening to Christmas songs and having some nice hot cocoa and cookies.

  1168. Colleen Dixon

    My favorite tradition is going to my sisters house on Christmas Eve with the kids to make cookies for Santa. People come and go all night and bring appetizers to share. :)

  1169. Amanda U.

    We don’t have too many traditions, but my mom always gives me a big box with lots of small presents wrapped individually inside! It’s like having a second stocking.

  1170. Cindy

    Each Christmas morning we take a picture of the kids waiting on the stairs in the jammies before opening gifts. It’s fun to see the look of excitement on their faces.

  1171. Lindsay Butler

    My favorite tradition is our advent calendar. My son is only 13 months old, but I know that in a short time he will understand, and be beyond excited.

  1172. Karie @ The HoB

    I always enjoy our Christmas Morning Breakfast. I also try something new, last year we had Blueberry French Toast Casserole and it was yummy!

  1173. Kari

    It’s soo hard to choose just one!! Christmas is my most fav time of the year…family being together, the lights/decor, music, the joy on the faces of my children, celebrating JESUS the reason for the season….I love it all!!! Fav tradition is watching It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas, baking cookies, going to church for Christmas Eve service, unwrapping stockings on Christmas Eve, etc……I’ve got a long list!! Thanks so much!! :)

  1174. KarlaJ

    My favorite tradition is going to the candlelit service at our church Christmas Eve and back to Moms for her famous shrimp-wiggle! When we were kids Dad would lay down under the tree and pick out one present for each of us to open. I think he enjoyed it even more than us kids! Thanks for the giveaway, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  1175. Amanda

    Our tradition is all decorating the tree together. Even though my sons are teenagers now we still do it. I know soon it might not be this way when they move out but for now I cherish it. Merry Christmas.

  1176. Deb

    We have a small family and we see each other often so on Christmas Eve we always try to do something different that we wouldn’t normally do when we are together to make our Christmas special. Although we havent done it in a few years, my favorite tradition was making Gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. Everyone joined in on the fun, even the guys. It ended with a huge mess to clean up afterwards but everyone still talks about it today.

  1177. Tiffini

    I would love to win a Keurig! My favorite family tradition is tough to pick because we have so many. I guess one of my favorites would be Christmas eve bundling up in jammies, piling into the car with hot chocolate in hand and blankets and riding through the light festival :)

  1178. Amanda Mae

    Great giveaway! My favorite Christmas tradition is making a thermos full of sweet hot chocolate and riding around for hours with my husband looking at Christmas lights :)

  1179. Southern Gal

    My son-in-law told us last night that he didn’t have any traditions growing up and he was so thankful Rebekah had so many to pass along to their daughter, Nora. I think driving around town looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve and reading the Christmas story are my favorites. Of course, cookie baking and gingerbread house construction are right up there, too!
    Thanks for the chance.

  1180. Karen

    We always have my grandmother’s coffee cake for breakfast on Christmas morning. This year, I hope to recreate her recipe for us to enjoy that morning (along with any candy in our stockings).

  1181. maureen

    Our holiday day tradition is having dinner with my mother-in-law and opening the first presents of the season on Christmas Eve with the boys.

  1182. mary keating

    we go to church together on Christmas Eve and we have some sort of Italian food the night before Christmas (even though we are not Italian!)

  1183. Ashley Marie

    Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great giveaway!

    My favorite Holiday tradition started when I was a kid and I hope to continue as we start a family of our own. My parents would take us to My maternal grandmother’s home for Christmas Eve. We would have a nice family dinner and then open one gift. That gift was always a new set of Christmas Jammies to wear that night before Santa came. In the morning, us kids would always pull out the great big coffee machine that had the extra large carafe and got coffee set up for all the other family members that were coming to our house for Christmas morning. For some reason, I always felt like we looked like little Christmas elves with our pajamas on scurrying about the kitchen waiting for my parents to get up.

  1184. Belinda

    Making candy, cookies and caramel corn with the family to share! Some of them we make 20 batches! Fun times! Merry Christmas!

  1185. marla

    On Christmas Eve we go to church, then out to dinner, then home for an all family competition of Wii bowling – so much fun! Merry Christmas Amanda!

  1186. MELANIE WILLIAMS

    My favorite family tradition is everyone gathering at my mom’s house for Christmas dinner. Thanks for this opportunity. Merry Christmas!

  1187. Debbie

    AWESOME giveaway! Our favorite tradition is each year we get our children an ornament that pertains to something they loved that year. We love looking back at all the ornaments throughout the year.

  1188. Heidi

    Favorite Xmas tradition is sitting on the couch after church on Xmas Eve with the fire going and just the tree lights on and a glass of wine, reflecting o life.

  1189. Michelle Frame

    I love being with my family at this time of year! It takes me back of being a kid again!!! :) Great giveaway…thanks for sharing with us girl! :)

  1190. Lindsay L

    We have a book that we read to our kids every December and it writes “Christmas isn’t all about the big, the bright, the new. Christmastime is about Jesus and the love He brought for YOU!”. Hopefully our children will pass this on long after we are gone….

  1191. Allison Troyer

    SNOWMEN! I have an obsession! And also starting with Thanksgiving, I feel the need to make my Maw-Maw’s cornbread dressing for every meal. YUM!

  1192. Cindy Kington

    What a great giveaway! My most favorite traditions is being home with my family for Christmas. Having all 4 of the kids wanting to be with us celebrating Christmas together – nothing else matters but being together!

  1193. Maria

    I let my two kiddos open one present on Christmas Eve and it’s always fun Christmas jammies. Then we enjoy hot cocoa while getting Santa’s plate of cookies and glass of milk all ready. I’m so excited just thinking about it! haha – I love it just as much as they do!

    Thank you for a chance to win this fab prize!

  1194. Stephanie M

    Our favorite tradition is that we do stocking stuffers each Sunday during the month of December! It has been a great way to get us focused on the Christmas season and gives us great quality family time together!

  1195. Susan

    What a great giveaway! Favorite tradition? Well, there are so many…. like going to pick out the tree the Thursday night after Thanksgiving and decorating it the next night, opening one gift on Christmas Eve (new pjs), baking cookies the week of Christmas, but my favorite is attending Christmas Eve Mass and then enjoying the night just the 3 of us having supper, watching a Christmas movie and thanking God for the gift of Jesus! Merry Christmas!

  1196. Lindsey

    What an incredible giveaway!!!
    My favorite holiday tradition is spending the night before Christmas with my family. We start with opening our stockings, then eat a fancy dinner, and then continue on to the rest of the gifts, and finish the night with a game together :) Love this time of year! Happy holidays!!

  1197. Chelsea

    My fav christmas tradition is going to church christmas eve then doing our dinner and opening gifts : ) Love church and spending time with family!

  1198. Sonia

    We’ve lived all over the world so our Christmas has looked different every year and we hold loosely to traditions! Our favorite years are the ones we spent at an orphanage in Thailand where the traditions include birthday cupcakes for Jesus and a Christmas day team games competition- including climbing a greased pole, a messy relay race and the annual soccer match.

  1199. Sally

    My favorite Christmas tradition is spending Christmas afternoon and evening with our extended family. It’s such a wonderful time to slow down and connect, not to mention all of the joyous gift-giving, and laughter. I treasure it.

  1200. Debbie Garrett

    Every year for years My little sister and I would get together a few weeks before Christmas and make candy and goodies and we would make them wrap them and give them out to co workers, friends, church family. After a busy year of life, it’s so much fun to just spend a day with my little sister and make goodies and have fun! To keep the kids busy we would order take out pizza so no stop in candy making.

  1201. Dawn

    We go to Christmas Eve service at our church and then watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a family while munching on some popcorn. It such a relaxing and enjoyable time!

  1202. Rhonda

    I love love love my Keurig and would love to have one to gift my daughter! The best part is that I didn’t know that Millstone made the Kpacks, so I will look for those. I love Millstone and Hazelnut is my favorite too!

  1203. Sandi

    My favorite tradition is Christmas morning and just getting to open presents with my husband and son. Its amazing to watch my sons excitement and I remember being a little girl and sharing that same feeling of surprise and happiness.

  1204. amanda @ fake ginger

    We don’t have many traditions yet in my little family. One I do love is giving my boys matching PJs on Christmas Eve so they’ll match in all our Christmas photos. :)

  1205. Pam A.

    I would love to win this! I know many people that would like this for a xmas gift :) My favorite tradition when I was a kid was getting woken up by my dad real early xmas morning to open up our gifts. Then we would get ready and head up to my aunt and uncles house to get together with all my family and open presents and have a huge dinner! My favorite tradition now is the trek that my husband, dog and I do on the 23rd of December. We pack up our stuff and drive the 14 hour car ride to South Carolina to see my mom and dad. We drive overnight to miss out on most of the traffic. I love it! Especially when we drive by Washington DC in the middle of the night and see it all lit up!

  1206. Angie

    We are starting new traditions now with two little ones who, for the first time, are understanding Christmas! But my all time favorite tradition that has been mine for years is making cinnamon rolls Christmas morning – and watching the Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas parade!

    Thanks for the great contest!

  1207. Jules

    Christmas isn’t Christmas without cookies. It was a tradition in my family to start baking right after Thanksgiving. Every year my Dad would say “why do you always make SO many cookies?” Yet, he was the one that enjoyed eating them the most! I always think of him every time I bake a batch.

  1208. Diana

    When our family gathers at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving Dinner… after dinner the “girls” (my mother, myself and my 2 sister’s) get out the Christmas tree/decorations/stockings and get the house decorated for mom for the Christmas holiday. We play Christmas music and spend some great time together while the guys hang out in the other room. LOVE that time together getting into the Christmas spirit! :)

  1209. Ellen Goodman

    I love going to church and then spending the day watching my children open their gifts. I love seeing the smiles on their faces on Christmas morning.

  1210. samantha

    Christmas Eve is usually just us. We make and decorate cookies for Santa, a birthday cake for Jesus, go to church, and my kids come home to a Christmas book and jammies under the tree. We order and pizza and just hang out together before we travel to spend time with family the next day.

  1211. Helen Sturgeon

    What a perfect gift for those of us who enjoy tasting different flavors and types of coffee! Our favorite Christmas tradition is making Gingerbread “people”. When my daughter, Kelley, was tiny, she would only visit MRS Santa so it followed that we made Gingerbread Men AND Women (and children) at our house! As soon as she could stand on a chair in the kitchen beside me, we baked and decorated hundreds of these guys! The neighbors and our friends were delighted with our creativity! Now she has a 15 month old daughter, Emmie, and is excited to pass this tradition along to her!

  1212. Sabrina Kent

    My favorite tradition is waking up on Christmas Day with just me and the husband and having a nice relaxing breakfast together before the hectic day begins.

  1213. Dot Rutherford

    Attending our Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church, baking some “once-a-year” sweet treats, and just being able to spend a few hours with family and friends catching up on life! :)

  1214. Barb

    When I was growing up I always went with my family to Christmas Eve services at church and that is a tradition that my own family continues. Thanks for the chance to win this great prize!

  1215. Maria

    My favorite Holiday tradition is having our entire family together to open gifts on Christmas Eve while dining on appetizers and desserts!

  1216. Kristin

    My son was born in September so I’m implementing a new tradition this year – matching family pajamas! It’s definitely dorky but I can’t wait to see my husband’s face when he opens a box with red plaid pi’s for him, me, our baby AND our dog.

  1217. Ashlee

    My family has started the holiday tradition of playing the game Just Dance. Each Christmas day our family comes over and we all play and laugh and have fun! It’s awesome!

  1218. Tracy S.

    YAY for COFFEE!!!! :)))

    Favorite Holiday Tradition: Loading up the family (husband and two kids) and driving around to look at the Christmas yard decor (lights, figurines, etc…) and then awarding our favorites with certificates, candy canes and Starbucks gift cards! 5 awards are given (Tastefully Tacky, Neighborhood Gem, It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas Display. ect…)

  1219. Leia

    My favorite Christmas tradition is sitting sleepy eyed watching my son in awe of the gifts Santa brought and being so thankful for everything he received. Seeing the pure joy on his face is like nothing else.

  1220. Fernie

    Thank you for having the contests!!!

    my favorite tradition or’s is going for chinese food on Christmas eve, going to look at the christmas lights too.

    also on Christmas morning the first person to find the pickle ornament gets a prize. so everyone is searching…

  1221. Helen Ernst

    I am married with 2 boys. And every year he, the boys and my husbands friends and thier boys go out Christmas shopping. Loved watching them get so excited. My boys are are now 21 and 17. The shopping trip has now turn more into the guys all getting together to go out to dinner. But they ALL still get excited.

  1222. The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh

    We have quite a few. We typically kick off the season by going to a candlelighting ceremony at a victorian village about 90 minutes away.

    We love to drive around looking at Christmas lights for the those who put them up. (Is it me or are people just too lazy to string lights anymore? LOL)

    Our “dating anniversary” is the 23rd and sometimes we celebrate, sometimes we don’t. This is a celebration year since we’ve been together 20 years. (Met when we were 17 and 19)

    Then the 24th is my favorite day of the year and our Christmas with my mom where we do a big appetizer spread and listen to Christmas music from my childhood and fight off a food coma. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.

    Christmas Day we wake up, look at each other and ala Fuller from Home Alone 2 say “it’s Christmas mornin’ man!” jump up, grab each others presents out of the closets and eat cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Then off to my aunt’s house to see my mom and her sisters and grandma and the youngun’s that have sprouted up the past few years. My favorite cousins will sit up in the dining room with us as we survey the madness and open our gifts in secret instead of going by age because we’re rebels like that. :-)

  1223. Joelle

    Ever since a was a young child, my father would read T’was the Night Before Christmas on Christmas eve. As my brother, sister and I grew older and had children of our own, we still would show up at our parent’s house for the reading. The tradition continues today even though the grandchildren, all eleven of them, range between the ages of 11 and 18. I am so grateful to have my family close by. I already have a Keurig (and LOVE it so much) but, if I’m lucky enough to win, would offer it to my sister who I know would love it as much as I do.

  1224. Lois Hartwell

    We only have one hard and fast tradition – on Christmas Eve we go to church, then out to dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant, and finally we drive around to look at all the pretty Christmas lights! But this year we have to change it up a bit b/c there is no Christmas eve service; we are having church Christmas day. Guess we’ll have to go with the flow!

  1225. melissaf

    My favorite christmas tradition is christmas eve church service followed by dinner and opening one gift. We read christmas books and go to bed.

  1226. Helen Boivin

    I get together with my cousins every year to make pierogis for our Christmas Eve celebration. It’s a wonderful bonding experience.

  1227. Diana Ferguson

    My favorite family tradition is a visit from the “real” Santa on Christmas Eve. He usually arrives after we have had our evening meal. It’s still so thrilling for me to hear that knock on the front door. Then to watch the little ones’ eyes light up—priceless. We started this when our children were young and continue it today for our grandchildren! Merry Christmas!

  1228. beth

    My favorite Christmas tradition comes from my childhood. We lived in Hawaii until I was 5, and my parents always played an album of Christmas carols sung in Hawaiian while we decorated the tree. Years of play scratched up the record and then of course, the record player went the way of the dinosaurs. One year I found the cd online and burned copies for everyone for Christmas. Now even at almost 43, listening to that cd is the only way for me to know it’s finally Christmas again.

  1229. Karen

    We let our kids invite non-Jewish friends over for Hanukah dinner, lighting the menorahs and to play dreidel. They love to share this experience.
    Thanks for this and all your great give-always!
    Happy Holidays!

  1230. Terri

    Hi Amanda!

    This would be so awesome. With just two of us and me only able to drink decaf, this would be ideal!

    When my kids were still kids at home, my mom and dad got them a Christmas ornament each year. Now that I have a grand-daughter, I plan to do the same thing. And, my son suggested that I decorate a grandkids tree with his childhood ornaments.

  1231. Janet

    My husbands’s birthday is on Dec 20th and the kids and grandkids come over (10 of them) to help him celebrate. We let the grandkids open their xmas gifts from us on his birthday so we can watch each and everyone of them one at a time. This way we all enjoy their happy smiles and squeals of delight.

  1232. Gail

    My favorite holiday tradition is watching my daughters make the gingerbread house on Christmas Eve. They’re now 18 and 22 years old and when they’re both home for Christmas, they still make the gingerbread house together. My oldest daughter is expecting my first grandchild early next year so I’m hoping that in years to come, she (yes, it’s a girl) will be the first of a new generation to make the gingerbread house on Christmas Eve.

  1233. Nicole G

    My favorite holiday tradition is to wrap presents into the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve while watching classic movies: Meet Me In St. Louis, A Christmas Carol, The Bishop’s Wife, Christmas In Connecticut, etc.

  1234. Susan

    I read “The Cajun Night Before Christmas” every year. It’s been 27 years that I’ve read it, with only one year that I missed.

  1235. Lauren

    We always opened up a brand new set of (omg, matching) Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve…my mom would always wash them before wrapping, so we’d open them then put them on for the night. We’d all wake up in our matching family Christmas pajamas and take a photo on Christmas morning. Wow, that sounds really nerdy as I type this…but I love it! :)

  1236. Lynnet

    Growing up, my mom would always let us choose a Hallmark ornament to hang on the tree. We always looked forward to seeing what new ones they had and what we would choose. Today, we carry on that tradition with our kids and it is something everyone looks forward to.

  1237. Jodi

    My favorite Christmas family tradition was always putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house Thanksgiving weekend. Thanks for the chance to win =).

  1238. Chelsi

    My favorite Christmas tradition is going to the Christmas Eve church service and ending the service with a candle-lighting and singing ‘Silent Night’. I look forward to this every year!

    :)

  1239. Tracy Hunt

    Maybe not the favorite tradition but I really enjoy watching bits and pieces of A Christmas Story as it is played many times over the holidays. We never watch it all at once!

  1240. Melody♪♫

    mmmmmmmmmmmmm — coffee? I smelled it a mile away! (Thank you & Millstone for the giveaway, BTW.)

    My absolute favorite tradition is snuggling with the hubs under the freshly decorated tree after the boys are in bed & the dogs are quiet for the night. (I also enjoy sitting by it in the morning with a cuppa when no one else is up…)

  1241. Dale @ Tradeurbeads

    My favorite tradition is Christmas morning having a breakfast of lox, bagels and the trimmings in honor of the Jewish side of the family.

  1242. tamara

    Ever since I got married and had kids, our traditions for the holidays have changed a gazillion times! Last year we put our foot down about which family gets us Christmas Eve and which one on Christmas Day (dinner Only!), and for the first time we got to stay HOME on Christmas morning! We made monkey bread for breakfast and scrambled eggs, us adults had it with coffee. YUM! So that’s our new Christmas morning tradition. We’re looking forward to the monkey bread this Christmas!

  1243. erin

    Homemade fried dough in the morning for breakfast, seeing the excitement on the kids faces, just enjoying each others company for the entire day.

  1244. emily

    As always, another great give away Amanda! I LOVE the Keurig! Being Jewish we have a twist on the holiday traditions, my mother always has a latke party and we invite friends and family to eat, exchange gifts, hang out and play dreidel. On Christmas eve and sometimes Christmas day I go out for Chinese food. When I was in high school and college, my bestie and I would go to the movies on Christmas day. Now, working in aviation, I volunteer to work Christmas day so my gentile co-workers can enjoy the day with their families.
    I hope I win! Amanda – I wish you and Kevin a wonderful and magical holiday!

  1245. Laura Potts

    A keurig is on my wish list this year!! My favorite holiday tradition is picking out the Christmas tree. We go to the same family owned nursery every year–the smell is amazing, Christmas music is blaring, and the mood is always so festive and happy:)

  1246. Jaime

    My favorite tradition is to attend the midnight candlelight service at our little Swedish church in town. The service is done in traditional Swedish. Love it!

  1247. Ashlee

    We always go see a movie on Christmas Eve! Even though we now live in different states, we still keep the tradition alive! This year we are going to see the Muppets!

  1248. Alicia M

    I love this giveaway!
    My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies–candy cane cookies are always the most popular–while listening to Christmas music. Of course, this would be even better with a hot cup of coffee…

  1249. Dee

    I’m really excited for this giveaway! I love eating & opening presents all night on Christmas Eve. We’re all dressed up when we get to my sister’s house and by morning we’re in our PJ’s & half asleep but it’s always fun!
    Thanks so much for the giveaway! Merry Christmas to you, Kevin, Miley & Howie!

  1250. Becky M

    one of my favorite traditions is decorating our tree. Most of our ornaments have come from our travels and it’s fun to relive those memories as we hang everything!

  1251. Abbie

    Our favorite holiday tradition is making s’mores in our wood burning fireplace on Christmas Eve… it is a lot of fun and the kids love it! Thank you such a lovely giveaway! Merry Christmas!

  1252. Susan K

    AWESOME! I am entered – good luck to me – with the Christmas spirit – EVERYONE —>> good luck. Favorite tradition — our ham and all the fixings for Christmas dinner and attending my husband’s family gathering Christmas evening. Two – traditions a must each year.

  1253. Natalie

    My favorite holiday tradition is the huge Christmas Eve dinner we spend with my entire family. This year, I’m a newlywed spending my first Christmas with my husband and we’re looking forward to starting our own holiday traditions this year.

  1254. Julie G

    We love all the activities our church has for Christmas. One of the favorite activities is the “Happy Birthday Jesus” party.

  1255. Marilyn Krigger

    My favorite Christmas tradition is spending Christmas morning with my family. We spend the entire morning together, cooking breakfast, opening gifts, Christmas specials playing in the background. Its just magical.

  1256. Jessica

    Thanks for the chance to win another great giveaway! I have a huge family and dinner (with leftovers for everyone) is always a big part of our celebration. So my favorite tradition is helping Mom cook for everyone

  1257. Tracy

    My favorite holiday tradition? I don’t even know. Decorating our Christmas tree I guess! It’s the one thing we do every year, no matter where we are!

  1258. Karen

    One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making iced cutout sugar cookies using some of my favorite cookie cutters from my collection! I have some that I have been using for over 30 years since I was a young teenager. Also a more recent tradition is my sons, 9 and 14, helping me put out of large nutcracker collection.

  1259. Rachel Robinson

    Hmm well one of my favorite traditions is baking Christmas cookies as gifts for all of my friends and family. I always love giving something homemade or personal and sometimes a baked good just makes you feel a lot better than a sweater :-)

  1260. Megan

    When I was little, my brothers and I always made gingerbread cookies from scratch for Santa. My mom baked the dough and dad cut the shapes by hand. As adults, we still carry on the tradition and a friendly cookie decorating contest has emerged. It’s what I look forward to most!

  1261. Julie

    We have always had cinnamon rolls for breakfast Christmas morning. Even now that my kids have their own kids, they come over Christmas morning and have cinnamon rolls!

  1262. Sarah Cruze

    I love your blog and your giveaways! Thank you! My favorite Christmas tradition is…. My grandfather would take the men of the family duck hunting for an overnight trip a couple of days before Christmas, and that night, my grandmother would take the ladies out “hunting” to a nice restaurant for a steak dinner :)

  1263. J Snyder

    We have so many: we start with Christmas by the Sea weekend with all their festivities, then by cutting down our own Christmas tree, baking, having a bday party for (as my kids say) Baby Jesus, each kid picking out something special for their sibling, and someone less fortunate, making gingerbread houses and lastly the food we serve is all our special stuff from growing up.

  1264. Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute

    Merry Christmas Kevin and Amanda! This is such a nice giveaway. I’d like to finally enter the 21st century with a cool coffee maker like this.

    One of our family traditions is to always watch “Christmas Story” together. You know the red rider bb gun movie.

    Have a wonderful Holiday season.
    Hugs…Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute
    cottonpickincute(at)hotmail(dot)com

  1265. Teresa C.

    My favorite tradition is going to a candlelight Christmas Eve service! We have been to many different churches, depending on where we are that year, but I just love singing Christmas carols around the candlelight. :)

  1266. Edward

    Love the family getting together. The dinner on Christmas eve with all of our family is priceless. It is the most cherished tradition.

  1267. Julie Gade

    Christmas Eve and Christmas Day spent in church with very dear to heart families is the most tender of traditions! Merry Christmas to all….
    Thanks for a chance at a “Great start to every morning” Keurig prize…..would love one of these!!

  1268. Janice

    Favorite Christmas tradition…Coming home from Christmas Eve service, exchanging one small gift (where we drew names between the 5 of us) then getting ready with popcorn, chips, cookies & drinks all snuggled under blankets to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Ha! Then, getting to bed late and having my 3 daughters wake up VERY early.

  1269. Nicole H.

    My favorite holiday tradition from when I was a child was my parents would always fill our stocking with breakfast type goodies (an orange, juicebox, granola bar etc.) and little toys and we couldn’t wake them up to open presents until we ate all of our breakfast! I spend Christmas with my in-laws now, so unfortunately we don’t carry on this tradition – but when I have my own little ones someday, I definitely plan on doing this!

    Thanks for this GREAT giveaway.

  1270. Amy Lynne

    Thank you so much for the opportunity!! How cool!!
    My favorite tradition is pretty recent. For the last 5 years, I have created a handmade gift for each of my 3 daughters. It is the gift they seem to look forward to the most! :)
    Merry Christmas!!

  1271. Laura Edmonds

    I love decorating our Christmas tree with my sons. My mom gives them a new ornament every year and it is fun to look back over the years at the different ones they have as they put them on the tree. My oldest is 17 and my youngest is 7 and they both love to help me with the tree. Priceless!!! :)

  1272. Maria M

    Our favorite tradition is getting our Christmas Tree – we go to a tree farm with a mini train we ride on and it drops us off by the trees and we grab a wagon and saw and start to look. The kids love to play hide and seek among the trees and the older kids are ready to help cut the tree down. Then we bring the tree back in the wagon back to the train stop, ride the train back and have hot chocolate while it gets wrapped and ready to take home.

  1273. Barb

    Oh my goodness – so many fun traditions, plus we’ve added 3 new traditions this year as we have an exchange daughter from Denmark who has given us so much joy and taught us new traditions. But my most favorite of all, which is only 3 years old, is making Lefse on Christmas Eve. Our 14 year old and I learned how from our very skilled Norwegian church ladies, I went out and bought everything, and now we do it on our own every Christmas Eve. LOVE it :)

  1274. Amanda G

    I love our simple Christmas Eve get together with my maternal grandparents and the all out fabulous chaos of Christmas day with my dads huge side of the family. Such a contrast but both perfect for the season!

  1275. Mindy

    I can smell our coffee brewing now, and this would make a great gift for my mom! Gosh, our favorite holiday tradition..? I have many answers if you would have asked, what is it that you dread the most at the holidays. haha. Okay, holiday tradition: Taking our holiday family portrait. I have one for each year since my son was very little. But, now that he is almost 13 yrs old, he is very annoyed with it. We had to do three separate sessions this year because of my son’s lack of a smile. Geez, to think.. he will actually like to look at these one day with his own family.

  1276. Hannah

    My favorite tradition is baking my grandmother’s famous Christmas cookies: jam thumbprints and sour cream twists. Happy Holidays :)

  1277. Julie C.

    My favorite tradition on Christmas Day is watching the kids open their stockings. We always wrap everything up so it takes a while to get through it, which allows the others to sleep a little longer… I love this!

  1278. Sally

    On Christmas morning, everyone stays in bed until I come to their room with my grandmother’s 100+ year old music box and wish them a Merry Christmas. This is a tradition my mother and her mother passed along. My grown kids tell me how they would listen for me to crank the music box and then the beautiful music start playiing and then they’d start squealing and giggling in anticipation.

  1279. Beth

    dinner with family, opening gifts usually the youngest goes first,going to the christmas eve service together, singing christmas carols, going to see the christmas lights around the neighborhood, being with friends, laughing & joking about past christmas moments, i love CHRISTMAS! it’s such a wonderful time of the year. hope you & your family have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year in 2012. i keep looking at the Keurig in the store where ever i’ve been shopping & i keep thinking how great it would be to have one. what a great giveaway. good luck to everyone. (:

  1280. Dar

    We have several traditions at Christmas but since this one pertains to food ❤
    I always make a breakfast casserole or quiche (or both) Christmas morning. I put it in the oven as soon as we wake and put on a pot of coffee (and some hot cocoa) so that it’s ready to eat/drink right after opening presents from Santa. Opening presents works up quite an appetite and a thirst!

  1281. Denise in South GA

    I decorate the dining table different every year and on Christmas Eve we make a shrimp dinner with the kids.We usually watch movies after dinner. Merry Christmas to Y’all!

  1282. Lori

    My favorite traditions are going to the Christmas Eve candle light service at our church and also gathering with the extended family at grandma’s house on Christmas evening.

  1283. Lois Martin

    My favorite Christmas tradition is watching the children search for the pickle in the Christmas tree. The one who finds it gets to open the first present.

  1284. Heather

    My favorite holiday tradition is one that isn’t that old. For the last three years my 4 yr. old has been helping me bake Christmas goodies. She absolutely loves to get in the kitchen and help me bake. If she gets to put sprinkles on something it is even better for her.

  1285. Sara

    Our big night was always Christmas Eve… That came from my dad being raised in Sweden. Now that I’m incorporating a second family into the Ihoilidays, I take care of Christmas Eve and they take care of Christmas.

  1286. Mary

    Santa Claus has always been a big tradition with our family. Stockings are filled by Santa overnight. On Christmas morning they are the first and only thing that could be opened when we were little kids and waking up before our parents. Now it is a family activity enjoyed with a morning brunch. Later, we gather around and open our presents.

  1287. krystyne

    hooray for coffee!!
    my favorite thing is the result of all the combined traditions in our house. being together with my family surrounded by beautiful lights, nostalgic music and the smell of baked goods just can’t be beat!

  1288. Lorrie Corry

    Christmas Eve service….jammies and sharing Santa and gifts for each other… And this Christmas going back home to celebrate one of the finest ladies who ever lived … My husband’s mother… We will have her favorite dishof Chicken Tettrazzini and dessert and coffee around her diningroom table… Miss you sweet Betty! Keep those traditions going everyone and Merry Christmas memories to you all!
    Lorrie

  1289. Lana

    On Christmas Eve we host an open house. After the Christmas Eve service, friends and family gather for tamales and other goodies. It is so much fun.

  1290. The Monogrammed Mrs.

    My inlaws read an elf book to our neice and nephew on Thanksgiving. That seems to kick off Christmas so well. We also all go to church on Christmas eve (and all year long) and that is such a special time.

  1291. Symone

    I love this maker! My Aunt has one and when we visit here we use it all the time! It would be so neat to own one for myself!

  1292. Elizabeth

    Thanks for the giveaway!!! It’s hard to choose just one tradition–I just like spending time with family & friends.

  1293. Barb

    It was always hard for my daughter to wait to open presents on Christmas morning, so we would let her pick one to open on Christmas Eve. It’s fun to see which one she picks to open. She’s seventeen and still looks forward to this every year! Happy holidays, everyone!

  1294. Anita Dehghani

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking cookies and planning special memus that hopefully exclude turkey.

    I also love all the potlucks with friends and playing an afternoon of games.

    Monday I am making brown sugar bacon wrapped smokies as requested.

  1295. Carolyn L.

    My family is so big we all draw names, but instead of BUYING the gift you have to make it! It’s always a challenge and so fun to see what creative gifts people come up with.

  1296. Dyan Witt

    I love going to church on Christmas Eve and listening to the choir sing sweet beautiful songs!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  1297. rebecca @ beurrista

    it was lovely reading what all the commenters said- such wonderful, sweet memories that are created.

    we open one gift on christmas eve (after church service) and they’re always pajamas. christmas day includes a tradition of playing christmas carols for each other- LOVE christmas music!

  1298. Kristin

    My favorite holiday tradition is decorating the Christmas tree, reminiscing about all of the ornaments and where they came from. So much fun!

  1299. Vicki Mc

    My favorite Christmas tradition is eating a box of russell stover chocolates while decorating the christmas tree with my husband.

    This time of year I wish I had kids so I could play elf on a shelf with them though :)

  1300. Katie Brockmeyer

    My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the Christmas tree. Now that my son is 4, it is important to start these traditions! :) I also plan on starting a “north pole” breakfast on Christmas eve morning.

  1301. Olivia

    My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating dozens of cookies on Christmas Eve, waking up Christmas Day, and then eating a breakfast of pancakes or cinnamon rolls and Christmas cookies. Not very healthy, but so much fun!

  1302. Mary Brown

    Amanda, love the posts with all the pretty macaroons recently. Loved baking cookies with my Grandma Loretta and she never said “That’s enough” when I would eat them haha. Happy Holidays

  1303. Mary

    Chruch on Christmas Eve then spending Christmas with family and friends..and of course the cookies :) thank you for the great give away and all of your great articles all year

  1304. Hannah

    My husband and I started a tradition of eating stollen every Christmas morning. I like it because it’s not something that either of our families did but we started it just for the two of us.

  1305. Maureen

    We decided when the kids were very young to celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas so that they were not over whelmed. On Dec. 26 we celebrate the Feast of the Friendly Beasts, a medival tradition recognizing the animals in the stable with the Christ Child. It is time to reflect on other aspects of animals…and friends who give us love and support.

  1306. Billie

    Dinner with family, walking to church for Candlelight Service, and returning home for holiday martinis and snacks.

  1307. Marlis Marsingale

    I love everything Christmas! The songs, the decorations, the hunt to find the perfect gift for someone. But I think myf favorite tradition is reading Twas the Night Before Christmas to my kids on Christmas Eve. Now they are big kids and I need to find new traditions but I love my memories of when they were little.

  1308. Silvia Salvático

    Thanks for this awesome giveaway. My favorite tradition is to be with my family and tell old histories about us. Now, I’ve two childs and everything it´s more funny.
    Thanks you and have a happy holidays!

  1309. Julie

    My favorite tradition is getting a real tree with my husband and two kids. We go the weekend after Thanksgiving to get our tree. It is fun decorating the tree together and looking at old ornaments and the stories behind them. My favorite time of year!

  1310. Joy

    Oh today is going to be my lucky day… My husband wants one of those really bad! we don’t really have a tradition much anymore since the kids are all on there own with there own babies, I think it is time that hubby and I do them for ourselves.

  1311. Angie

    Our Christmas tradition is placing a village under the tree. There are no presents to be seen until Christmas morning after Santa delivers everything…the expression in the kids’ eyes make it all worthwhile!! =)

  1312. Christa F

    For work my friend and I get together with my Manager one evening the week before Christmas, and make a gift of treats for our team of about 30 employees… It is so much fun to spend a night making Christmas cookies, chow chow (or like this year), peppermint bark. We spend the evening away from the office, with some festive Holiday music, enjoy each others company, share stories, have a small dinner, some festive drinks, and exchange our own gifts to each other, all while being Elves making a homemade treat for the team! We have a lot of laughs and it gives us that time to unwind and do something fun! We have done this the last 3 years, and it is turning into a wonderful and fun tradition!

  1313. Beverly McCormick

    Thanks for this oppportunity. I would love to win this. About a year ago my son was hospitalized for several days. In the waiting room they had one of these with all different types of coffee and chocolate. Once I tried it, couldn’t resist it. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

  1314. Victoria

    Our favorite holiday tradition with our kids is Christmas morning stockings. I guess Santa uses peanuts to lead the kids to their stockings and has all kinds of goodies for them. Every year the kids have stockings but the way they act you would think it was their first time getting a stocking. :)

  1315. Eva Mandel

    My favorite tradition is cooking Chinese food with my mom! We’re Jewish, but my mom is Chinese as well, so instead of going out to a Chinese restaurant, we stay home and make our own Chinese food.

  1316. Melissa P. @Mel4Him

    Thanks for the wonderful giveaway! Every year my mom, son and go out for lunch then we head out to buy our Christmas trees. We just love having a real tree for Christmas.
    Mel4Him777{at}gmail{dot}com

  1317. Rayshandra

    My favorite tradition is spending time with friends from out of state. I had some really close friends move away to attend college and they decided to live in that state after finishing school. It is a wonderful treat when the holidays come because I know that my girlfriends and I get together and spend quality time together eating, shopping, and just catching up. I don’t have any children yet, but I also love seeing the new additions to the family celebrate their first Christmas. This year we have 2 new babies, and one was actually born on Christmas Day 2010. It’s about spending time with family and creating memories, not the stuff. Joy, family and friends are the greatest gifts. Happy Holidays!!!!!

  1318. Maarja

    My favourite tradition about the Christmas is reading poems to get your present. This little task is piece of cake for children, but you can see many adults blushing and feeling like little frightened kids. Furthermore, it’s heart warming to see a grandma and grandchild singing together “Winter wonderland”.
    Have a merry little Christmas Kevin and Amanda!

  1319. Patti

    Love to hang up the Christmas stockings my sister and I have exchanged over the past 35 (yikes!) years. Many of them are one-of-a-kind, handcrafted by each of us. Truly a gift of love. Friends and family are amazed to see allof them hung up each year. What a sight!

  1320. Jade

    My favorite Christmas tradition is spending Christmas Eve with my entire family (all 26 of us, soon to be 27) and after having dinner & opening presents…we all watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. It never gets old! (:

  1321. judy bruce

    my dad passed in 2004 and xmas was his favorite holiday, he was like a kid when it came to presents. each year he would try to guess what i got him and i really miss that. So each year i buy him something and put it under his tree. i leave it there and usually someone comes by and takes it but i always think he has come home to open his gift. that is the best feeling i can ever have to celebrate my holiday.

  1322. Linda Gilliam

    When my first son was born in December 1974, I bought
    a cute stuffed elf that year, named him Shuckles, and placed him on
    our antique clock my Dad had given me for
    a wedding gift… the elf has moved cross country
    several times, my oldest son Ryan is now 37, but Shuckles the elf
    mended numerous times is right this minute sitting
    on his click awaiting another Christmas, I have three
    sons and they all look for him each year!

  1323. Andrea Watters

    My favorite holiday tradition is one my mom started when my sister and I were little and that we now both share with our daughters. On Christmas Eve the kids open 1 gift after dinner followed by hot cocoa and a Christmas movie. I can’t wait!!

  1324. Joane

    Thanks for this awesome giveaway. My favorite tradition is just spending time with family and eating all the good food. Also watching the kids open their presents is always fun.

  1325. Goat Girl

    I love going to Xmas Eve church services and then driving around and looking at people’s Xmas lights/yard displays that are elaborate!

  1326. Sharon

    One of our holiday traditions was to travel the local river by boat, viewing the stately homes lining the banks in all their Christmas finery.

  1327. Susan

    Favorite holiday tradition is celebrating the Savior’s birth. Also, decorating the tree, crafting ornaments, making fudge, candies, frosted sugar cookies with sprinkles, Jesus’ birthday cake, and giving.

  1328. Sylvie Poulin

    my favorite tradition is opening gifts with my family and now with miss Olivia who is 2 1/2 years old it’s even more special!

  1329. Alyssa McVey

    My favorite tradition that my family did while I was growing up, and that I now do with my kids, is blocking off the living room by taping wrapping paper to the entry to the living room. Then the kids run through it Christmas morning.

  1330. Melanie Y

    My favorite holiday tradition is baking with my sons! Whether we decide to make & decorate sugar cookies or whip up our favorite – pineapple-upside down cake, I enjoy the special memories we create together.

    :)

  1331. Miranda

    My FAVORITE Christmas tradition is opening one gift on Christmas Eve – it was so fun because we couldn’t wait to open our presents, and it made us so much more excited for Christmas morning!

    Thank you so much for hosting this awesome giveaway :-) I hope you have a great Holiday season girly!

  1332. Nikki

    thanks for the chance to win. Would love to win it for my mom for christmas. My favorite tradition is waking up christmas morning opening santa gifts and then going to my great grandparents to see all of the cousins for lunch. Afterwards we would drive to my other grandparents to see all of my other cousins. All of this is followed by a huge sleepover at my grandparents.

  1333. Leiah

    Church, then gumbo with the family and ending with jammies for & the ‘Christmas Story’ marathon. Fah-rah-rah-rah-rah…rah rah rah rah!

    Merry Christmas!

  1334. Lisa

    Thanks for the chance to win. This is a great giveaway. My favorite tradition is just spending time with friends and family.

Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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