The holiday season always seems to arrive overnight — one minute it’s pumpkins and school conferences, and the next, the twinkle lights are out and Christmas playlists are on repeat. One of my favorite parts of this time of year is how the smallest rituals end up being the ones the kids remember most. Nothing extravagant, nothing perfect — just little moments that make our home feel warm, festive, and full of anticipation.
I wanted to gather all of our favorite traditions in one place this year: the Christmas pajamas, the downtown tree lighting, the Advent rituals, the décor, the cookies, the books, and all the cozy little ways we romanticize the season at home.
Thanksgiving Weekend Lego Build
One of our coziest traditions happens during Thanksgiving weekend. We choose a new Lego set, bring it home, and start building it together over the long weekend while we deck the halls. It ends up being this slow, shared project that we work on between pulling out decorations, fluffing garlands, and setting up the tree.
The kids love it, Ben loves it, and it gives the whole weekend this relaxed, creative rhythm — Christmas music on, decorations coming out, and everyone gathered around the table working on the same thing. It has become one of my very favorite traditions.
Christmas PJs + A Cozy Night In
The very first thing we do each year is pull out our Christmas pajamas. The kids look forward to it so much, and honestly, so do I. We usually pair our first PJ night with a Christmas movie and homemade hot chocolate — it’s simple but sets the tone for the rest of the season.
Refined Sugar–Free Hot Chocolate
Our cozy, naturally sweetened hot chocolate — perfect for pajama nights, tree decorating, and Christmas movies.
Ingredients
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons cacao powder (cacao is preferred over cocoa for added nutrients, but either works!)
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small pot.
- Whisk until the cacao powder dissolves and the mixture is smooth.
- Warm gently over medium heat until it reaches your ideal sipping temperature.
- Serve in your favorite mugs — whipped cream or marshmallows are optional, but always encouraged.
Hot Chocolate Walk + Christmas Fireworks
Another simple favorite: making hot chocolate to-go and walking to watch Christmas fireworks, or just wander through decorated streets. It’s low effort and always magical.
The Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting
Every November, we bundle up and head downtown for the Christmas tree lighting. There’s something so nostalgic about this tradition — the countdown, the lights, the cocoa, the buzz of everyone gathered together. It always feels like the official start to Christmas.
When we get home, we bake chocolate chip cookies (usually for the school bake sale).
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (Doubled Batch)
Makes about 48 cookies — perfect for bake sales, gifting, or freezing for December baking.
Ingredients (Doubled)
4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups unsalted butter, melted
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
4 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, mix melted butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla, then beat in eggs and extra yolks until glossy.
- Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden.
- Let cool on the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
- Store in an airtight container (a slice of bread keeps them soft).
Rope Drop Holiday Adventures
This is one of our sweetest family traditions, and the kids talk about it all year long. On Christmas Eve, we tie a rope across the top of the stairs — a little reminder that no one is allowed to tiptoe down before it’s time on Christmas morning. The anticipation builds, everyone gathers at the top of the stairs, and once we’re all awake and ready, the kids get to untie the rope together.
It feels old-fashioned and magical in the best way — the sweetest pause before the rush of Christmas morning.
Advent Wreath
Lighting the advent wreath each Sunday is one of our quietest but most meaningful rituals. The kids take turns lighting the candles, and we read a short reflection together — a grounding pause in a busy season.
Our Advent Calendar Tradition (25 Wrapped Books)
This year we’re wrapping 25 Christmas books and numbering them 1–25. Each night, the kids pull a number from the advent calendar and unwrap the matching book. It makes bedtime feel like a celebration.
Gingerbread House Decorating
One of the most beloved traditions in our house is decorating gingerbread houses. It’s messy, creative, and somehow gets more fun every year as the kids get older. We set everything out — candy, frosting bags, sprinkles, pretzels, gumdrops — and let everyone build their own little masterpiece. It’s one of those activities that keeps the kids happy for ages and feels so festive.
If you want to take it a step further this year, you can see exactly how I set up our Gingerbread House Decorating Party here:
How to Host a Gingerbread House Decorating Party
At the end of the day, our traditions are simple, but they shape December for our family. Pajamas, books, candles, cookies, walks, and the joy of doing the same little things year after year. Imperfect, cozy, and full of meaning.
