December 14 - Favorite Christmas Traditions

Welcome to December!

So happy to have you join us for our

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Advent Calendar 

as we "open the door" each day and share something seasonal with you.

Hello, everyone! Lori here and I am happy to be sharing one of my favorite Christmas traditions with you today - our family ornament exchange.

I can't remember exactly when this tradition started...I think maybe 2007 but it could have been earlier than that. One of my sisters thought it would be fun for the four of us girls and our Mom to do an ornament exchange together - and if the ornaments were homemade - even better! We would get together, usually around Thanksgiving, and exchange our ornaments. As the family - and the kids - grew,  we decided to include everyone in the exchange. Anyone that brought an ornament left with an ornament! It has now evolved into being our "family gift exchange" on Christmas Eve - instead of exchanging gifts we exchange ornaments! We always have so much fun taking turns opening up the ornaments and someone always brings a gaudy, (dare I say ugly?!) gag gift. sort of ornament and it's always fun to see who goes home with it. (We've gotten our fair share and they are some of our favorites!)

Here is one of the only family photos I have of my family all together with their ornaments. I have plenty of individual photos of each family member showing off their ornament each year, but I never can remember to get a family photo of us all together. Maybe this year I will remember!

2012 Ornament Exchange

This Christmas tradition has made decorating our tree every year even more special. We have so much fun reminiscing about who got this ornament, and who got that one, and seeing which year a certain ornament was received. For me, it just makes the holidays even sweeter.

Our tree is a hodgepodge of every kind of ornament that you can think of, and I wouldn't have it any other way! Here is a photo of our tree this year - filled with special ornaments from my family. So many wonderful memories hang on these branches:

I will definitely be documenting this tradition again this year, whether it be in my December Daily or a 12x12 layout. 

What fun holiday traditions will you be documenting this year?

We hope you will continue to share your own crafty creations and ideas throughout December using the:  Link-Up page here on the blog, posting in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Facebook Community Group or on Instagram (find us @counterfeitkitchallenge and share with #counterfeitkitchallenge)

Master Forger Lori