Thursday, March 24, 2011

Pondering Family Traditions

In a recent Stake Conference address by our amazing Stake President, he challenged families to ponder family traditions, research the on LDS.org, and create new traditions.  It has been over a month since the address.  I have been compiling some of our traditions, and possible new traditions to start.  I think I have quite a bit, so here is what I have come up with as some of our family traditions or ones I think we should start.

Family Traditions



• Holidays

o Valentines

 12 days of Valentines

 Special Valentines dinner

 Red & White dessert

 With toilet paper holder, fill with goodies, wrap in white tissue paper with red ribbons, place on plate

 Write a love letter note to family members

o St. Patrick’s Day

 Rainbow pancakes for breakfast

 Make a leprechaun trap

o Easter

 Read Easter story before Easter dinner

o July 4th

 Watch Fireworks at CP lake

 Family BBQ & swimming

o 1st day of school

 photo by the front door

o Fall

 Go to Apple Hill

o Halloween

 Go “Boo-ing” as a family

 Trick or treat with family

o Thanksgiving

 Write 10 things we are thankful for, put in book of Remembrance

o Christmas

 First Dec FHE plan Christmas activities

 Advent Calendars

 Go Caroling

 Decorate the Christmas Tree together

 Christmas Pickle

 Do the 12 days of Christmas for a family in the ward

 Read the Christmas Nativity in the Bible on Christmas Eve

 Kids choose a secret person and buy a special gift for then to open on Christmas Eve



o New Years Eve

 Family pot luck playing games

 Make new years resolutions as individuals & family



• Birthdays

o Birthday Donuts with a candle

o Birthday person chooses dinner menu

o Birthday person eats off the “Special” plate

o Write a special letter of tribute listing year’s accomplishments & unusual experiences. Add to Book of Remembrance

• Spiritual

o Nightly family prayer

o Attend the temple monthly

o Attend Tithing Settlement annually

o Father’s blessing before each school year

o Book of Remembrance at Baptism

o Fast Sunday – Hold individual interviews with children

• FHE

o Weekly FHE – rotate assignments

o Hold FHE in different rooms of the house. Have each child serve as host or hostess in turn, arranging for seating & treats

• Weekly

o Donut Friday before school

o Visit grandparents on Sundays

o Dad cooks breakfast on Sunday mornings, allowing Mother to rest **Want to start

o Once a week, “Oral Reading Night”. Family reads aloud from a predetermined book**Want to start

• Other

o Always have children report in after an evening activity at the parents’ bedside

o Kiss each other good night

o Set family goals on New Year’s Eve

o Once a month, a “night out” with each child **Want to start



• Summer Activities

o Family vacation to the beach

o Family Hike

o Drive in movies

o Make home made ice cream

o Keep up the garden

o Make jam

o Read!!

o Go to an outdoor concert in EDH

o Free weekly movies at Regal

o Go to the Beach

o Cook with the kids

o Go fly a kite

o Go bowling

o Family Reunion's on both sides


The list is quite long.  I would love to hear about what your family traditions are, especially holiday traditions.  So, what are your favorite traditions?

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