I love traditions and I'm pretty sure that most of you do as well. Around here, traditions do not have to be grand or complicated to be meaningful. For years now, my daughters and I have enjoyed a very simple Christmas tradition.....Girls night out!
This is one of my very favorite things that we always make space for. It's our time...No rushing and no specific schedule. Just spending time together and enjoying the joy of the Christmas season.
This year was extra special. My two granddaughters joined us for the first time and I am pretty sure they will be joining us each year to come. It is so nice to watch traditions stretch across generations and I hope that this will be something that they all will continue doing.
We started our evening at an Italian restaurant...(the food was amazing) and thank goodness, our waiter was so nice and very kind in making sure we had everything we needed at the table.
Our gift exchange looked a little different this year, and it may just be my new favorite way to do gifts. We tried a "My Favorite Things" exchange. Each of us picked two simple, inexpensive items we truly love. Then we bought five of each item...one for ourselves and one for everyone else. By the end of the night, each of us went home with ten little gifts.
It was so much fun just hearing why each of us loved what we chose to bring. Makeup remover, trinket boxes, cozy socks, candles, lip gloss, body lotion, face masks, very neat sandwich bags (yes, even those!), and a spray deodorant for hair. Nothing fancy about any of these things, just thoughtful little things that made us smile.
We all love antique shopping and both of my granddaughters are especially fond of antique jewelry jars. Over the past several months, I had been quietly working on one for each of them. When I gave them their very own jars (that evening) both of them were very surprised. They could not wait, so right there at the table, they began digging through the treasures, laughing and showing us all their unique finds. I only wish I could have bottled up their happiness and save it forever.
This is the beauty of tradition. It's not about perfection or price tags. It's about shared experiences and moments that quietly become part of our family story.
I can not wait for next years "Girls night out!"
Shug..
Now that sounds like a fun tradition! I don’t recall seeing your other granddaughter before. She’s beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lot of good food, some laughs and fun little gifts. Merry Christmas, Shug
Thank you Debby... Tori is my oldest granddaughter..and is so full of life...much like ME.. We had a really great time doing the gift exchange this year..
DeleteHi, I love this tradition. I also do not recall seeing your other granddaughter. Does she live close by?
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas my friend.
Love, Carla
Hi Carla. Tori has just recently moved back toward our area. She had a very good job in the Dallas area, but is now going to school and working toward being a dental Hygienist. She has such a sweet personality and is so much like ME.
DeleteSuch precious memories. I love your tradition and the Little Gifts idea. Its not about Things its about the Feels from the presents.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure your Girls Night Out will continue for many more years.
Shug YOU have such a beautiful family.
Merry Christmas
Sue
What a sweet tradition and a wonderful gift exchange idea!
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely tradition! That looks like a very happy time together...and making such beautiful memories! I can imagine how your table must've sounded...like joyful ringing bells of laughter. You are truly blessed!!!!
ReplyDeleteA tradition stretching into the next generation - what could be better?
ReplyDeleteYour Girls' Night Out and the gifting idea -- wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteDear Shug, what a lovely time you had at an Italian restaurant 😀 😊 Beautiful photos, dear friend. Thank you so much for sharing, and Merry Christmas 🎄 to you and your lovely family.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely, and how lucky you are to have the entire family close enough to do things like this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tradition! Thanks for sharing...and I hope all went well with the PET scan for your hubby. I'm way behind in blogging but trying to catch up a bit. Hope to blog again next week - until happiest Christmas wishes!
ReplyDeletePET scan revealed a much needed answer to a big issue Sam has been having. I'm updating the info on my side bar. Thank you for your prayers.
DeleteThat is a very, very fun way to share things we love with people we love. Not heard of that before and I just love it. It's such a great way to share the fun of things we love to others. Great pictures too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ivy. We had such a wonderful time doing this little gift giving. One of my daughters had read about it and it sounded fun, so we did it...
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