Disclaimer: I have received information from the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.
Growing up, you get so immersed in your family and their holiday traditions that you don’t even realize some are exclusive to just YOUR family. I always thought most people celebrated on Christmas Eve, but that is something that was pretty uncommon with my friends.
Ricky and I have spent TEN holiday seasons together and each year we seem to add on some holiday traditions. Before the kiddos, we would drive to Michigan (we were still living in Wisconsin) for Christmas Eve and spend time with my family as our holiday vacation. After working or studying through the crazy month of December, a little mini-vacation in Michigan was always nice.
After the twins were born, we had to figure out how we wanted to celebrate as a family. As the girls have gotten older, we truly enjoy this special time of year with them.
Evans Family Christmas Traditions:
- The girls see Santa at Breton Village, which they always love because they have a huge train to watch while waiting in line.
- Aside from this year, Ricky decorates the house in the style of Clark Griswold. He loves yard decorations and all of that
tackyfun stuff. - For the entire month of December, we enjoy holiday movies. From specials on TV to classics like Miracle on 34th Street, we watch them all in our pajamas together. I truly love that my girls love the old movies just as much as I do.
- We try new cookie recipes together. Yes, we have some ones we made every year from our families growing up: oatmeal chip from Ricky’s side and buckeyes from mine, but we love to find new recipes in cookbooks and magazines to bake together. This year the Cookie Butter Balls took the crown for new favorite.
- Christmas Day is just for us. We don’t leave the house and enjoy our new goodies. I usually make a comfort food favorite like pot roast and we veg ALL DAY LONG.
I don’t know what it is about holiday commercials, but they ALWAYS get me. I’ll be wrapping gifts and sobbing into the tissue paper. This Tylenol #HowWeFamily commercial was one of those. No joke, I’ve watched it at least 15 times now because there is so much awesomeness in this commercial. Their main message of that family is not about who you love but HOW is perfection, in my mind. Everyone has complexities in their families and TYLENOL® encourages us to embrace everything that is unique to ourselves in their #HowWeFamily campaign.
On the #HowWeFamily website, there are videos and stories of families that are truly inspiring. Actress Gabrielle Union speaks of her joint family and being a step-mom and she has a quote that really hit home: “When you sort of give up the idea of what it’s all supposed to look like and just embrace the love, that’s the quintessential family.” Being adopted, in a mixed family AND having a step-daughter, I can relate in many different ways about not having your traditional family.
Be sure to follow along with the stories and great message on Facebook and YouTube!
What makes your family unique? Any special #HowWeFamily traditions for the holidays?
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