To keep the real "reason for the season", we read the Nativity story. Along with the story, we have a Nativity figure set the kids can set up. Each figure comes in a gift box and they open the box as the story is told. They love to put Baby Jesus into the scene! This creates so much excitement in the house. In fact, we have four Nativity scenes.
We take the kids to "Happy Birthday Jesus Party" at church.
Also, my brother in law dresses up as Santa each year and comes to our house Christmas Eve. He stays for about 15 minutes and gives each child a small gift. We have finger foods and good company to make for a good time.
We hang stockings and put lots of stuff in there.
For Thanksgiving, each person writes what they are thankful for and we put it away in the china cabinet to be read next Thanksgiving.
Merry Christmas!!!!! Happy New Year!!!!! Ho! Ho! Ho!