Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Morning Rituals

This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.


Almost two years ago Monte and I were married.  Immediately following our wedding and honeymoon came the Christmas season.  I love Christmas, it’s such a wonderful holiday to celebrate, but our first Christmas together was one of chaos and stress.  We were trying to figure out how to celebrate the holidays with our extended families as well as at home with our immediate family, and it really seemed to be overwhelming to both Monte and me!  Once the season had passed, we sat down and discussed how we wanted the next Christmas to go, as we knew we weren’t going to survive through another December like the one we had just experienced. 

Fast forward almost a full year and the Christmas season is upon us again.  This time, Monte and I feel prepared and ready for celebrating without stressing!  We went to the Christmas Eve service at our church, followed by Christmas celebrations with some of our extended family.  Christmas day was one that we dedicated to staying home and celebrating with our kids, and I am so glad that we did!  We were woken up early that morning by the kids who were practically bouncing off the walls to open presents!  We got everybody up to the living room, grabbed ourselves some coffee and our camera and enjoyed the morning seeing what everybody got.  The wonderful thing about this past year was that we gave each of the kids a designated amount of money to buy presents for everybody else in the family, so watching them get so excited to see their sibling or Monte and me open a present that was specifically bought for them was such a joy.  It really helped them to see the good that comes with being willing to give without expectation of receiving something in return.


Once we’re through opening presents, when all of their goodies cover the floor along with shreds of wrapping paper, we move into the kitchen and enjoy breakfast together.  We don’t have anything specific that we make, it just all comes together when we make it to the kitchen and make that decision.  The greatest part of this breakfast is hearing the kids talk about how much they wanted that gift that their sibling bought for them, and seeing said sibling truly happy knowing that their present was something that was completely desired.

There’s something beautiful and wonderful about celebrating Christmas with my family, and it is by far my favorite morning ritual.  What’s your favorite yearly ritual that you celebrate?

--
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- To enter, leave a comment about your favorite yearly morning ritual.
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90 comments:

  1. We make cinnamon buns on Christmas morning.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. We have morning crepes!! Thats a Christmas tradition at my house
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  3. My favorite is banana pancakes! Mmmm!

    ReplyDelete
  4. tweeted

    http://twitter.com/HavensTwit/status/28832240760

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  5. Our Christmas morning is about orange rolls early on, then a hearty breakfast. Lately my mom has brought over biscuits, sausage and eggs she makes at her house so less has to go on over here. We get away with this because she lives around the corner.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Watch parade on tv and eat crockpot french toast on thanksgiving
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. tweet
    http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/28846988611
    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I make baked blueberry french toast on Christmas morning and monkey bread on New Year's Day. EVERY YEAR. My kids think the holidays are "ruined" if I don't. :)
    susitravl(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. We have breakfast at my mom's. Egg bake, cheesey potatoes, and homemade carmel rolls. Mmmmmm....good

    ReplyDelete
  10. Having Thanksgiving dinner with my children.

    ReplyDelete
  11. http://twitter.com/tigergal01/status/28919130051

    tweet

    ~eunice b
    tigergal01 @gmail .com

    ReplyDelete
  12. We don’t have a special tradition for breakfast only on Saturdays when our schedule is relaxed and less rigid we enjoy french toast, scrambled eggs or cheese grits! :-)

    ~eunice b
    tigergal01 @gmail .com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Our ritual consists of me cooking breakfast every morning. Scrambled eggs, sometimes waffles, crepes, french toast, or oatmeal. Then I help the kiddos get ready! On holidays we always make a little something holiday related for breakfast, like Boo-Berry Muffins!

    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Tweet!
    http://twitter.com/ScoomerBlog/status/28919763987

    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. We started a tradition of making Berries & Cream French Toast for Christmas morning!

    ReplyDelete
  16. We have a special Christmas morning strata..with cheese!
    tattgiff at centurytel dot net

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  17. I don't think we have anything which qualifies as a yearly morning ritual yet. Our family and friends all live at least a state away so holidays tend to be so varied that rituals haven't had time to develop yet.
    chainmail(at) iwon(dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I tweeted about this
    http://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/28958470809

    ReplyDelete
  19. on Christmas,
    After gift opening on Christmas morning, we make heart shaped waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, baked omelets, sweet rolls, and breakfast meats. then we dive into the homemade holiday treat trays! the kids love to help with the waffles!
    then we spend all day watching new movies that are gifted, grazing on holiday treats, and playing with new gifts like board games, etc. NO travel for us! Love it!

    thanks so much!

    ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. tweeted this too!

    http://twitter.com/2sic2mooov/status/28964829942

    thanks!

    ejrichter60 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have two favorites...

    One would be how my hubby takes over breakfast and makes the kids their favorite pancakes every weekend. Such a good man!! ;)

    And my other favorite morning ritual takes place on our kids birthdays... they get to choose what they want for breakfast, and no matter what day of the week it is, we are sure to get up early to make it happen and get their special day off to a proper good start! :) For Dawson, that is usually made-from-scratch, chocolate chip belgian buttermilk waffles! Gotta love a kid with good taste!!!

    Hugs,
    Tanya

    ReplyDelete
  22. we go and get donuts for the birthday boy/girl
    nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  23. The first weekend morning before my dad's birthday we go to Harrah's breakfast buffet as a family (then we go home and watch football if there's a game).
    hmhenderson AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  24. tweeted
    http://twitter.com/HendyMartin/status/29058791421
    hmhenderson AT yahoo dOT com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Our Christmas holiday breakfast ritual is chocolate chip waffles. Thanks for the great giveaway!
    maddiemb (at) comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  26. Here's my tweet - http://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/29072230441
    maddiemb (at) comcast (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Christmas morning always means quiche and homemade cinnamon rolls!

    ReplyDelete
  28. We each have our favorite sugary (bad!) cereal wrapped under the tree, after we open all of our gifts (and cereal) on Christmas morning we all get to eat a big bowl of our favorite treat cereal!

    shannoncarman at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Christmas day is the only time. I host the family brunch.

    ReplyDelete
  30. http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/29115917698

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  31. Don't have any yearly special traditions, but we usually have special breakfast days on the weekend with pancakes, bacon and eggs! :-) That is also the only time I allow myself the treat of having coffee! Thanks! kmassman gmail

    ReplyDelete
  32. My sweetie husband makes me breakfast in bed every year on my birthday (and occasionally when it's not my b-day). Hard to eat with kids bouncing in the bed though!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Also tweeted: http://twitter.com/sunnymum/status/29135354500

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  34. Standing rib roast for Christmas dinner (lunch), then turkey soup that night (from the Thanksgiving carcass). Our kids LIVE for this!

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  35. Christmas mornings are just a bowl of cereal, because we want to save our appetites for all of the goodies that start coming a little bit later in the day!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Weekends and holidays are for bacon and eggs after healthy weekday breakfasts.

    scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Tweet
    http://twitter.com/LuigiFranco/status/29145339476

    scoopster(nospam)at yahoo dot cocm

    ReplyDelete
  38. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/tracylr233/status/29148796964

    ReplyDelete
  39. New Years Day we all go to my parents house and eat pancakes and hamburger with gravy. It is good and the only day we eat it.

    prizeentry @ wesharewithyou dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. no special yearly breakfast tradition. I love how we'll have a family favorite when we feel like it; don't have to wait for a holiday :)

    m8usi@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/cappytweet/status/29149963154

    m8usi@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. We do not have any breakfast traditions in our family, but we need to start one.

    Sparklezstars@cfl.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. http://twitter.com/Sparklezstars/statuses/29153096140

    Tweeted

    Sparklezstars@cfl.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Oh my, we dont exactly have something we do annually... We do sprinkles or various Holidays, does that count?

    abitnerdygirl [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  45. We have a beautiful Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional food...I love that tradition! We have French Toast Casserole!

    leahforlove(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. My favorite holiday breakfast is New Years day.
    We start out the new year having a big family breakfast.
    marybug2@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I tweeted your giveaway
    http://reviewsbykami.blogspot.com/2010/10/morning-rituals.html
    marybug2@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I make cinnamon rolls and omelettes on Christmas mornings

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  49. http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/29193556139

    ReplyDelete
  50. Christmas eve morning me and my 4 kiddos have a big breakfast together before going to my parents house that evening for supper!

    ReplyDelete
  51. On Christmas morning, we make coffee and open presents. Then I make a big breakfast for everyone, usually scrambled eggs and bacon.
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Tweet.
    http://twitter.com/mgoss123/status/29195853584
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Christmas morning we open presents then enjoy
    a traditional family meal at lunchtime

    debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  54. tweeted here:

    http://twitter.com/bellows22/statuses/29204616698

    debbiebellows[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Christmas morning is the certainly my favorite morning. My kids are early morning risers, and Christmas morning is no different. They are up usually at about 6am. We watch them open all their presents while my husband and I drink our coffee. The stash of new toys keeps them busy while I start cooking breakfast. Our tradition is french toast (made with my mother's homemade Challah bread), bacon, eggs, and homemade home fries. We feast and it usually keeps us full and satisfied until Christmas dinner is ready!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Christmas morning was always chaotic with wrapped packages being much more exciting than breakfast. After the gifts were opened we usually had freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Tweet - http://twitter.com/willitara/status/29218664164

    ReplyDelete
  58. We make cinnamon rolls~So good!!

    deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Easter morning we always have ham and eggs, OJ, and warm cinnamon rolls :)
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  60. tweet!
    http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/29251302303
    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Holiday breakfasts I make homemade waffles and we have orange juice (we don't usually have it around for regular breakfast, because the kids drink it all as soon as it is bought).
    ape2016(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  62. We don't have a yearly morning tradition but any company breakfasts will be a blueberry french toast casserole

    ReplyDelete
  63. tweet
    http://twitter.com/#!/Grandma3710/status/29277826920

    ReplyDelete
  64. We don't have a yearly ritual, just get together with the family for a big dinner and it is my favorit thing to do!
    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Tweeted here
    http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/29284736535
    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  66. No yearly ritual here, just eggs and waffle every sunday! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  67. http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/29292001100 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. We go to my dad's house every year for Christmas breakfast. He makes the best pancakes and french toast!
    jjak2003 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  69. I tweeted
    http://twitter.com/jjak2003/status/29301866539
    jjak2003 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  70. On Christmas morning, we open presents first, then we eat breakafast, much, much, later. Usually everyone is so excited that food is the last thing on our minds. So, breakfast usally doesn’t happen until 11 or so. I make pancakes later on.

    pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  71. http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/29304124153

    pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  72. Holiday mornings we always have monkey bread.
    It's not that huge. But that's usually the only time I have to make it.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I usually make the breakfast casserole that you let set overnight with the eggs and bread in it. It’s so easy to pop in the oven in the morning and that gives me more time to spend with the family!
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  74. tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/29332799159
    nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  75. We always have breakfast at my house Christmas morning! We invite my aunt and uncle, mom and dad, grandparents - and everyone sits down for a nice family breakfast and my 5 year old son gets to show off his gifts from Santa! This year we'll have a new addition - I have a baby due in a week, so it will be a little more challenging, but definitely special! I'll be out on unpaid maternity leave through Christmas, so I would LOVE to win this to help actually purchase our breakfast items. Thanks for the chance! Here's crossing my fingers!! :)

    jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net

    ReplyDelete
  76. Tweet Tweet!

    http://twitter.com/ChampagneWisdom/status/29334650047

    ReplyDelete
  77. We always have cinnamon rolls for special occasions. The kids love them and the hubby really appreciates them too! Plus they make the house smell fantastic!!

    jenniferweldon77 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  78. Tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/#!/Jenniferweldon7/status/29378249990

    jenniferweldon7

    ReplyDelete
  79. Our Special breakfast day is Easter, Christmas, and a couple unplanned days every couple of months we have breakfast casserole

    ReplyDelete
  80. My family goes to IHOP every Christmas morning for breakfast
    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  81. tweeted http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/29397320080

    ReplyDelete
  82. blogged http://sweetqt.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/win-visa-gc-from-kellogs-and-blogher/


    shopgurl101 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  83. I love the morning of Thanksgiving day! We always have some pumpkin bread and hot spiced cider while making the big lunch!
    Scott
    nynekats at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  84. tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/29398980045
    Scott
    nynekats at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  85. I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/29399940593
    Angie
    one 4 earth at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  86. Sunday mornings are always a special morning. We have a big breakfast that varies from week to week as we each take turns picking our favorites! Now that we are older, we all take turns preparing the meal. We turn off the telephone, gather as a family, and share our stories, joke around, and spend quality time together.

    ReplyDelete
  87. We always have sliced beef gravy with biscuits before we open any presents on Christmas morning.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Tweeted

    http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/29410603182

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  89. No special breakfast days for us, we are always on the run so poptarts, cereal, toast is what we use.
    sweokgrl@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  90. I tweeted
    sweokgrl@gmail.com
    http://twitter.com/bdiane34/status/29413864855

    ReplyDelete