Family traditions are the ties that bind and one of the reasons that holidays can be a very special time for families. When you think back to your own childhood, you may have fond memories of your own Christmas past. These are the memories of holiday traditions... things you did as a child that you probably now pass on to your own family. These constant threads make the holidays more meaningful and ensure our children have strong memories to hold on to, and help them to remember their Christmases past with fondness.
I grew up in a wonderful home with traditions that have shaped how I try and make the holidays special for my husband and two kids. I remember year after year listening to German Christmas carols as we decorated the tree.
With hockey being our National Pastime, it’s never too early to take Junior out for his or her first skate, and what better place to start than on a real frozen pond or lake! November is a magical month that locals in Canmore and Banff refer to as “Skating Season.” Many of the lakes freeze over but are still snow-free and clear for endless gliding across the teal green ice.
I love taking pictures of my kids dressed up in cute Halloween costumes. In Calgary, it can be challenging to do this on Halloween, though. It gets dark early, it’s cold and sometimes there’s even snow on the ground. You’re lucky if your kids aren’t wearing snowsuits while they trick-or-treat. Last year, a friend and I took our sons out for a walk in Confederation Park with their costumes on. We got great pictures, the kids had fun and it was adorable watching a little lion and dinosaur chase each other around the park.
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