The holidays have finally arrived! 

It’s that magical time of the year where we get to enjoy deliciously decadent food and the uninterrupted company of our loved ones! 

As Clark W. Griswold once said, “The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace of kith and kin.”

That means heading to our favorite lot in the day or two that follow Thanksgiving to find the perfect Christmas tree for my family. For others, it means waiting in line to fight one another to the death over a great deal on a 4k TV. I promise this won’t be a Charlie Brown-esqe lecture on consumerism. 

Anyway, Mom has always been a fan of the Douglas Fir for its hardy branches and delicate smell. While the odor is essential,  it’s those sturdy branches that make all the difference to the Mad’s Dad Family. 

For the last several years, immediately following Thanksgiving clean-up, my parents have presented us kids and grandkids with a few Hallmark ornaments each. Ornaments that represent our hobbies, likes, and personalities. If you’ve ever held a Hallmark ornament, you’ll know why sturdy branches are essential.  

Of course, not all the ornaments make it on the tree as there has to be room to display everyone’s joys. We like to keep it simple with a mixture of everyone’s new and classic favorites. By the time we’re done, the tree becomes a beautiful representation of the entire family and something we can all enjoy, just like each of us, a mix of one another hanging from hardy branches of love.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Let us know in the comments below!!