Christmas/Holiday Planning and Traditions (Large Family Organization)

Today I'm answering questions about what our holiday traditions are, how we approach gift giving, etc. I discuss Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve and a little about birthdays.
www.andreamills.tv

[@ChihuahuaMama54]

Oh Andrea you touched so many hearts♥️.

[@kellym.7113]

What wonderful traditions she's left the family with. Bless you all.

[@beam8250]

I wish I had had you teach me how to do life and family before I ever started! I have so many regrets of traditions gone wrong 😣. Sigh. I miss you Andrea 💔😢. Glad these videos are around for your kids, and their kids, and all of us to enjoy and learn from. RIP 💖.

[@dsebastian26]

We do 4 gifts, something you wear, something you read, need and want.

[@ursulamcfly3577]

wow what a great idea the hotel in New Years. I never thought of that.

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Here's our vlog from last New Year's Eve: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4PVl3tnYtGWo9k

[@ursulamcfly3577]

Perfect. Thank you

[@nikkole9951]

Wow I totally agree with you about the few gifts each for the kids. I have four kids and I only get them a few gifts each at Christmas. I find that if they get too much it gets overwhelming and a lot of it doesn't even get played with. I also don't want my kids to grow up not knowing the real meaning of Christmas and how it's not all about gifts.

[@ItsAWonderfulLife]

I love Tom's gift wrapping! I think that was the 1st of his videos that I watched. Your family seems so fun and loving. Thanks for sharing how you manage the holidays.

[@SuperShakes10]

You really make me think.... Some times I think you and the kids are missing out on a lot in life and then I think me and my family are missing out on the things you do..... I'm going tohave a long think about how I can make changes in our life style thank you Erica from Ireland xx

[@kated2147]

Thomas and I have the same birthday, but 7 years apart. haha We always keep our tree up through my birthday though. My mom liked having the house still decorated for my parties and even now that I'm an adult I still like keeping the tree up through my birthday.

[@zeldapepa3992]

Hi Andrea. I just wanted to say that you both have obviously put a great deal of thought into the different aspects of family life. I admire that. Your children benefit from your attitude to gifts, family life, celebrations and extended family. The effort that you put into running your household yet keeping 'family' at the centre is remarkable. It makes me want to start over, but the family is all grown with families of their own.

[@indigoblue4791]

I enjoyed visiting with you, I could listen to you talk all day! It's so relaxing and interesting to see how you plan and organise. I like to be ahead with things too, whilst keeping to a prearranged budget. We are a small family and really Christmas is a nice, cosy, quiet time when we spoil each other a little. I believe you are so right to not be aiming to make all their dreams come true, it's an unrealistic idea. With my 2 boys I give them an amount they can have to choose their main present, which changes depending on how we are doing, then they will choose what they would like and I buy and wrap it. I buy them a hand full of little extras from us. Things like books, sweeties and maybe a game. I really loved your approach to planning what each child's activity highlight over Christmas would be. It's just another example of the loving and thoughtful way you cherish and parent your children. You are a genuinely good role model for mother's and mothers to be. I enjoyed 2015 Christmas vlog earlier, we are all so blessed you share these events with us. If you ever find time amongst all the other requests for vlogs and real life, I would love to see how you make your Jelly. Anything the children do to help in the run up would be lovely to watch too. Sorry, a long comment but I feel I can just chat away with you.......and we have never met....still I think you would be a wonderful friend. 😀

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I always enjoy reading your encouraging comments so don't apologize for the length! It's been such a blessing to make so many new friends near and far through KZbin. I hope to do some vlogging throughout the holiday season so it's good to know what you're interested in seeing.

[@Mindful-Kim]

What beautiful traditions! We are a Pagan family who celebrates seasons and you have inspired me to start a systems/routines binder for old and new traditions. I found you from the Minimalist Lifestyle FB group. Thank you for sharing. 😍

[@inspiretodream3]

I am not sure how I found your videos, but I love them. I recently became an empty nester. Christmas is going to be pretty lonely at our home. My daughter lives in a very remote area of Alaska she is the only EMT. She will not be able to come home. My oldest son has been battling addiction for 12 years. We have decided it was best that he not come home ( tough love is the hardest thing I have had to endure). It will be my husband, our youngest son and myself. We are going to volunteer at a homeless shelter, and we always adopt a few families in our community. Sorry for the long comment. I truly enjoy watching your videos. Thank you for making my day. My birthday is Christmas Eve eve 😊

[@ruthlloyd1163]

Kelli Renee great plans-- prayers for your son, have a happy birthday and Merry Christmas ❄️☃🎄

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Tough love is hard. We haven't had to experience it with a child, but we have with other very close family members. One incident lasted 10 years and it was very difficult to stay strong. We did and in the end God turned the situation around literally overnight. I'm so glad we stayed the course. And what an example for your youngest son to show how when you're lonely, turn your attention onto others, don't wait for others to pay attention to you. I think there would be a lot LESS loneliness out there if people followed your lead!

[@sheilas1283]

Best wishes, Kelli.

[@codythecracker6538]

Ss

[@SweetlyHome]

Really great tips as always! We've got a lot of celebrating as well with birthdays around the holidays. My husbands is the 10th of December, my daughters is the 20th. And my son is January 9th. Because of those extra celebrations, I always feel the need to be extra prepared.

[@ursulamcfly3577]

oh and I wrap every single thing too. from the tall to the tiny. fun fun. I love to wrap

[@lethiapage4767]

You are so informative Andrea, and so generous with your wisdom. I am on a minimalist facebook group and actually shared you with some of them today and you really tugged at the heart of none other than the creator/admin of that group. We are a nice sized bunch of people who are just trying to make things a little more simple, a little more meaningful, and a little less cluttered. Several of them are just loving you today! Also I shared the video of the stuff you made for Claudia's first birthday. I cried the first time I watched it, it's my fav of all your videos, and I cried again when I watched it today. I don't know if you are fully aware of how richly you bless your viewers...over and over again. I wanted to know with regard to your Christmas stuff, if you have a home church worship service on or near Christmas...or if you attend a local church for their pageant or anything...and how you keep the Christ in your holiday. I am sure you do, but this video didn't hit on any of the religious significance of Christmas.

[@ProudAuntieEST2016]

I am one of 6 children in my own family (I have two brothers that share my parents and 3 step siblings that I didn't grow up with) my mom's mom is my favorite person in my family (I have a lot of family between all the different sides and I am almost 24 she is still my favorite and I call her Nana) Lol my Nana has never spoiled us too much on Christmas or our birthdays. We spend the week before each holiday with her and help to prepare for the holiday which made me very "hostess moded" my Nana spoils us with love and if there is something one of us needs she will get it for us. Be it food or clothes or just some pocket money. I absolutely love your videos and your family. Especially your love of family and the lord in every aspect of your life.

[@mikelaebbinkhuysen3384]

hi it's mikela here I loved the video and I love you and your children

[@mclovett9231]

I can't believe I'm so early!! I love your channel and how you raise your children!

[@karbear26]

Thanks for sharing your Christmas traditions with us! Those flower Christmas ornaments sound really pretty and special!

[@erincooper2553]

I looooovvvvvvvveeeeee the flower ornaments that is so beautiful 😩💘😭😍

[@PotawatomiProud]

Love your channel, you are such great parents and really love your traditions. Your children are so amazing.

[@terriwallacker1867]

I was listening to your video tonight and when you mentioned making play dough, I thought back to a year (as a Kindergarten teacher) I made play dough and bagged it up with a cookie cutter and a little "Christmas Cookies" poem for each of my 20+ students. Haha, it was supposed to be a quick, inexpensive gift and I remember staying up very, very late the night before our last school day before Christmas vacation. I was sooooo tired! They did turn out really cute, though, and the kids liked their gifts. Another year, I made matching neck scarves from fleece for each of my students with their initials embroidered (by a friend with one of those fancy machines) on each scarf. This is the reason I'm posting a comment. I was thinking how fun and relatively inexpensive it would be for you to make matching scarves for your awesome family, (or a mix of colors/prints, for that matter). All I did was use my quilting rotary cutter and cut the lengths on folded fleece, and then cut a fringe on each end. Very easy. I'm sure with your color code system you could avoid having to add initials! Just thought I'd share, even though it's only June. :) Love your videos. I've watched some twice!

[@stormwinters6634]

a fun craft for xmas is buy clear balls and put glue in side and put glitter in side and shake them up then put the name on it and the year

[@lynnmartin8718]

My children all grown up 30/29/26 have always spent Christmas Day with me- I brought them all for the majority of their childhood on my own so we are very close but this year all of us are going to be having Xmas dinner with boy/girlfriends/partners and so I'm having my first Xmas with only my partner what a novelty lol but we are all going to my eldest daughter who bought her first house this year for breakfast and present opening - I love Christmas it never gets old for me I'm probably worse than any child - atmosphere to me is much better than a pile of expensive gifts- great video as always 👍😀

[@debbieomi]

I love everything you talked about! I think I need to go back to my childhood and show up at your door begging to be adopted. LOL I only have the one son, now 19 and a freshman in college, and raised him for the most part as a single mom. I began right off with the three present limit- two from me, one from Santa plus a big stocking. Never really spent more than $10-15 on the stocking stuff (love the dollar stores!) and maybe $50 total on the three other gifts. When all my nieces and nephews were younger and I had the finances available, I hit the toy clearance sales so many years, my Christmas shopping was done by February. Never have been to any mall during the "commercialism season".

[@Wisewax]

Brilliant video. And I understand the Christmas tree dilemma!! I do the same. So many ideas!

[@shereelynnw]

I love watching your videos, thank you for making this,mi just love your traditions.

[@Angelaml222]

I seriously love all your ideas. Thank you for sharing. I think you look great in burgundy!! ❤️

[@LivingEclectic]

I love your traditions! I am also a cozy weather person!

[@justmeblomberg8940]

I love the simple-ness! Everything is who got the biggest,the most expensive etc. That has nothing to do with Christmas. I agree with you. I love the coziness of the season.

[@mylittlecoloradocottage]

I so much enjoy your encouragement, thank you for sharing

[@sharkee5753]

Loved this! I'm going to get my kids to draw names for each other. Such a great thoughtful idea. You are 100% correct in saying its all to create one moment, all the stress, and money for one morning. I told my 16 year old daughter this and she said too late mama we are spoiled lol. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

[@susanq24]

I would love to see your Christmas trees. Your tree with the flower ornaments sounds so beautiful and interesting.

[@caitlinmcgurk5757]

Hi Andrea I love your videos and your clever organization tricks!

[@hedgerow.homestead]

I like the reason for not making a wish list. fantastic.

[@joh3728]

Hi Andrea, giving a calender and writing the birthdays already in them must be so helpful, great idea. Happy Thanksgiving, we don't have Thanksgiving here in Wales. ☺

[@karen-mariesarratt8202]

I feel the meaning of Christmas gets lost under all the commercial hype. I started traditions that cost nothing or little money to add to the traditions I grew up with. I bought a Santa ornament for my sons first Christmas (30 years ago) and have bought one ornament every year since, we stand them on a roll of opened cotton wool to imitate snow and he now takes his children to choose one to add to the collection. I read 'twas the night before Christmas' every Christmas eve, first to my children and now to my grandchildren. My daughter even Skypes every Christmas eve to listen to it since she emigrated! Little things that mean a lot. My children are not as religious as I but I still watch midnight mass (I am now disabled so cannot attend) and tell the story of the birth of Christ to my grandchildren. Little things that mean a lot are far more important and these are what my now grown children remember from their childhood

[@SodbusterLiving]

Christmas Adam! (The day before Christmas Eve!)

[@maryossi8249]

I would love a video on how you handle Santa, including the St Nicholas book! Sounds perfect to keep the excitement without being dishonest!

[@madukadeldias7541]

very helpful video... not at all boring !

[@elizabethkenyon1263]

I love the idea of New Year Cards!

[@tamsin7460]

It sounds so blissful.

[@angelbenhur2330]

Hello Andrea .. I have been watching your videos for a while now and really enjoy watching the creativity you put in everything you do with your family. We are Indian family living in Muscat Oman due to my husbands job. I am homeschooling my two kids and I love doing what I do with them. I have had a lot of criticism and negativity from Indian families around us about us homeschooling our kids and I always have been short of words to explain why we do it... Watching your videos and comments has given me so much confidence and the encouragement to continue with my homeschool journey. I am not a native English speaker and your videos have helped me to use different vocabulary when I deal with my kids.. you are just what I needed and I thank God for you and your family for being a blessing to me. I love watching all your kids and I want to let you know that I appreciate what you are doing to help others. Praying for you all. Angel Benhur

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Angel, your message is such a blessing to me! This is the perfect start to my day! I'm so glad I could be an encouragement to you; that's exactly why I'm doing this. I hope you have a wonderful day today!

[@angelbenhur2330]

+Andrea Mills please keep posting videos and sharing your life with us. Much love from Muscat

[@ingridellis8237]

I have not done Black Friday for almost 15 years. I don't like seeing frenzied people being at their worst.

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

The best parts for me are the traditions....some are old ones from my childhood that I love passing on......some are things that happened with the kids that have become traditions. One example is making punch in a big punch bowl. They think that is soooo fancy. I can't imagine the holiday without that now. LOL

[@KarenReep]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[@maymay6057]

I love some of the traditions that you shared with us. When I start my family I'm going to do just the same. Could you please upload a video of your flower ornaments?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

When I make some more I'll try to do a video.

[@ellak1382]

Tom, at 1:26 is where Andrea talks about how she has each kid help with something for thanksgiving meal. I commented this in a live and you said you didn’t know that tradition

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Thanks!

[@paulabrogan707]

i have also done the super wrapping for yrs only its different person each yr

[@InHimAlone]

Thank you for doing this video! I enjoy hearing what other families do for Christmas. I am the same way about having two trees - my "nice" one and a fun, kid tree :) I wish I would have thought to buy 2 baby's first Christmas ornaments though. I am sentimental about those, but I was planning on giving them to each kid with their collection. Buying two is a great idea. I like your idea with the flowers as well. I have a whole arrangement's worth of roses from my grandpa's funeral, 11 years ago. I have had them in a jar, but I have been wanting to let go of them. I think I will make an ornament with a few and keep some memories, but let the rest go. Oh - I am enjoying the cozy seasons more and more now too :)

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

After my mom's funeral we all took home some of the flowers. I ended up with an arrangement that was given by one of my mom's closest friends. At Christmas, I made an ornament for her friend using a rose from the arrangement and I topped it with a bow made from the ribbon that was on the vase. I sent it to her friend and she told me a couple of years later that it was too special to hang on the tree so she bought a little stand for it and she puts it in a place of honor each year.

[@InHimAlone]

Ahh, that was sweet of you to do for her :) I was going to watch your other Christmas video you posted, but it is gone! I am guessing you needed to edit it :)

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Yes, so aggravating! I just entirely cut a scene out. It's re-uploading now, but it'll take a couple of hours.

[@InHimAlone]

No worries , I just thought i was losing my mind, haha

[@heythere2364]

Absolutely love your channel, ideas, and traditions Andrea. We are going to start taking some of your wonderful thinking and put sone of those great ideas into our Holiday season. Thank you for sharing!

[@JMarie214]

Great video

[@angelaemil3445]

I know its a old video, I watch your video over and over again. Question where do you get the little candy canes and gingerbread men please 😳😳

[@aliciasilva6146]

Can you show us your flower ornaments, and how you do them? How do the flowers hold up year after year?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

When I make my new ones this year I'll do a video. Some of my flowers are almost 18 years old and they're still fine. They might start to crumble a little, but they still look very pretty.

[@matti7175]

Can you do a video on the things that your kids play with, and how you organize it?

[@glitterwithdemi1521]

Amazing vidionluv you guys

[@alyssaabigail4224]

Mrs. Mills, please do Christmas vlogs ☺

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I had one from last year that had a copyright claim and the person put ads on it which annoyed me so I took it down. I muted that part of the video (it was music from the radio) and put new music on that section. It will be reuploaded this afternoon.

[@alyssaabigail4224]

+Andrea Mills Oh, thank you Mrs. Andrea. 💖💜❤ Hope you'd do again another one for this year's christmas ☺ Can't wait to watch the one you will upload today. ☺

[@andioop1618]

That's kind of like my family, my parents buy my siblings and I a few things, and my siblings and I all buy each other 1 thing and our parents 1 thing, and we all go one at a time too

[@elaaxax]

it the same with us we get two from Santa and a one from dad mom and my sister then we get some from family and friends

[@lee-annelandownunder4731]

I miss you dear Andrea xxx

[@cherylblais9611]

Hi Andrea, I love your videos and I loved the idea of putting flowers in an ornament and remembered the occasions where you received them - can you share some photos or just how you do that? I can't picture what you would use to do that. Thanks!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

When we make them this year I'll be sure to do a video.

[@cryssbou7864]

We do our "Christmas Lists" as Idea lists so Nanny and Aunts and Uncles have ideas what they like .. or want . My kids are really pretty easy to please two years ago they all got new bedding for christmas which they were so excited about .

[@kayleighm7856]

Here to hear Andrea and get some tips, a lot of these ideas are great but are pre covid life we literally can’t even have thanksgiving here in Connecticut with over 10 people my family is 7 people alone, staying at a hotel for New Years idea is awesome idea but again COVID😕I wonder how Andrea would have handled this ordeal but then again Tom says it’s not really affected their area, heaven forbid you don’t wear a mask in a store here you get screamed at or have to leave

[@annacastillo8099]

Can you do a video on your flower ornaments? I would love to see them and how you make them ☺

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Yes, I'll try to do that.

[@nikkisainty2334]

Hi Andrea, I was wondering what camera you use to film your videos?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I have a little Canon PowerShot camera that I use. (I had it before I started KZbin.) In a pinch, I use my iPhone.

[@hannahb2551]

Can you make a video on how you and Tom met and about the early days of your marriage and having your first child? Would love to see it!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Those are the kinds of videos we're planning for February so keep watching!

[@hannahb2551]

Andrea Mills Awesome can't wait!!

[@kashi817]

♥️⚘

[@francesmartinelli7799]

I went to a black Friday sale one time. Someone stole an item out of my buggy. Have never gone to another one.

[@hannahp1276]

Do you have a specific amount to spend on Each person for birthdays/ Christmas?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

No, we probably spent about $20-$40 on each personal gift at Christmas. For birthdays, we try to keep it less than $100, but we do more than that sometimes. Mainly we think about what each person would really like and try to stay within our overall budget. We don't necessarily try to keep it all equal.

[@hannahp1276]

Thank you!

[@mclovett9231]

Andrea Mills What does your family usually make for lunch/dinner on Christmas??

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

We have a turkey and sometimes roast beef for the meat. There's usually some type of potatoes, my sister makes a broccoli salad, we have rolls, jello, a vegetable tray, Tom likes a cheese and cracker tray, cheese cake, fudge, cider, etc. It's always potluck-style so there's always a variety of different things.

[@stormwinters6634]

commercialized holidays has really messed up the reason of family love an togetherness an thank you for the health and wellness

[@frankieo7800]

Noooo!!! Why did you remove your Christmas special? I just got the popcorn out of the microwave but now it's gone!

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Oh no! It had another copyright thing from another snippet in the video. They put an ad on it and that bugs me. We were going to watch it and I was like, "Why is there an ad on this?" I just cut the scene out and it's reuploading now. It's going to be back up in about 2 1/2 hours. I'm sorry!

[@frankieo7800]

Andrea Mills you're the best! Thanks for uploading this late at night

[@zoerichardson6456]

Do your kids believe in santa 🎅🏻 or have you choose not to tell them about him?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

We've never taught our kids that Santa is real (we discourage them from sharing that information with anyone else, though.) We have a book about St. Nicholas and we talk about how the tradition got started and they still get enjoyment out of seeing Santa. Tom's grandpa always played Santa for parties so it's still part of our Christmas fun.

[@zoerichardson6456]

Andrea Mills thank you! I am only 14 and my mum and dad would tell me me and my 3 brothers and 2 sisters about him and we would go see him and leave him stuff but once we got to about 10 they would throw hints that he wasn't real and now my sister says she will do the same with her 2 daughters when their old enough but right now there only 5 and 7 months

[@stormwinters6634]

would love to see more of Tom interacting with the kids and the family an I understand he works

[@Advent397]

What is Tom's channel called ?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

Here's a link to his channel: kzbin.info/door/UHkEsVnzzun0UfHTyF_LaQ

[@elizarobertson2053]

what do you use to film???

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

I have a little Canon PowerShot camera that I use. (I had it before I started KZbin.) In a pinch, I use my iPhone.

[@elizarobertson2053]

I really enjoy the quality of the video! :)

[@maymay6057]

Does your family celebrate sweet 16s?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

We haven't had a 16th birthday yet, so I'm not sure what we'll do. I haven't thought about it, I suppose.

[@elaaxax]

that because we're not crazy rich and we don't want to spend all are money on presents

[@tiffanygreen9470]

it keeps deleting ur Xmas video from last year!!! :(

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

It's re-uploading again right now and will be up in an hour. I just cut out a whole scene so there won't be any more issues- hopefully!

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

Vlogmas?

[@stormwinters6634]

xmas an other holidays are getting lost from the heart of the real reason of the holidays

[@marisolcarmona6171]

Ok jeez

[@olivia_swisher]

Andrea Mills, do your kids believe in santa clause?

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

We've never taught them that Santa was real, but we have a book we read about the real St. Nicholas on December 5 (for St. Nicholas Day) and they set out their shoes to get "gold" chocolate coins. Well, some years we do that. Some years I forget to get the coins in time. It's a good thing you asked me today. I bought the coins, but I wasn't thinking about it being the day to read the story yet. Now I'll remember to do it tonight! (We tell the kids to keep quite about Santa with other kids so we don't accidentally ruin another family's fun.)

[@psychedelichippie9759]

💔

[@marisolcarmona6171]

Plz post your vids faster.Plz.

[@stormwinters6634]

Marisol Carmona she has a family to raise and has to edit the videos you try and do more videos with everything she has on her plate

[@jcbmama5016]

I'm the same "perfectionist " about my tree as you are! My tree has blue, silver and white, and the arts and craft decorations go on another tree, with every colour. I just spent this afternoon going through all of my Christmas boxes, thinning out what we no longer loved. Amazing how much we accumulate with children's crafts from school, and here at home. My favourite ornaments, are ones that you can record a thirty second message, and add a photo. My two children look forward to recording a new message and of course to listen to all the ones from years past. Thanks for sharing your traditions😊

[@TheMillsFamilyVlog]

What a fun tradition! I've never seen ornaments like that. I bet they have a ball with that!