Traditions can be a wonderful catalyst for family memories and stories that last for generations.

Last month, we asked members of our team to share their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. We had such a nice response from our readers, we decided to share the Christmas traditions of our team in this month’s edition. Enjoy!

Karen Kitslaar, Director of First Impressions

Family Cookie Decorating

A favorite tradition of mine is my sister and I getting together with our kids to bake and decorate cookies! Every year we will put on matching Christmas pajamas and put our food art skills to the test. This last year, we stepped up our game by bringing in a professional cookie decorator to give us tips. It is the perfect way to put everyone in the Christmas spirit and spend time as a family!

Olivia Krumrai, Project Coordinator

Christmas on a Boat!

Each Christmas, my family and I visit my sister, in Florida. We open presents after dinner on Christmas Eve, and then on Christmas morning the fun begins! We spend the entire day on the lake, enjoying our time in the sun and waterskiing. After our day is over, we cook dinner together and have friends over for a game night! It is a great way to spend Christmas, and it gives us a break from the cold!

Scott Alonzo, Lead Carpenter

Pizza, Cinnamon Rolls, and Enchiladas!

My family celebrates Christmas with traditions centered on enjoying meals together. We begin the festivities by making Chicago-style deep dish pizzas at home on Christmas Eve! After enjoying our pizzas, we head to bed in anticipation for Christmas morning. After opening presents, we make Cinnabon rolls and begin preparing a Christmas dinner feast: Mexican Enchiladas!

Dan Stebnitz,

Production Advisor and Estimator

Christmas Eve Presents and Eggnog

My fondest Christmas memories come from the time spent with my, now adult, children. With the anticipation of Christmas too much for them to bear, we would allow everyone to open one present on Christmas Eve! Listening to Mannheim Steamroller with a glass of eggnog, while watching their excitement opening their Christmas gifts, is a memory that still brings a tear to my eye to this day.

Lynne Landgraf, Remodeling Consultant

Christmas Honoring Generations Past

Each Christmas, my family puts an emphasis on celebrating our Scandinavian descent. We start the celebration on Christmas Eve with a Christmas hymn service at a Norwegian church in Williams Bay! We then head to my grandmother's home to share in a traditional Christmas Smorgasbord! I bake tradition Norwegian Christmas bread, known as Julakaka, and others bring sweet treats such as Danish Kringle and Swedish Gingerbread Cookies. It is a joy to share in the delicacies and drink coffee with my family. These traditions are the reason Christmas as my favorite holiday!

Grant Schaefer, Lead Carpenter

Christmas Up North!

Our Christmas tradition involves a bit of travel, but it makes for the perfect way to spend the holiday. On Christmas Eve, we wake up and have a huge breakfast with my parents and siblings. Then we hit the road and head up north to my grandparents' home, where we spend the rest of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Dana Anderson, Project Coordinator

Chopper Anderson, Remodeling Consultant

Everybody Under One Roof

The best part of Christmas is our home becomes the gathering place for our three adult children, their spouses, and five grandchildren (ranging from 5 years old to 3 months old). We kick our festivities off on Christmas Eve with each family dressed in matching Christmas pajamas. Chopper and the rest of the men grill a beef tenderloin, while the ladies and I put together the rest of the meal. After dinner, we open gifts, watch Christmas movies, and play games before the grandkids head to bed. Once they are all tucked away, we get to spend quality time with our kids and their spouses! It is the perfect way to spend Christmas Eve!

Sam Stebnitz, Brand Manager

Decorating Our Tree!

My fiancée Jordan and I moved in together last year, and one of the things we looked forward to in our apartment, was putting up our first Christmas tree! Her love for Christmas decorations inspired our new tradition of getting each other a new Christmas ornament each year. Adding meaningful decorations every year will give us the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane, remembering the stories of each ornament as we decorate the tree!

Do you have a Christmas tradition you’d like to share? We’d love to hear yours and share it with our team. From our families to yours, wish you a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year!

Merry Christmas!

Chris