Giving presents vs being present

I'm a huge fan of just spending time with my kiddos, I think is insanely important and just as much a gift to me as it is to them.  And I know that in 20 years my son isn't going to say, "so my mom got me haggrid's hut lego set for Christmas when I was 8 and it was AWESOME, she is the best mom ever".  However, I'd like to think he'll remember the time we spent together and the traditions that we did year after year.

So a few years ago my husband and I set up a few "rules" about Christmas to try and make it more about the time together than what's under the tree.  We only give each kid (and each other) three presents.  1. Something you want 2. Something you need 3. All five of us draw each other's names and pick a special present for that person, that gets the kids involved and thinking about other people and then of course Santa always brings something too but I cannot control that man, I mean really, who can so what he does is his business.

http://twelvecraftstillchristmas.blogspot.com/

And while that is all great fun I'd like to start including more tradition type activities in to our life.  So I think Elf on a Shelf will be making an appearance this year and making mischief for the month of December.  And I'd like to dedicate one day in December to making the same thing every year, i.e. popcorn balls, cookies, something, and then have the kids wrap and give them out every year to teachers, neighbor's etc.  (something we've done in the past but never the same thing, making a day of it, etc.)

So with traditions fresh on my brain I was wicked excited when one of my very favorite blogs, Telve Crafts Till Christmas, announced that for the next two weeks or so she will be having guest bloggers share their family's traditions!  I encourage you to stop by, read up and maybe you'll find something just for your family.  






So, what's your tradition?