Growing up, we would always put our tree up early in the season so we could enjoy it. Once the tree was up, it really felt like Christmas time. There’s just something so warm and magical about it,” said Courey. The tree was always lit with clear lights and had the most intriguing ornaments hanging from the limbs. Her grandmother would give them new Hallmark ornaments each year—most would have motion or play music—so she gained quite the collection. This year, Tony and Courey are bringing all those nostalgic ornaments out from their boxes and dedicating one tree solely to those special decorations. They will add an ornament to the collection each year for their children, Hudson and Elsie, to enjoy. Christmas music plays an integral part of their family’s Christmas time celebrations as well, marking the beginning of the season and starting the day after Halloween! They listen to everything from the beautiful, traditional Christmas carols to the Penatonix and *NSync Christmas albums!
Christmas is more magical to them now, with children of their own, and they started a tradition a few years ago which brings out the excitement for all...a visit with the jolly man himself, Santa, and Mrs Claus! It has become a fun event for their son they turned it into a Christmas pajama party for family and close friends in their home, beginning last year. As the kids arrive, they sprinkle reindeer food in front of the house, hoping Santa’s reindeer will make a visit.
They do crafts and eat snacks right before the surprise visit, and the kids faces light up when he walks through the door! Though Santa is incredibly fun, it is even more important to the Huynhs for everyone to know the season is about celebrating the birth of our Savior. They incorporate this with Santa’s visit, with Santa reading “The First Christmas Night” to the kids, which is a retelling of Jesus’s birth, modeled after “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The kids each spend some time with Santa and Mrs Claus after the reading.
Another tradition for the Huynhs, started with Courey’s parents, is playing Dirty Santa! They usually do this after opening presents, and have so much fun - either getting a major dud or a phenomenal gift...or an unexpected mix of both! One year, there was a $100 Southwest gift card stuffed in a rubber chicken!