Some of the best times that we’ve  had as a family didn’t involve expensive over the top activities or gifts. Our best times, involved spending time together as a family and making memories that will last a lifetime. Oh yes, and eating good food. African American families are going to eat good food when get together to celebrate just about anything.

After Mother’s day this year, my mother called me and said she received the best Mother’s Day cards ever this year and that she planned on cherishing them forever.   And she told me the card that I sent her was beautiful. Well, I actually sent her a handwritten card this year. And my sister and I had all of our kids make her cards. “She said all of my grandkids made me cards this year”...it was so special.”

It’s always so hard to find a gift for my mom”...she has everything. And we have run the gamut over the years from giving jewelry, clothes, and vacations to electronics. But we never go wrong when my siblings and I get together and coordinate a gift that involves a family dinner and handmade gifts from the kids.

Last Christmas, I wanted to do something different for the kids that did not involve overspending and over indulging the kids. We wanted to make it less about the toys and more about celebrating birth of Christ and spending time together as a family. So I set out to make this most memorable Christmas ever. With a little planning ahead of  time, I planned a very affordable vacation to Orlando.

We purchased a small Christmas tree (Charlie Brown like.)

We packed all of the kid’s toys (which is was not hard to do since we are limiting them to only 3 gifts each at Christmas.) We loaded up the family and headed down to Orlando. And can I tell you”...we had the best Christmas EVER!!! The kids are still talking about Christmas. And they are not talking about any of those toys that they just had to have!!

Here is the coveted  Lalaloopsy on Christmas Day. Lamar and I spent days trying to find those  dolls  in the stores.

Here is LaLa Loopsy now.. She is dead!! She’s been buried under a sea of other toys since Jnauary.

But one thing my kids will not ever forget”....is our trip to Orlando for Christmas. We were together and we had so much fun!!

 BMWK Family – Please share with us some unique ways   that you’ve celebrated big events such as Christmas, Mother’s Day   or a graduation, etc?   What are some of your favorite memories from your childhood?

Each new day provides you with an opportunity to have special moments with your family.

Disclosure:     This post is part of a series that is sponsored by Hallmark and the  Life is a Special Occasion  campaign.     All opinions and editorial content expressed are my own.