I don't have many memories of my grandparents. Honestly I don't have any of my maternal grandparents. My mother's dad passed when she was just a girl, and her mother passed when I wasn't much older than two. I do have few of my dad's parents, although the only memories I have of that grandfather are of those of him in a wheel chair, or hospital bed. They both also passed when I was young. I sometime feel that there was part of childhood I missed out on not having grandparents, which is why it is so important to me that my children make as many lasting memories with their grandparents as they can while they have the opportunity. 
I'm also all about traditions, and last year we started one with each set of the kid's grandparents. Last year, and then again this year John, Audrey, and I spend a day in NY with my parents some time after Thanksgiving to help them decorate their Christmas tree. 
The day is typically full of sweets, a Christmas movie, silly exchanges between John and Grandpa, and lots of laughs. This year was better than last with John and Audrey being a year older. I still had to redecorate the tree whenever they weren't looking, but at least this year they helped and enjoyed doing so. It's a tradition I hope carries on for many years.
I'm also all about traditions, and last year we started one with each set of the kid's grandparents. Last year, and then again this year John, Audrey, and I spend a day in NY with my parents some time after Thanksgiving to help them decorate their Christmas tree. The day is typically full of sweets, a Christmas movie, silly exchanges between John and Grandpa, and lots of laughs. This year was better than last with John and Audrey being a year older. I still had to redecorate the tree whenever they weren't looking, but at least this year they helped and enjoyed doing so. It's a tradition I hope carries on for many years.
Grandma Wright also started a Christmas traditions last year. One night in December she invites us over to decorate sugar cookies and make a ginger bread house. The kids are usually on a sugar high by the end of the night and there is typically less frosting on the cookies than there is in their stomachs and on their faces, which is saying a lot because the frosting on the cookies is at least an inch thick.
After their tummies are full of frosting, sprinkles, and topped off with a little cookie they start the ginger bread house. Where it's pretty much the same process for every one piece of candy that makes it on the house there are two or three in their mouth. 
This year the poor house didn't make it very long. Grandma likes for us to take it home , but that night I had my hands full and asked grandma if she could just bring it over in the morning. However, the next morning we got a call that the house has collapsed over night. I can't express how happy I was that it happened on grandma's watch and not mine! Grandma they are willing to forgive. 
They really didn't need any more sugar , and a picture of their creation will work just fine. It's the process they enjoy the most anyway . It makes me so happy that my children have the opportunity to get to know and make memories with their grandparents, and hope that they are memories that will last a lifetime.
After their tummies are full of frosting, sprinkles, and topped off with a little cookie they start the ginger bread house. Where it's pretty much the same process for every one piece of candy that makes it on the house there are two or three in their mouth. This year the poor house didn't make it very long. Grandma likes for us to take it home , but that night I had my hands full and asked grandma if she could just bring it over in the morning. However, the next morning we got a call that the house has collapsed over night. I can't express how happy I was that it happened on grandma's watch and not mine! Grandma they are willing to forgive. They really didn't need any more sugar , and a picture of their creation will work just fine. It's the process they enjoy the most anyway . It makes me so happy that my children have the opportunity to get to know and make memories with their grandparents, and hope that they are memories that will last a lifetime.
Obviously we have only done it for two nights, but the kids and I are both enjoying this for many reasons. First they get to open a "gift" a day all month long and they love that, even if they already know it's going to be a book. Second they get to watch the pile of books slowly dwindle and understand that the smaller the stack gets the closer Christmas day is. And Third is gives us a reason to snuggle up every night and enjoy time spent with each other, while building their excitement for and understanding of Christmas. 