🎨 Part 2: How It All Began + Traditions Old and New ☀️

Christmas in July started during the height of COVID. I wanted my family to gather safely, so we planned an outdoor celebration at my place. It gave us a way to connect while still being mindful of exposure—and it ended up sparking a tradition that’s grown more meaningful each year.

🌞 The First Celebration

That first year set the tone with a mix of holiday spirit and summer fun:

• Holiday food with a summer twist
• Volleyball
• Rock painting
• Board games
• Riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers
• A white elephant gift exchange

The surprise hit of the night? Karaoke. It wasn’t even planned, but it quickly became a staple. Some of my family members can really sing—I, on the other hand, sound like a toad frog. (I blame it on age and my HRT!) Still, it’s fun, and nobody takes themselves too seriously.

🎉 Growing the Tradition

Each year I tweak things to keep it fresh. Some of our newer additions have included:

• A watermelon-eating contest
• Paintball
• Live music and dancing at a steakhouse
• Swimming and karaoke at the local pool, QTX LadyHawke

But we also have a few non-negotiables that show up every year: Dirt bikes, board games, karaoke, the white elephant exchange, and rock painting.

🪨 Rock Painting with Meaning

The rock painting tradition is my favorite. It’s dedicated to my brother, Brandt, and my nephew, Jordan. Anyone who wants to can paint a rock during the weekend, and those who are still here on Sunday morning make the pilgrimage to place the painted rocks by their tree.

It’s our family’s way of saying: We love you. We remember you. We miss you.

What started as a simple activity has grown into one of the most meaningful parts of the weekend.

➡️ Next time: I’ll share the games that keep us laughing, the new faces that join us each year, and why Christmas in July matters so much to our family.

With love and glitter, Valerie