Christmas Traditions

Our first Christmas as a married couple, I stumbled across a recipe for eggnog French toast, with warm cherry pie filling on top.   I’ve made it every Christmas morning since, and added bacon because we all know everything tastes better with bacon.  It was the first of many traditions we’ve started.

Each year we look for service opportunities as a family.   We always ring the bell for the Salvation Army.  This year we added Santa to our bell ringing.  (Ok, it’s my brother….but he makes a grand Santa, no?)

Countless hours are spent baking and decorating cookies and candy.   Then we pack it up and deliver it to friends, family, neighbors and the local drug dealer.  (True story.  We’re loving him whether he likes it or not.)

We buy the girls a new ornament each year.  It either represents something special that happened during the year, or their role in the Nutcracker.   By the time they are grown and on their own, they’ll have an eclectic set of ornaments that remind them of their childhood.

Those are a just few of our family traditions.   What traditions do you have that make the holiday’s unique to your family?

A Few Ornaments

I have boxes of Christmas ornaments.  They don’t all get used each year.  I rotate, or do less trees, or go with a different theme.  It’s one of my favorite things about the holiday.  I wish we had a Christmas Mouse store close by, just so I could go check out all their glittery, shiny ornaments on a regular basis.

I thought I’d share a few of the favorite ornaments that made the tree this year.  First we’ll look at our “fancy tree”.  This is usually done with a Victorian/tea/girlie theme with purples, mauves and beads and baubles.

My first star ornament doesn’t fit into that category at all, but it’s one of my oldest ornaments.  My older brother bought it for me when we were kids.  It’s a little porcelain mouse singing out of a book.  The white trim on his outfit is velvety.

The next ornament is also from my brother.  He bought it for me in 1994 when my life fell apart.  Funny thing is, this is Lindsey’s favorite ornament.  Every morning she opens it up to wake her “people” up.  Every night at bed time she closes it and puts her “people” to bed. 

Next is my little Victorian lady, and my nativity made of olive wood from Israel.

My tiny little glass basked or porcelain roses is always on the  tree.

This little gingerbread house is glittery and as cute as can be.  A light bulb goes up through the bottom and makes the windows light up.

Now we’ll move on to the antique or outdoorsy tree.  This tree doesn’t always get put up, but this year we were feeling especially Christmassy as the snow fell and we decorated the house.

These first two ornaments are handmade, and belonged to my aunt who passed away in 2007.  She didn’t get much recognition from the family while she was on earth, so I always put up her ornaments in honor/memory of her at Christmas.

Next comes the first Nutcracker I ever bought.  I got this back in the 80’s, before I even knew how big a part of my Christmases it would be one day.   The father Christmas on the left is a porcelain bell, and I just think he is the most regal looking little guy.

Lastly, here is our newest little Nutcracker dude.  He’s a big chubby, and has twins in green and silver too.  To the bottom left, you’ll see a little pinecone with two little mice peaking out.

I hope you enjoyed a tour of my tree.   Here’s wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Memories

The stress, rush and pressure have ended for many, now that Christmas has gone zipping by.   It’s amazing how we (myself included) lose sight of that whole “peace on earth” thing as we get caught up in the pressure cooker that is the holidays.

Truthfully, this was a stressful Christmas for me.  Too many obligations, too many commitments, too many people needing me all at once and not enough to “do with” as we’d like.   None the less it was a good Christmas, according to Olivia is was the best Christmas ever!

We started our Christmas morning off with our traditional eggnog French toast with warm cherry pie filling…oh and bacon, there must be bacon.  This is SO good, and simple, and delish.

We bought the girls a couple of really neat new games (real ones, that you play, not apps on a phone) and spent the morning/afternoon playing together and having a blast.

We had Christmas dinner with my family and celebrated Jesus’ birthday!

My favorite gifts of the year  were this homemade chalk pastel card from Lindsey, and this lovely plastic canvas gingerbread house from my dear friend Dana.

Nothing expensive, or strikingly beautiful…just the love of friends, family and the Savior.   What more could you ask for?

Obligatory Holidays

February 14th, the most love filled day of the year? Hardly.   Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Valentine’s Day.  I’m just not a big fan of “obligatory holidays”.   You know what I mean?   We conjure up these special days to remember, honor and lavish affection on people.  Here are a few I just don’t like and why.

1) Valentine’s Day:  Show people you love them every day.  No card or amount of roses and chocolate on February 14 with make up for being a jerk the rest of the year.  (That goes for the gals as well as the guys.)

2. Mother’s Day:  I get that you want to honor your mother…but again, that’s something you should do all the time, not just every May.   Take your mom out to dinner more than once a year folks!

3.  Father’s Day:  Please refer to #2 above, but bump it over to June.  He has enough ties, ok?  Maybe do a little fishing together.

4.  Bosses Day:  Ahem.  Really, you think he doesn’t know you talk about him behind his back at the water fountain?  Come on folks, no amount of sucking up on this one day is going to get you a raise.  Do your job to the best of your ability every day and your boss will be happy.

5.  Administrative Assistants Day:  You gosh darn better show appreciation to this person A LOT.   Your admin staff is what keeps you employed and keeps the business running.  A cheesy card and an awkward lunch don’t even come close.  Pay her/him what they are worth.

I’m sure there are other’s that I’ll think of later.  I may come back and edit my list if that happens.

My point?  Well, maybe if we would treat people special EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.OF.THE.YEAR they would KNOW that they are loved or at least appreciated.  Hallmark can’t touch that.

Recycled Christmas

My husbands company is having a recycled Christmas ornament contest, with PRIZES. Everything you use to make the ornament must be recycled or repurposed. This is what I came up with.

The base of the ornament is an old cd. The covering on both sides came from old Christmas cards. The fluffy fake snow is stuffing from a busted chair cushion. The sparkles in the snow is translucent wrapping ribbon cut into tiny pieces, and the ribbon is, well…ribbon.

It’s not stunning by any means, but it’s cute and I had fun with it.  Maybe, just maybe nobody else will enter and I’ll win by default!

What fun things are you crafting this year?

Christmas Goodies (A Week Late)

The girls and I had fun making our usual sugar smorgasbord for Christmas.   We made fudge, peanut butter balls, potato candy, gingerbread men, sugar cookies, peanut butter kiss cookies and chocolate/cherry cookies.

It would have been nice to have shown you all of our hard work before Christmas, but it didn’t happen.   So here are some photos of our handy work to get you in the mood for next year!

I bet you gained 5 pounds just looking at the photos, didn’t you?!

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is coming up fast, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite recipes.  These are actual recipes that I use regularly, and that my family loves.   I know there are a lot of carbs here, but I don’t fix all four things each Thanksgiving (some wait until Christmas…or are added to stretch the leftovers a bit longer).

Dressing Balls:

1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup of butter
16 oz. Pepperidge Farms Herb Stuffing Cubes
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
broth or water

Cook onion and celery in butter until Tender.  Combine all ingredients and mix well.  Add enough broth/water to make moist (enough that it holds its shape, but not soggy).

Shape into balls and bake at 375 for 25 minutes or until crisp on the outside.

Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes:

5 lbs. potatoes
1 tbs. garlic
3 cubes chicken bullion
1 8oz. package cream cheese
1 8 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup butter
salt to taste

Peel and boil potatoes, garlic and bullion cubes until potatoes are done.   Drain well, blend in sour cream and cream cheese.  Put in crock pot on low for 2-3 hours.  Stir in butter just before serving.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese:

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
8 crackers crushed
2 cups shredded cheddar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk

Cook macaroni in salted water, drain well.  Grease 8X8 baking dish with butter.   Combine macaroni, butter, cheese and cracker and place in baking dish.  Combine milk and eggs and pour over top of macaroni (do not stir).  Top with additional cheese.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Corn Pudding:

1 can creamed corn
1 can whole corn
8 oz. sour cream
1 small box Jiffy corn bread mix.
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs

Combine all ingredients and mix well.   Pour in a  buttered 9X13 baking dish.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes (or until set in the middle).

Christmas Crafting

The girls love to make things for people.  Even if it’s just scraps of paper glued to each other, they put lots of love into their art work.

This year we ventured into the world of making potholders.  Yes, I know, it’s another rite of passage to make potholders as gifts. 

The girls and I really enjoyed working on these.   And, yes, the colors really ARE that bold.

 

   

So look out grandma’s, you’ve got new stuff coming!  (Don’t worry, NONE of the grandma’s have a clue how to turn on a computer.)

The Little Things

Little things can mean so much more than big and extravagant things.  (Although, a new car wouldn’t be frowned upon.)  Sometimes those little things, turn into family traditions that make the best memories.

When Olivia was born, I decided to buy her a new Christmas ornament each year, to commemorate something special that had happened in that year.  So obviously, her 2003 ornament was “Babies First Christmas”.     We’ve followed this tradition with both girls, and by the time they are grown they’ll have an interesting assortment of ornaments and memories.

While we were at the beach in September, the hubby and I took an evening stroll to the Christmas Mouse.   I LOVE that store.   Anyway, this year I decided to get Olivia an ornament to remember her first Nutcracker performance.   I found THIS…isn’t it grand?

 

On the bottom of her pretty little foot, I’ve written the year.  When we put up the trees this past weekend, I gave each girl their new ornament to hang on the school room tree.   I seriously thought Olivia was going to burst into tears.  She’s thanked me a gazillion times for it.

Lindsey received the lovely ballerina on the far right below.  I’d planned to get her one in blue, since she moved to the blue leotard class this year.  But alas, all the blues were babies or little blond haired girls.  This one looks more like Lindsey.

What Christmas traditions does your family have?  I’d love to hear!