Family Traditions con't.

There is another family tradition that I so enjoy and that is our New Years Eve Tradition.  For the past several years Marianne, Stephen, Awbrey, Gary and I have spent the evening watching movies, playing games and watching the New Year in as a family.  I so look forward to this every year especially now that they have moved to Vancouver, WA.  We were so used to seeing them everyday and now we make the trip to Vancouver 3 or 4 times a year.

Family Traditions

Marianne and Kimberly were 4 years old when Gary and I were married.  Our first Christmas, together as a family, we didn't have a lot of money.  We brought our first artificial tree and a few decorations.  We needed a few more decorations for the tree so Marianne, Kimberly, Gary and I made red and green paper chains, strung popcorn and red berries to finish decorating the tree.  After that we tried to do something together every year to add to the tree.  We painted ornaments, baked the stain glass look ornaments, and made ornaments out of clay.   As the girls got older and moved away from home I really missed the little things we did together during the holidays.  Now they have families of their own and I am so looking forward to the old and new traditions we will have with our grandchildren.

When Awbrey was barely 3 months old we began our tradition of making Christmas candies and breads together every year.  Her first Christmas she sat in her bouncer chair, on the kitchen counter, and we made her first batch of fudge together and each year we continue to make our candy and breads together.  Even though the kids now live in Vancouver, WA, Awbrey and I will continue to keep our tradition.  I usually take everything we will  need with me and we spend a day before Christmas making our candies, breads and apple butter.  This is a tradition that I hope will continue through the years ahead.

Most Favorite Time of the Year!

In just 24 days we will be celebrating Thanksgiving and then it will be Christmas before we know it.  This year has just flow by and it seems the older I get the faster they go.  I love the holidays.  I love spending time with family and friends and catching up on what is happening in their lives.  The aromas that Thanksgiving and Christmas gives us are absolutely the best.  I love the smell of cinnamon, baked apples, pumpkin pie, breads and candies as they drift all through the house.  Since I am allergic to Christmas trees we have an artifical tree so I don't get the smell of cedar or pine in the house.  But that is okay as I can enjoy all the other smells of Christmas.

This was my Mom's favorite time of the year.  A time when all the family would come together and share our love for one another.