Advent Calendar - Christmas Cookies

I love cookies no matter what time of year but there is something special about homemade cookies at Christmas time. What could be better than that warmth and aroma wafting from the oven while my two wonderful daughters and I decorated sugar cookies. I think it was Dad who liked eating those the most, while we girls could barely wait for the chocolate chips cookies to cool!

That was years ago, but usually about this time, my husband says, "Are you going to make cookies this year?" I'm thinking I may go the store bought route. Maybe if I sneak them in the house and light a vanilla candle he won't know the difference:)

Advent Calendar - Santa Claus

‘Twas the night before Christmas 1999

And this may not rhyme

But the family was gathered

For a jolly good time.

  

They had food to eat, carols to sing

And exchanging of presents

Before the children rushed home

To await Santa’s entrance.

Kristin, Stewart, Derek
Randi

Now, Stewart, age ten

And Derek, age nine

Shared knowing looks

with each other this time.

They thought them too old

For belief in sweet Santa

But they kept quiet that night

Because they’d been told.

You see, Kristin, age 8

Clung to the thought

That Santa rode in his sleigh

Each December 24^th.

And Randi, age 6

Simply knew in her heart

That Santa would come

With toys to impart.

So Grandpa took charge

As a stand-in for Claus

On his knees with the children

He checked on the gifts, large & small.

But, wait, there’s a sound at the door.

Who could it be? The family’s all here!

Everyone’s gaze went to the stairs

Everyone’s jaw fell straight to the floor.

It was Santa in person, the real one for sure!

He paused for a moment to see who was there

He talked to each child while checking his list

He knew they were there; they were secure.

He stayed but a moment; No time for long banter

He must begin his long flight around the world

But for that one evening and those few hours

Each family member believed in dear Santa.

(Just a warning note to little ones all:

If you stop believing; Santa stops coming.)

Advent Calendar - Outdoor Lights

I was just about to skip posting for this prompt - just because I couldn't think of any outstanding outdoor light story. However, I do have an anecdote to share.

About sixteen years ago, the company I worked for was moving its accounting/marketing departments from Schaumburg, Illinois to its headquarters in Los Angeles, California. At the time I was the supervisor of one of the Units being moved. Most of my Unit, including me, opted to remain in Illinois; however, we still had the obligation to train those who would be taking our places.

So, just before Christmas, five of us traveled to LA. We had a significant drive from our hotel to the headquarters. One afternoon, on the way back to the hotel, we were admiring some of the outdoor decorations when Renee popped out with, "Why do they have all these decorations?" After which we had to explain that even though it is always warm in LA, Christmas still comes there and people celebrate just like we did. I really think she was truly shocked!!

But, in her defense, the whole thing felt a bit surreal to me too.

Advent Calendar - Christmas Cards

I really don't remember my mother sending out lots of Christmas cards. I'm sure she sent to the relatives back home in Indiana once we moved to Chicago but I don't think she sent to friends far and wide. However, my husband's mother had a huge Christmas card list and faithfully sent to, I'm thinking, almost everyone she knew. Preparing the cards and getting them in the mail was an annual process that took many hours to complete. For her it was a labor of love and a way to stay in touch.

Looking back, I guess I fall somewhere between my Mom and his Mom. I had a fairly large list of friends and family who heard from us each year through the Christmas mail. However, unlike my mother-in-law, I wasn't sending to old friends from grammar school or even high school. Perhaps I should have; at least, I might know where they are today if I had.

Now, I lean on email, Twitter, and Facebook to send most of my holiday greetings. My physical card list has dwindled to a very manageable number which is both efficient and economical.

I must admit, though, I do love receiving the greetings I find in my mailbox - both online and off.;)

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Advent Calendar - Christmas Tree Ornaments

Our tree holds many special ornaments for me. They're not expensive like hand-blown glass but were created by or for our two girls. One year when they were small we sat in our kitchen and made ornaments using clothes pins. The girls made a great little fireman for their volunteer fireman Dad; that one is highly treasured.

There are the little felt candy cane with the name "Samantha" barely fitting which Sam brought home from Sunday School and Tammy's owl (she loved owls) that has perched on our Christmas tree each year.

I think my favorite ornament memory, though, is a tradition my husband started after the birth of our first grandchild. Each year he buys (a labor of love done with no little agony) each child an ornament just from him. He isn't a man who displays affection easily or casually but this annual gesture is one way he shows how very much he loves his grandchildren. The ornaments, but not the love, stop at age 21 - one down and three to go.:)

Advent Calendar - Christmas Food

Ah, the taste and aroma of Christmas treats in the making!!

Our Christmas holiday foods haven’t been the huge feasts of ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and such for a long time. Those foods have been reserved for Thanksgiving. No, we revel in the appetizer and dessert categories.

When I was a small child in Indiana, we had lots of relatives in the area and Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma’s house with the Uncles, Aunts, and cousins. My two brothers and I were piled in the car with our parents and whatever Mom was bringing, probably pie or cake. I don’t really remember what ended up on Grandma’s table; I guess I was too busy playing with my cousins.

However, when I was 10, we moved to Chicago and our family became very small - just the five of us. Rather than a big meal, Mom treated us to hamburgers and banana splits. That’s how the appetizers and desserts tradition began.

There must be some sort of sandwich, though, because the one item truly required is Dad’s baked beans. Well, really they are Dad’s Mom’s baked beans but she passed them down to him, who passed them on to Mom, who passed them on to my sister and me, who passed them on to my daughters. There is no true recipe, just a list of ingredients and instructions on how to tell the proportions are correct. Those instructions must be given in-person a number of times because it takes the eyes, nose, and taste to get it right!

Another must is Hersey’s fudge. The directions are on the cocoa can and it’s easy to make except often it takes several tries to get the perfect batch – not that the imperfect batches go to waste.

Those are the musts; the rest is up to each cook. Our table is always filled to the brim with tasty treats and munchies!

Advent Calendar - The Christmas Tree

I've seen many versions of the Christmas tree during my lifetime. Although the ones in my house have remained very traditional, there were a few years during the '70s when my mother followed the fads of the flocked and/or silver metal trees. Happily, she quickly returned to the beautifully decorated green tree I remembered from my childhood.

Speaking of childhood, it's my grandchildren who have made my best memories of our Christmas trees. When they were young they would come - all four - to help decorate our tree and spend the night. The tree got decorated, some cookies were baked, and in the morning we went out for pancakes and eggs. I watched them grow up in front of our tree.

This is what our tree looked like for many years with the help of our grandchildren.

Here the children are sitting in front of the tree before the presents have been distributed in 1994.

Left to right: Randi, Kristin, Stewart, Derek

Here they are just seven years later in 2001. They are singing a carol because they always had to "perform" before they gifts were opened. They grow up too fast!

Left to Right: Derek, Stewart, Kristin
Front: Randi

We're looking forward to a new tradition starting this year. Our Christmas Eve gathering will move to one of our daughter's home. New tree, new memories!