Traditions

delivering the goodies

Olivia telling me which house to deliver to next

The happy little elves

After we had Olivia I started to think of traditions that I would like to have for our family. It starts on Thanksgiving where we donate food to the Boy Scouts to distribute to our local food pantries. Olivia loves picking out the food that she thinks other people might like. Right before Christmas we spend 2 days making cookies, fudge, ( not chocolate covered pretzels) and peppermint bark. Olivia and I and now Blake pack up all the goodies in our wagon to give out to our neighbors. This year Olivia turned to me and said "mom, doesn't it just feel good to give to other people?" With tears in my eyes I gave her the biggest hug and thought I guess I am doing something right.

We also have traditions that were mine as a kid and now have been passed onto my own. Such as I always place my parents' angel on the top of their tree with a picture to document, and now so does Olivia on our tree. We always eat turkey with all the fixins and MUST have celery with cream cheese for an appetizer. We whip our own cream in my grandmother's red bowl, which didn't work this year since light cream was bought, oh well we tried. We have English Christmas crackers that always have a little prize in them with a ridiculous paper crown which inevitably turns Victor into Jughead.

And lastly the blessed matching Christmas jammie tradition. And yes, Victor does wear them as long as they don't get posted on Facebook. Alison, don't get any ideas...we'll be heading to divorce court!

We hope everyone enjoyed their own holiday traditions, and maybe made some new ones. Happy New Year and I am sure funny New Year pics to follow as we were out with the Campos and Berlin clans!