Christmas Traditions

There are some things that we do every year on Christmas Day, here is my list of favorites.

• Waking up 'early'
• Making Kringler
• Reading the Christmas Story
• Opening Stockings
• Having to play with the stocking toys before opening presents
• Going one at a time opening gifts
• Eating ham, and cookies

Are there things you and your family do every year on Christmas day?

Christmas Eve Traditions

Over the years some traditions have been added and changed, but here is a list of the most consistent and memorable.  I'm so glad to share these with my family every Christmas Eve

• Presents at Nana and Papa'
• Going to a different church every year
• Eating eggs Benedict for dinner
• Opening one gift 
• Stuffing the Stockings
• Wrapping any last minute presents

Do you have any tradition that happen on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Memories

I have so many happy Christmas memories, here are a few:

• Having a snoring 'contest' with Grandma Frances (she didn't know we were having a contest..opps!)
• Seeing A snowflake in Southern California
• Seeing bugs all over the Christmas tree
• Going to a church with an organ, it was an awesome Christmas Eve service
• Seeing a barbie under my full stocking
• Opening gifts at Nana and Papa's
• Making a ginger bread house at Grandma's
• Making chocolate covered raisins for Grandpa
• Playing Sets, and Wise and Otherwise
• Reading the Christmas story
• Making kringler in Grandma's kitchen

Okay, I had to stop...what are some of yours?

Christmas Firsts

Even with all the traditions every year seems to hold firsts, here are some of my memories.

• 1st in Missouri (cut down a real tree, it was a Cedar, it took up the whole living room and we all got sick)
• 1st Christmas with Hermes (in Columbia)
• 1st Christmas with Fiance
• 1st in Michigan (dad, mom and brother came to visit us in our 1st home)
• 1st without Grandma and Granny
• 1st with my beautiful daughter
• 1st in Indiana (everyone came to sister-in-law's house)
• 1st in Texas (was my 1st Christmas without my parents)

 What are some of your Christmas Firsts?

Christmas Cookies

With Christmas fast approaching, I find myself wanting to bake Christmas cookies, here are my favorites.

• Sugar Cookies (Almond flavored)
• Chocolate Crackles
• Mexican Wedding Cakes
• Minute Fudge
• Chocolate covered raisins (or pretzels...or both)
• Fruit Balls 

What are some of your Christmas cookie traditions?

Thanksgiving Memories

I thought I'd look back and list some of my Thanksgiving Memories.

• Eating spinach at Granny's - almost couldn't get it down
• Walking on a beach  - watching surfers
• Aunt spilling a whole pumpkin pie in the oven
• Pecan Pie - Papa Al eating it by himself, making it for the first time by myself
• Crowded around the table at our house on Dennie Court
• Mom making a list of what we had at the meal
• Visiting my in-laws finding out they don't always have turkey!
• Watching football
• Playing video games and eating turkey dinner for 3 days straight (yes for breakfast, lunch and dinner!)
• Eating dinner at Spanish Moss

What are some of your memories for this wonderful holiday?