holiday baking

December recap.

2018 was an “off” year for us. The remodel did not bring out the best in each of us. When December rolled around and we still were parking our cars in the driveway because contractors were using our garage as a makeshift workshop I was at my wits end.

We spent the better part of November and December paying sub-contractors because our general contractor failed to do so. The house was freezing cold as our new contractors wrapped up the finishing touches. We didn’t even put up the Christmas tree until less than a week before Christmas.

As per usual, a couple of strands of white lights had burned out and I couldn’t spare the time to go buy more. We made do with red ones at the top of the tree. When Christmas Eve rolled around and we still hadn’t put ornaments on the tree, we called it good and went without. Needless to say, the holiday spirit was in short supply at our house.

Still, old habits die hard and we managed to whip up goodies for neighbors and friends.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to bake with this cutie around to wash dishes for you?

We attended several choir and band Christmas concerts, piano recitals and even caroled at our local retirement home with Jack’s Joy School class (and their families).

This year, I fulfilled a dream of mine to rope my girls into singing an SSAA arrangement of a Christmas song with me. I selected a jazzy rendition of I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and I have to say, we killed it.

Four parts and everyone nailed it. It’s so fun to have musicians in the family. Now I have to get them to do it year-round.

My parents and two youngest siblings joined us for a few days. We cooked, ate, played games, watched movies, danced and had a marvelous time. Despite our delayed jump into the season, Christmas can’t help but being wonderful.

Flying through December.

And just like that, it’s three days until Christmas!  We kicked December off with Jack’s birthday and a Nutcracker performance by Eve.  Threw in two elementary music programs, two piano recitals, several junior high choir performances, another children’s choir performance.  It’s safe to say that music is definitely one of our treasured holiday traditions.

Another holiday tradition we can’t seem to live without: baking.  I enlisted the girls’ help in the kitchen, one daughter for each of the four items in this year’s goody box.  Homemade caramels, toffee, sugar cookies, and peppermint bark made the cut.  We might have baked up a couple of extra batches after the treats were delivered.  Our excuse was that we forgot about a few families.  But at least half of the extras ended up in our very own bellies.  Yum.

We finally got around to making our annual homemade Christmas ornament.  I must say, it’s pretty awesome when your kids reach an age at which they can actually craft something reasonably cool.  For years I’d either stretch the limits of my kids’ fine motor skills (and my patience) to make something they could be proud of.  Or, when that didn’t work, I’d select an ornament that was well within their skill level but one that broke before the next Christmas rolled around.

This year, I drummed up some wire and beads to assemble one of these suckers.  It was easy, cheap, and produced an awesome result.  Big win for Christmas 2017.

Other than that, it’s been business as usual around here.  A minor fracture for Jack.  A mild case of hand, foot, and mouth disease.  Lots of broken ornaments.  Sugar highs and subsequent crabby tempers.  Gift-buying and giving.  Service in the community.  And as of today, snow.  A good three inches so far.

Most of all, we remember the Savior in all that we do.  I am abundantly grateful to know of Him and His great atoning sacrifice which makes every joy in this life possible.