Okay guys, we put all your heartwarming comments into the big red bucket and pulled out three lucky winners...here are their memories!
A favorite tradition while growing up was lots of baking. With my mom and 3 other sisters, we would bake up our favorite cookies, breads and candies. Each had their job. Then we made gift plates and delivered them to our grandmothers, elder aunts, and a few nuns that had taught most of us 6 kids. Upon delivery we sang a few Christmas carols. As the years went by we added our boy/girlfriends - then spouses. It was such a wonderful time for all of us. You could so see and feel the Christmas joy in all the elders. Now as we grow older....Our grandparents, parents and elder relatives are having a wonderful time in heaven, and we have made a next generation of traditions. Since all sisters live in a different city, we bring our favorite cookies, candies and breads to one sisters home in the Twin Cities. There we make up our trays for our inlaws and other special people we want to deliver to. Christmas Eve all 6 brothers and sisters, their spouses and children come together for a wonderful dinner and the sharing of our homemade goodies. It is such a special blessed time of the year and our children will be passing the traditions that have been passed down. I am already getting very excited about this years festivities.
My favorite tradition is making a "breakfast from Mrs.Claus". for the little
ones.I pack up a fruit,an orange,banana,grapes or small fruit cocktail cup, a
small box of cereal,a carton of juice or milk and maybe a doughnut or special
cookie(not one of the ones we baked).I pack it in a cute gift bag with a note
from Mrs Claus herself.Like "while I was helping Santa load his sleigh I
happened to think you could be so excited on Christmas morning you might skip
breakfast and that is not good for you so I made you a little breakfast you can
eat beside the tree ! MERRY CHRISTMAS, hugs,Mrs Claus. I put them near the tree
so the children see them
first thing.our family finds this to be great fun
and Mom and Dad have a minute to get their morning eyes open and a cup
coffee.
You lucky three, look for an email from us today and send us your mailing address so we can get your bookazine in the mail!
Thanks to everyone who entered. We SO enjoyed reading all your Christmas traditions...really puts us in the mood for the holidays! Stay tuned for lots more contests & giveaways coming soon...
One of our Christmas tradition is not to forget the animals on our farm. All of the horse stalls are decorated with equine-edible ornaments. THere's a tree outside, that we hang suet & nuts for the birds & small animals, so they can enjoy the festivities, too. My daughter makes up a special "Christmas" meal for the horses, with oats, carrots & apples & distributes that to all the horses right after the humans eat breakfast & open stockings. The greatest gift is sharing with those you love, seeing even the 4-legged family members having a Merry Christmas!