Holiday Traditions

My two younger children have an almost 8 year age difference between them. Trying to find something that both of them will do together for more than five minutes can be challenging! For the past 3 or 4 years my kids have built gingerbread houses. I buy a kit that includes the gingerbread, icing and various toppings. This year I was my son's "assistant." I have this habit of trying to do too much for him. This year I let him tell me what to do. He decided whether the line of icing would be straight or curvy. I applied the icing, but he guided me the whole way as to where to put it, such as what shape he wanted the windows, etc. For a kid with ADHD and Autism he sat for a good 1/2 hour with a very determined look on his face decorating his house. My daughter is much more creative than myself. She made a snowman out of the leftover icing and used sprinkles for arms. I would have never thought of doing that! I love to see from year to year how the houses are decorated. Making the gingerbread houses have kind of become a "tradition" with my kids.

When we used to live back East, I hosted Christmas dinner for a number of years. I have to say I really miss it. My brother, sister and I and our families live in three different parts of the country now, so it's more difficult to get together. My hubby ordered some Slovenian sausages from Cleveland for us to have for dinner this year. It definitely was "traditional" to eat those sausages when we would visit my in-laws. I think for my husband it reminds him of his parents who are both no longer with us. When my siblings and I were little my dad would read us the book, "The Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore on Christmas Eve. My husband now reads that book to our children every Christmas Eve. I hope that is a "tradition" that will continue for generations to come. What are your holiday traditions this year? are they old ones or will you be creating new ones?

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