Holiday Traditions Festival - Week 3

Christmas Cookie Baking ensued this weekend at our household. We made lots of yummylicious (that's a Celeste word, btw) goodies. We also made some banana bread that made our whole house smell delicious. They should make a candle that smells that good, maybe then I'd actually light candles.

Tada! Our finished cookies:

Another holiday tradition in our family is the countdown. We make a paper link chain and take one chain off each night before bed. Some years, I fancy it up and put little activities for us to enjoy together on the back of some of the rings. Not this year, though. It seems there's not enough time to breath, let alone be creative.

And last, but certainly not least - thanks to a suggestion from Shannon at Gabi's World, I was able to get a picture of our outside lights. :) Thanks, Shannon.

The countdown is offically on - only 8 days until Christmas! Anyone else out there totally and completely unprepared? We have hardly anything purchased as far as presents go, I'm way behind on my holiday crocheting, nothing is wrapped. At the rate I'm going, I might be ready by the time NEXT Christmas rolls around. At least the decorations and baking are done. :)

Head over to Melissa's blog for more Holiday Traditions!

Holiday Traditions Festival - Week 2

We got our outside lights up over the weekend. The baby was napping and the two older girls were playing together (and *not* fighting - !!!), so hubby and had a nice chance to catch up from the week and just talk and relax together. We tried to get pictures, but it was way too dark when the pictures were taken, so all you can see is the outline of the lights! lol

Every year, I love to bake, bake, bake and bake some more. I always make way too much sweet stuff and end up bringing a bunch to work. Hey, they’re not complaining so why change. Here’s a few of the tasty treats I make each year.

Pecan Tassies - These were always my grandma’s favorite and are a favorite of my dad as well.

Peanut Butter Cookies - Just the recipe off of the PB jar.

Banana Bread - I add a splash of vanilla to this recipe and it is so yummy.

Oatmeal Cookies - Craig and Celeste both LOVE these, especially when I add raisins.

For some reason, I can NEVER get sugar cookies just right, so this year we’re going to try a new recipe from Pioneer Woman - Fingers crossed that they come out well.

I think I’m going to try these this year as well. They look scrumptious!

And I really want to try making gingerbread cookies, but I haven’t found a recipe yet and I think I’ve got enough going on, so that will get pushed to the back-burner.

I will be sure to post some pictures once all of our delectable treats are complete.

Head on over to Melissa's blog to see more Holiday traditions and ideas, or to join in and share your holiday traditions!

Holiday Traditions Festival

Melissa over at Banana Migraine is hosting the Holiday Traditions Festival, a fun way for everyone to share their family's holiday traditions. Head on over to her blog to see more traditions and ideas, or to join in and share your holiday traditions!

Every year, one of the first things we do to get in the holiday spirit is to decorate the tree and house, while listening to Christmas music. I always like to try and do this the first weekend in December.

So, this past weekend we dusted off the A Pooh Christmas CD and put up the tree while listening to Pooh and friend's version of The Twelve Days of Chirstmas. We weren't able to get the outside lights up yet, so we'll do that this weekend coming up. I think next year, I'll be asking Santa for some new ornaments and tree decorations. We've had the same decorations and tree since our first Christmas together, in 1998. We will be keeping our angel though. She's always the last thing that Craig adds to the tree. The girls and I sit on the couch and ooh and ahh over the lights while Craig reaches up on tippy toes to position her just right. I can't imagine a different tree topper for our family tree.

Here is a picture of our table decoration. I love snowmen and have collected several different ones. The teddy bears music box is from my childhood - it still works! Celeste loves to listen to it. And an added bonus - in the backround is a photo from our wedding. :)