Traditions

It's funny how time slips away from you. It feels like only yesterday that I last posted, but as I look at the blog, it's been nearly three weeks! Work has been more hectic than it has been in a long time, and life outside of work has been even more busy. My body and mind are craving rest, but I need to get through one more week before I can recharge the batteries.

I have had some great stories to share with the blog world over the last few weeks, but I can't remember any of them right now. If they come to me, I will share them at a later date.

My daughter and I just finished making a batch of almond roca, and it got me to thinking about holiday traditions. I talked to my brother today and he was talking about making peanut brittle. This is one tradition that has made it through the generations in our family. My great-grandmother, and my grandmother would make almond roca and peanut brittle every year around this time. My brother, my sister, and I still use great-grandma's recipe, and oddly enough, this is the only time of year we make both of the candies.

Some of our family traditions have survived and some haven't. Vicki and I have also created many new ones. For the last 6 or 7 years, we have gone to Apple Hill in early December and cut our Christmas tree. Doesn't matter if it is raining or snowing...we are driving an hour and a half into the mountains and cutting a tree.

We get one new Christmas ornament every year. It makes for a hodge-podge of a tree, but each one has special significance to us.

We listen to the same CD every Christmas morning (Amy Grant's, A Christmas Album). There is a lot more music that I certainly enjoy more (try Third Day's, Chrismas Offerings...it's awesome), but that has become our Christmas morning music.

Our girls read the Christmas story from the bible and we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Here's a wierd one...Vicki's sister has to have gouda cheese on Christmas day. It reminds her of happy times when she was young. I bought some gouda today, just for her, since she will be up here next weekend.

I have so many more to share, but I am interested in hearing some of your traditions.