I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones. I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.
As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.
This tradition started when we were kids. Every Christmas Eve my mom would let us open one present.
Our Christmas Jammies. She would always get us a new pair of jammies for us, and we wore them all day on Christmas.
As we got older we still got new jammies on Christmas Eve, until we had kids. Now our kids get new jammies.
I have found that the only place to get jammies that fit both boys (4T and 18 mo sizes) is either the Gap or Old Navy. Which is fine, because I love their jammies. I had a hard time finding ones I really like this year, but I went back to Old Navy and found these monster ones and Ian loved them.
I also get them a new Christmas movie to watch on Christmas Eve. I was going to put popcorn in the box, but I forgot. Since he fell asleep watching the movie, it was OK he didn’t get any popcorn.
I love reviving old family traditions, and making new ones. I love remembering fondly the things that I did as a child at Christmas time and the things I couldn’t wait to do again.
As an adult, I get to make sure our family participates in our traditions and make new ones.
This tradition I don’t let my family participate in. Every year I stay up super late the couple of days before Christmas and wrap presents.
I always think I will start early, and I always think I have plenty of time.
Of course I don’t!
So I stay up late, while everyone is asleep and wrap their presents. At least I know I am not alone. Mom’s across the world are doing the same thing.
I was able to squeeze in making these gift tags for the boys. I didn’t want to write on their gifts from Santa, I don’t want them to eventually recognize my writing.
If you want to download a blank set of these gift tags you can do so here.
Ah, it’s finally the week of Christmas. Oh wait, holy cow! it’s the week of Christmas.
I was really sure I had so much more time.
The holiday week means less meal planning for me. So I decided to share a cookie recipe. We made some cookies for Ian’s school party and I decided to try a new one.
These cookies are inspired by the peanut butter blossoms. You know the ones with the Hershey’s Kisses placed in the warm cookies?
During the holidays Hershey’s makes a Candy Cane Kiss. They are super scrumptious. I’m not gonna lie, I have taken a bag (or two) to ‘share’ (with myself) before.
Candy Cane Shortbread Blossoms
Makes about 2 dozen cookies
Hershey’s Candy Cane Kisses, unwrapped
2 1/2 c. Flour
1 c. Butter, softened cut into cubes
6 Tblsp Sugar (6 tablespoon= 1/4 c. + 2 tablespoons)
In a mixing bowl combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter using a pastry blender or a blade attachment for your stand mixer. Add butter squares one at a time and blend until mixture resembles fine crumbs and starts to cling.
Form into a ball and knead until smooth.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls, place on cookie sheet and flatten. (shortbread doesn’t behave like other cookie dough so it will not flatten out when baked
Bake in 325° oven for 20-25 minutes, until center starts to set. While cookies are baking unwrapped enough kisses for the number of cookies.
Immediately press a Candy Cane Kiss into center of cookie and let cool on cookie sheet for five minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack, let cool until kisses harden.
I Tri and Craft 