Beginning to Look Like Christmas

Posted: November 27, 2006 
Filed under: All in the Family
Tagged: christmas, snow, weather, winter
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The pumpkins have been removed and the Christmas trees have been put up. I remember what it was like to be a child and the importance of Holiday traditions. Some of the Francoeur traditions have carried over into the Farland household and some have been left behind. As a child nothing was more exciting than the arrival of Christmas Eve – The Francoeur cousin gathering. Lots of kids, lots of noise, tons of food and presents. We didn’t see each other very often, and still don’t today, but Christmas is about Christ and family. I’ve always felt honored to be part of a family so big. To quote my Pepere, “I look at the (family) photo sometimes and think to myself, “We started all of this!” It is this evening of tradition that continues with my parents, brother, and sister and of course, my children’s cousins.

The Tree, sigh. Ok I have to admit I remember many a horrible weekend that the tree went up and fighting over how the ornaments should be placed and tinsle strung. So at our house we have a tree for Maddie, one for Alison and a larger one for Mom and Dad. They are tiny and cute. Each year we try to add an ornament or two that represents our family or interests. This year we will add a black lab puppy and a GeoCaching ornament. One day we will upgrade to a tree, but for now Madelyn and Alison break Grammy and Grandpa’s ornaments (they help decorate their tree) and Sadie stays out of danger. Santa will leave the girls gifts unwrapped and ready to go for them for Christmas morning and we will have our delicious warm and buttery Raisin Bran muffins for breakfast. An added tradition for 2006 is; this year we would like to add a tradition that I was first introduced to by the Muskiewicz family, but with a Farland twist. Don and I were dating when we were invited over for a full day of cookie making. It was lots of fun joining their family and cutting out Gingerbread cookies from boats, wreaths, lobsters, to you name it – a giant lobster pot filled with every shape cookie cutter you could imagine. Our cookie cutter collection will grow as the years come, but for now a simple gingerbread boy and girl. I can’t wait to make icing and paint and decorate them with gumdrops, mini marshmallows, and candies. Whatever your traditions may be, know they make the holidays memorable and bring the family together.