Thinking about Christmas.

It's been over a week already since I've posted here. Time flies! Things weren't very fun in our home for a while--Chris and I were ill as well as the boys--but I'm happy to say that now the flu bug is completely gone, we are all happy and healthy and things are back to normal.

It's ironic actually, that we all fell ill right after I posted about the importance of having daily routines. Because when our routines were interrupted by the general sickness about, I felt the unpleasant difference keenly. It confirmed for me how important those daily rhythms are for me, not only to accomplish all I want to do each day, but for my very peace of mind. I'm so glad that we're back into our daily rhythm.

We're getting towards the end of November now, and since I started to feel better a few days ago and my energy returned, my thoughts have been drifting ever towards the upcoming holidays. In past years Christmas often felt like a chore for me, but this year I feel more excited, I suppose since I have learned to appreciate the real things in life more, and pay attention to the superficial things less. Christmas, seen as a time for family fun and togetherness, a time to enjoy homemade gifts and treats and old and new traditions, has more meaning to me now than it did when I stressed out over all the things I felt I should buy.

This Christmas, my husband and I will be making gifts for the children to go along with the few books and stocking stuffers we'll be giving them. Creating things makes me happy and I'm excited about this, even though I know I am getting started too late and will be rushing to finish everything on the 24th.

First I'm making a quilted purse for my daughter's best friend. I'm using this tutorial I found, only instead of starting off with plain material I'm sewing together some quilting scraps that a friend gave me. Probably for an extreme beginner this is biting off more than I can chew, but I'm trying to just dive in and not worry about acheiving perfection. I'm having fun with this so far. I'll post a picture when it's done.

My other projects also involve sewing, but I can't really talk about them here because my children do read my blog!

Apart from gift giving, I have enjoyed making up a list of Christmas baking the children and I will be doing. It's mostly things we've made in the past: Cherry Chocolate Shortbread Mounds, Maple Glazed Shortbread, Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies, Gingersnaps, Truffles, and of course Gingerbread Men. We don't really do any entertaining over the holidays, but how can you have Christmas without cookies? We'll enjoy the baking ourselves, and I'll bring a big platter over to my mom's house on Christmas day.

I took out Tudor's 1966 Christmas book, Take Joy, from the library. It contains mostly Christmas poems, stories, legends, and carols, which is all very nice...but the best part of the book is at the end, where she described the numerous traditions her family had every year in their Victorian farmhouse for Christmas. It made me think a lot about traditions, about how important and enjoyable they are. They are the yearly rhythm to our lives, and in my mind are just as important to a family's well-being as the daily or weekly rhythyms. I am always looking for new traditions to add to our family's holidays. This year, perhaps a homemade advent calendar that can hide homemade treats? This idea looks like fun. Although everyone enjoys traditions, I believe they are especially important to children-- they make them feel secure and happy, and give them something to look forward to all year.

What new traditions are my readers planning to add to their holidays this year? Or what fun things do you do every year? Please share! I would love to hear about it. 

Comments

[Citysister]

I'm starting already to hear my father bellow "twas the night before Christmas..." and Santa showing up at our door which makes the kids scared beyond anything else.

[renee ~ heirloom seasons]

Oh I wish our library had that book! (I really don't understand the lack of Tasha Tudor books at the library, even in the children's section...) We have the Tasha Tudor cookbook though and she mentions some of her holiday traditions in there.
We are planning our holiday baking and everyone has been busy with gift making. In recent years we have been celebrating the entire season of Advent, and this year I finally made us our own Advent calendar.
I look forward to seeing your quilt!
And I enjoy hearing from you when you visit my blog, thank you! I have visited here several times now but haven't yet had a chance to say hello. Hello!