December Traditions
 
I don’t know if most of these are really traditions but the word sounds so much better than just “the things we did last month for Christmas.” Plus I love the idea of traditions.  There seems to be so much security and meaning in having them, especially for the holidays. And aren’t those the things you really remember from your childhood? So even though it’s a little late, here are a few of the things that have kept us busy for the past month.
 
1. Candy making with the girls.
 
Every December my mom, sisters, nieces and I get together to make candy.  I’d like to say that we then give most of it away, but that wouldn’t be true. We do it early in the month so that we’ll have all month to enjoy it. Yum!
 
Here’s my sister-in-law Summer, me and my sisters Jodee and Jamie. Oh, and Summer’s daughter Kami in a picture that very accurately portrays her personality. My mom bought the matching aprons in China.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                    Nieces McKayla and Kami dipping pretzels.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Visiting the Christmas Lights at Temple Square.
 
It was really, really cold this year when we went but the kids loved it and it was fun to be outside and see all of the beautiful lights.
 
                                    We finally got Barrett to wear his hat!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tim, Barrett and Charlotte with one of the nativities from around the world.  Charlotte was a really good sport, because let’s be honest, she probably couldn’t see a whole lot in that coat and hat.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Snow Shoveling. I know, I know - this really isn’t a tradition.  But it is something we seem to be doing a lot of year after year.  So I figured I’d make the most of it and call it a beloved tradition. We ended up with a lot of snow through December, which was great because we had a really white Christmas. And Barrett’s newfound love is heading out to shovel with mom or dad.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here’s Barrett after he swapped out his gloves for Tim’s gloves and his shovel for a paintbrush.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And here are a few more of my favorite pictures from the month.
 
Barrett would not take this Minnie Mouse Santa hat off for days. He wore it to the store and everywhere.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                I love this picture of Charlotte. She looks so grown up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thursday, January 1, 2009