Traditions

For the Hibbert Family Christmas party I made these rosettes using my Grandma M's rosette iron. I had never made them before but when we were unpacking boxes I found it and thought I needed to try it out. It's funny when my mom sent it to me a couple of years ago I remember thinking I'll never use this, it's old and dirty (I'm kind of a germophobe) but I couldn't get rid of it because it was my Grandma's. My mom also sent me my Gma's pasta maker and cookie press. Everytime I use it I remember Grandma M. I think it's funny that she didn't send my one of her tea cups or doillies to remember her by but rather her cooking gadgets because that's the best way for me to remember her. She loved to cook for her family and made everything from scratch and I enjoy doing the same. I've been so sentimental lately and thinking of my family. I thought this maybe could be a tradition in our family. So I found a recipe and went to work. It took a long time beings as I made 75 but during the whole time I was thinking of my Gma M and how she must of did the same thing and how her mom probably made them as well and how I want the tradition to keep going. It's funny how sometimes we make things just because our mom did it and her mom probably did it and so on and even though they are not the tastiest ( it's got to have chocolate on it somewhere). My mom always makes spritz cookies every Christmas. They are not my favorite but I got to make them because it's the memory that's behind them. I enjoy every bite and it brings back my childhood. I also have Gma M's cookie press to make them with. I told the boys about my Grandma and how much I miss her and memories I had with her. Of course I start crying and Conner asks if I am sad. I had Christmas music blaring and the boys helped dip them in the powdered sugar and ate all the ones that broke.
Today in YW's I went with the Laurels and the teacher just asked the girls to share some of their Christmas traditions. All the traditions centered around family and getting together. I started crying in class again because I do get sad that I am so far away from my family at this time because I know we'd be getting together and having such a good time. I wish I could get together with my cousins and aunts and uncles. I hate that my kids don't get to have those fond memories with my side of the family as so many people do. One of the girls started to complain about all the things they did with extended family and how stupid it is sometimes and that's when I lost it. I wanted to tell her how lucky she is to have a family that wants to get together to share the holiday with and to not take it for granted but enjoy every minute of it because someday you may be all alone. The teacher told us that this year she was determined to enjoy Christmas no matter how busy or hectic it was. Both sides of her families live here and almost everyday they had something going on but she has loved being able to be together with everyone. Some of the girls families had great traditions so I've been thinking all day what can I do in my family to make it memorable and special. We don't have many traditions yet and I want to start while they are little so they have something to look forward to year after year.