I get together every year with my mom, sisters-in-law (and their mothers), and my mother-in-law to bake. We call it Cookie Day.

But really, it is a day each year to connect with one another. Some of us bake, others do projects to help them get ready for Christmas (like addressing Christmas cards), and still others nurse their crying babies…ehem.

It is a time to connect, create and celebrate during an otherwise busy season.

What I remember and cherish about Cookie Day:

• Smelling cookies baking and candles burning (thankfully, not cookies burning!)
• Feeling fresh, cold air hit my face, as the patio door opens to let out bakers cooling their warm treats
• Tasting chicken salad sandwiches, white wine and a lot of nibbles of “that pieces is broken I might as well eat it now” cookies
• Listening to Christmas carols and a lot of conversation
• Seeing community and love being built by generations of women working side-by-side

Oh, yes, I did find the time to get the new-to-me work bench set-up (phase one – still more organizing and cuteness to come) in the garage. SO, Pete can finally park in the garage!

Love,

Jess

This post was linked up with The Preacher’s Wife for her “How We Christmas” blog post party.

We had a merry-filled evening with good cheer, french bread with olive oil and cracked pepper, and loved ones (Neat Pete’s brother Tim and our sis-in-law, Lisa).

Lisa makes Tim smile.

Ry got to stay up late, 9:30 p.m., to celebrate. He had no idea what the big deal was about New Years, he just wanted the ‘berry pop’, which was really Italian pomegranate soda. He also really like serving himself ice, with a tong, from the ice can.

BTW: My best wishes to Dick Clark’s family, but come on, it’s time to let the man retire!

The Holidays seem to linger at my house. For starters, the week following Christmas, I have three parties to attend. I still have ornaments to buy for next year. (Yes, I am that cheap, that I will buy keepsake Hallmark ornaments the year ahead or 5 years ahead; even though the imprinted year will be not exactly, how do you say… accurate.)  I have grown so accustom to eating other people’s baked goods, that I may just have to do some Christmas cookie baking of my own.  I have soups to simmer with left-over ham. And I will continue to watch films from my Holiday movie collection well into 2009.

Most others rush to pack away decor, dishes and photos in big plastic bins the day after December 25th. I will be here, most of January and maybe a few days of February, sipping cocoa, letting the lights twinkle, and still talking about true meaning of Christmas.

Below are some more images from Christmas…I just can’t let go. I love Christmas!

Our first year doing Santa. Ry told us about how toys get to our homes, "Jesus makes the gifts, you know, Santa just delivers them to us."

He filled our wool-sock stockings with care.

We found an ornament on Grammy Kris' tree of Neat Pete circa 1st or 2nd grade.

Nothing says, Christmas, like letting an 18 month old try to put her bow onto the family cat.

Lil’ Miss Molly sat on her tuffet eating her apples and whey.

Aunt Carly’s “cute” apple Uncle John (Neat Pete’s little brother) heroically jumped to give pick for her in the orchard lane.

Uncle Tim (Neat Pete’s middle brother) and Ry strut their stuff through the orchard.

Aunt Lisa showed Ry the antique tractor.

Uncle John took Ry on a pony ride.

Not enough room for your pickings? Fill your nephew’s hood with apples. Uncles I tell ya!

Applicious I

Applicious II

After church services we went to Prior Lake to celebrate with my folks Dennis and Lucy Kender and part of Pete’s family, Phil (dad) and John (brother) McWilliams. We ate Davanni’s pizza lunch followed by games at the beach topped off with make your own sundaes/cones.

We gave my Dad a keg of Virgil’s Root-beer so some of us had root-beer floats. It was sweet to have my Dad, Father-in-law and my baby Daddy all in the same place to celebrate their lives and thank them for all that they do to contribute in my life and the life of my kids.