Nic and I feel that traditions and customs are important. Nic is better at "enforcing" them than I am. I cave to the stresses of life, and would sometimes "vote" to forego a tradition in favor of doing one less thing. Thank goodness for Nic, though, since I know these traditions will become a part of who Hope becomes as she grows up. (So, I know I don't say it enough, Thank You Nic!) One of the traditions for us is cutting down a Christmas tree. Nic has cut down a tree with his family for as long as he can remember. (We even cut a juniper tree down last year to preserve this tradition - even though our movers were coming Dec 27 to pack us all up for the move from UT to AK. The juniper tree, cut from the desert of Utah, smelled an awful lot like cat pee. Our house was on the market to sell, and we had to put the juniper on the back deck - but we did put lights on it. But, the point is, it was a tree that Nic and Hope went to the great outdooors for, searched for, cut down, and brought back to our home. I "voted" to forego last year - and I think that will be the last time I make that choice...)
This was the first year for our Alaska tree - Hope is standing in front of the one we chose. We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to a spot about an hour south of Anchorage. It was unseasonably warm - in fact it was raining. It was warmer than any other time that I can remember getting a tree. Turns out we cut down a hemlock. It's quite nice! But, doesn't smell very "piney."
Last weekend, we had a moose sleeping outside of our dining room window. She was a joy to watch. She stayed for at least an hour. How amazing!
This was the first year for our Alaska tree - Hope is standing in front of the one we chose. We went the Saturday after Thanksgiving to a spot about an hour south of Anchorage. It was unseasonably warm - in fact it was raining. It was warmer than any other time that I can remember getting a tree. Turns out we cut down a hemlock. It's quite nice! But, doesn't smell very "piney."Last weekend, we had a moose sleeping outside of our dining room window. She was a joy to watch. She stayed for at least an hour. How amazing!
The three of us (4 if you count the new cat!) will be home together this year. We will still have our traditions. Nic and Hope will make Christmas cookies and make cinnamon rolls (just like his grandmother did) to bake on Christmas morning. I have some traditions too - cut and bake chocolate chip cookies when we decorate the tree - and we talk about EACH ornament as we hang it up. We talk about where it came from and share a lot of memories as we put up each one. It takes us a while to decorate this way, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Here's to your Christmas traditions...with love from our home to yours...here here!
