It’s Ho Ho Holiday Swap Day!

I realize you have no idea what that it is, so I’ll tell you.

One of the best – possibly the best – things about blogging is building relationships with other bloggers. I’ve been blessed with the friendships of a kind, talented, funny, smart group of bloggers. Some of these lovely women decided to swap holiday themed posts this year, and I’m honored to be included.

Julie, from 3 Moms in One (a balancing act), is guest posting here today. Looking for me? You can find me over at one of my favorites, Taming Insanity.

All the posts in this swap are linked up below, so you can visit everyone.

Merry Christmas!

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Another tender Tennessee Christmas,
The only Christmas for me.
Where the love circles around us,
Like the gifts around our tree.
–Amy Grant, 1983

Yum! M&M's!

Growing up, Christmas meant many things to me. It meant a brisk winter holiday with my family together in our cozy Tennessee home. It meant dressing up for Christmas Eve mass and joining a jam-packed church to celebrate the reason for the season. It meant sparkles, smiles, surprises, and love.

One of my all-time favorite holiday traditions was helping my mother make Christmas cookies. I remember the excitement surrounding the enormous ball of gingerbread dough in our fridge. The fun of selecting which cookie cutters I would use each year. My sister and I standing on chairs so we could better reach the kitchen counter. Flour flying in the air as we helped dust our work surface. The sweet and spicy aroma of the dough as it puffed up in the oven.

Ready to Bake!

Fifteen minutes seemed to drag as we waited for the freshly-baked cookies to cool so we could decorate. I remember my mother’s specialty – adorable gingerbread bears with their round little snouts, currant eyes, and a festive pink bowties. I opted for the more frosting-heavy designs – red and white Christmas stockings, yellow stars liberally dusted with sparkling red and green sugar, and frosted white snowmen with chocolate buttons.

This year, as we prepared to celebrate Amelia’s third Christmas, I knew it was time. Time to share this holiday tradition. We are no longer in Tennessee and the cookie dough is pre-made, but we shared in the mess, creativity, and enjoyment of some quality holiday time together.

I quickly discovered Amelia’s baking style. We call it the “everything cookie.” She loaded her cookies with M&Ms, crushed candy cane pieces, and three types of sprinkles. She worked diligently to fill every space on the cookie. Then promptly took a bite, giggling at her clever way to mark all her cookies as her very own.

The Artist at Work

Happy holidays! I wish everyone a season of very sweet memories.

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See the rest of the Ho Ho Holiday posts!

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PS – If you’re hanging around on Twitter today, December 22, at 9 a.m. CST, please join @AboutOne for their weekly #AOChat. I’m the special guest blogger today and we’re talking wintertime health and fitness. Follow these handles: @MS_WonderFriend, @AboutOne, @LifeWithoutPink and the hashtag, #AOChat. See you there!