Cats, Kids, Cookies, and Calendars!
Are they here yet, Rolz? Are they here? No… I’m not talking about Santa and his reindeer – I’m talking about the kids!! Yup, tomorrow my youngest son, Joe, from Upstate New York and Dan’s youngest daughter, Jackie, from Boston, will be here to help us celebrate the holidays. And if that isn’t exciting enough, the following week Dan’s oldest daughter, Crystal (also from Boston) and her boyfriend, Dave will be coming by! We will also have Dan’s Mom coming by for a few days and then, of course, there is my Mom and my oldest son, Chris, who both live locally that will be in and out to share in the festivities!
It’s been a rough year for Dan and I and we realize that we are very lucky to have a full house to look forward to. We know we won’t be so lucky every year and we are just counting our blessings as they come. The cats don’t quite know what is going on yet, but they do know something is up and they sense the excitement as well. All the doors that are normally closed are being opened as I clean them for company and there is the enticing parade of decorations, bags, and boxes. It truly is a magical time for both humans and felines… Or at least until the noisy and overbearing kids arrive… and that dog Rick that seems to accompany Chris at all times… The cats are not instant fans of the company until they realize it’s not so bad and that they actually get lots of love, attention, treats, and extra petting and snuggling.
Gifts will be lean this year, but we already have what matters most – the blessing of enjoying and appreciating the small things that make the holidays so special to us, especially the traditions. Sure, some of them have changed over the years – some have gone away and some have been added – that is the beauty and wonderment of a family that has evolved over the years, but regardless, it is those traditions, new and old, that don’t have a monetary value that mean the most to all of us. In a nutshell – family in all its good, bad, imperfect and everything in-between way.
It officially begins with the advent calendar I made a dozen or so years ago. It is quite large and fits on the door – a quilted Christmas tree with sequined garland and buttons to hold an ornament for each of the 25 days leading to Christmas. The ornaments are made from felt and decorated with beads, sequins, and embroidery and are representative of much of Christmas – a poinsettia, a dove, a stocking, Santa, an elf, a wreath, and so on. They sit nestled inside a little secret pocket and one is opened every day and put on the tree until Christmas day – that day the ornament is always a star to signify the birth of Christ.
The Advent Calendar thus far this year and a peek at the infamous leopard tree as well! Click image to enlarge to see the decorations up close!
It’s only Dan and I in the house right now, but Chris and I love this tradition so much that I text him first thing every morning and we each guess what ornament we think it will be for the day because they are put back into no particular order from Christmas past and we have no idea what each pocket holds (except for the star). Right now I am beating him 4 to 3 (not that anyone is counting) and I am grateful he is willing to forever remain a kid at heart for me.
The next tradition is Vanessa Williams. We happened upon her Star Bright CD many years ago and fell in love with her beautiful voice as she sang some of our favorite Christmas songs with such grace. I play it every year to signify the start of the holiday season and we listen to it as we open Christmas gifts. The first song on the CD is “Do You Hear What I Hear” and to this day I can’t listen to it without crying. It’s not because the song is sad, it’s just that it overwhelms me with the love and joy I feel for my family. I found the video of the song on YouTube courtesy of urkindofmusic15 if you would like to listen to it.
Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the cookies and that is another tradition I adore. Years ago my Mom and I used to make dozens and dozens of cookies and pack them up to mail to family and friends like a crazy Lucy and Ethel assembly line. I would also make a homemade ornament every year to add to the mix and my mom would make hand drawn Christmas cards that were just gorgeous. We don’t have time for the homemade ornaments or cards any more, nor do we have the time to make and mail cookies, but we do have the time to make a few special batches for the family! The cookies have changed throughout the years and right now our tried and true favorites are M&M sugar cookies and macadamia nut with white chocolate and walnut cookies.
Guess what I’ll be doing in a couple of days!!
The last tradition that is a die-hard family favorite is playing board games. No matter all the great gifts we get for Christmas, by far the best part of the holidays is sitting around the table and unleashing our competitive sides! It can get a bit vicious, but it is all done in fun and as long as I win, then it’s not a big deal. Oops… did I say that out loud? I’m just kidding! I’m usually so tired by the time the games come out that I can barely see straight and my mind is not always the sharpest tack at that point! Sometimes the cats will play too – Zoey has been known to steal a token or two and Zee likes to recline himself across whatever we are playing which virtually ruins any game with his big, bushy tails swishing everything all over the place! No matter how many different games we play, Scattergories always ends up being our favorite!
The kitty calm before the storm…
So how about you all? I would love to know what your favorite holiday cookie is. Or do you have a favorite board game or a favorite holiday tradition? Please feel free to share – the more holiday spirit the merrier!!
My human family love playing board games too! Their all time favorite is Trivial Pursuit and the game will go on for hours as some argue over whether the answer is correct, etc. We kitties enjoy snooping through opened presents, scarfing down our small share of Nog (*licks lips at thought*), and then settling down for a Catmas nap under the tree. We wish mew and mewz family a CATabulous holiday and hope mew enjoy the special visit with mewz human kits and pawrents. Remember mewz feline kids need some ‘cookies’ to enjoy too- I recommend Pumpkin Niperdoodles, they are pawesome! *drooling*
Ms. Phoebe… oh dear, Trivial Pursuit!! I think our family would be too brutal for that game although I do love it! Thank you for the holday wishes and we wish you the same as well!
It sounds like a wonderful holiday in the making! It’s so wonderful to hear about your family traditions. Our family mostly works in various aspects of the hospitality industry, so our holidays are untraditional and fragmented. We will likely squeeze in Christmas celebrations very late in the evening, while most of the day is quiet and filled with cats. Not that there’s anything wrong with cats… or quiet! That’s a wonderful advent calendar, and so wonderful you can share it even when the kids have moved away.
Sometimes, Cats Hed You – I understand what it is like for you. Years ago when I was married to my ex husband, he used to work nights, weekends, and holidays, so Christmas was always untraditional for us too. Typically we could not gather all the family into one place until July and that is when we would offically celebrate!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with sharing a quiet evening with the cats and we came close to that this year. We honestly didn’t think the family was going to be able to visit, so that is why this year is even more special.
Wonderful holiday traditions. We really don’t have any traditions. Christmas became too stressful a few years ago for ma because of dad’s mom demanding that ma and dad did so many things for them like bringing down a huge 12 ft tree and decorating it, cooking large meals for families who lived away but came in for Christmas and it wasn’t to see everyone , it was only to see what they could get for Christmas. The magic of Christmas had disappeared so ma decided she would disappear from that side of the family by refusing to go to grandma’s or see the greedy family that came in. It only caused fights between her and dad so Christmas was marred for us.
This year its different though. We are spending one day with his mom , one day with her mom and the rest of the time it will be just us. I think we will like it so much better. At least ma is more calmer than in previous years.
I look forward to seeing all the family photos and hearing all the wonderful stories.
Love ,
Carma Poodale
Carma – I understand all too well how stressful the holidays can be. There have been several rough patches in my life that have made celebrating very difficult, but thankfully that aspect of my life has changed. I am very blessed for the family I have – we have had a long road of ups and downs, but we have come to a comforting place in our hearts and I realize how truly blessed and lucky I am for that.
I am glad to hear you will be having a nice holiday that will be calmer and much more manageable! xoxo
What wonderful traditions, Deb. We don’t make a very big deal out of holidays, but the best part for me is spending Christmas Eve with Gloman & the kitties. I usually make a special dinner just for us, we exchange very small and often handmade gifts and just talk and laugh. It’s always a special time for us.
xo
That sounds wonderful, Glogirly! Dan and I don’t exchange gifts with each other, but we do get such joy out of watching the kids (who are primiraly adults) open the little things we got them and it really is special…
It was wonderful to hear about your Christmas traditions. That tree of yours is beautiful, as is the Advent Calendar. I don’t celebrate anymore, but I enjoy looking at all the fuss everyone else makes for Christmas!
Beverly – thank you for the compliments and I think it is nice that you enjoy looking at everyone else’s fuss!!
rolz N crew…with all thoze peepulz in de houz ewe willna get a moe mints peace, let a lone if de
dawg comes bak…pack up de cookiez N set sail for TT…if ewe leeve now N hit de 6:17 high tide ewe
will bee heer in time for ground hogs day we think…..better pak sum extree cookiez…just in case
🙂
Da tabbies… do you have room at the TT Inn for 7 kitties!!??
Such a Wonderful Advent Tree,
I bet everyone has a blast decorating! Wish I was on your cookie mailing list! LOL
Connie – in so many ways, life was simpler back then when we made cookies. There just are not enough hours in the day any more!
It sounds like you will have a very nice holiday! I used to make lots of different cookies around the holidays, but not so much anymore. I always ended up eating too many myself! Now, it’s tradition for me to make dessert for the Christmas Eve dinner at my in-laws. And I always make a yummy cheesecake. Everyone loves it!
Island Cats’ mom Sue
Oh my gosh Sue, you bring back a great memory… I used to make homemade cheesecake too… the kind in a springboard pan that would take over an hour to bake… it was so creamy and absolutely decadent! I have not made one in over 15 years! I can only imagine how yummy yours is!
What a great post and wonderful traditions you have. I think I want to spend Christmas at your house.
MOL mariodacat… you are more than welcome to drop by!
What a wonderful display of traditions and love in your home. Such peace…
WOOF!
Piranha Banana… hmmm… yes, the pictures do invoke peace, but you should see the house after a couple of hours after everyone arrives… chaos!!
We stopped by to wish you a Happy Holiday. Our favorite holiday cookie is pumpkin cookies.
Thank you for stopping by Scylla, Socks, Tuiren, and Fenris – Happy Holidays to you too!
Oh Dog! Sounds like the holidays are kept well in your home! Merry Christmas!
Yes, the holidays have weathered the test of time in our house Rumpy! Merry Christmas to you too!
Sounds like a wonderful time at your house. I love spritz cookies the most. Your advent calendar is beautiful as is your tree.
Mmmm!! Yum, I love spritz cookies too, Sue!!
Your cats are beautiful! Merry Christmas
Our traditions kind of changed after my dad died. We had Christmas at home a time or two more but finally had to move it all to my sister’s house. We still all try to get together that day though in some way. We used to play board games too but some of us decided they didn’t like to anymore so that kind of fell away too. I think we should do that again this year. I’m going to bring them!
My holiday specialty is a very special pumpkin pie – actually two. One has nuts and streusel on top but for my nephew I make one without any nuts on it. This is a favorite in our family. I didn’t make it to Thanksgiving this year because I was saying good-by to Lady Butterfly but I plan to be there on Christmas – I have to share my birthday with family!!!
Andrea – the traditions in our house changed after my Aunt Lynn died many years ago. She was the matriarch of the family and really held us together. As time moved on, I realized that I have taken over her role and that traditions really are important. Some years are harder than others and we don’t always celebrate in the same way and that is why this year is so special for Dan and I. We realize we won’t always have the family together like this and we are making the most of it.
I am glad to hear that you will be bringing back some of your old traditions like board games and it is nice to know you will also be making the pumpkin pie. This is my first Christmas without Jazz and I am trying to keep him in my heart as we celebrate. I got him a special stocking this year and have hung it with the others.
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts…
Catching up. I think you have my address for the cookies. Did I say that out loud? Heh heh.
You kitties blend right into that blanket!