Sunday, December 16, 2007

Spirit of the Season

In the spirit of the season, I am going to write about what we did today.
The Christmas cookie baking marathon.
I will have to post the pics later, though, as I am worn completely out and don't want to face the task of fighting with my camera to upload the pictures (my camera and my computer tend to gang up on me whenever I try to upload a specific picture and the whole process can drag on for a long time).

The soundtrack from Polar Express playing, we gathered around the table for cookie shaping, decorating, tasting, and finally baking--a mere formality of course. It was the perfect day to be indoors surrounded by the aroma of fresh baked treats. Snow flurries blowing, wind whistling.
Children chattering, growing more excited by the moment, also getting stickier as each minute passes. Sounds of the season floating along the air, landing on our ears and inviting Christmas into our hearts.
Cheery, rosy faces, dancing eyes, the decision of which frosting to dig into next. Which shape to form, which sprinkles are worthy of the creation.

Sneaky fingers lick the tasty sugary concoction ever so quickly. Maybe Mom won't notice, but she does and she smiles, as she too grabs a finger-full.
Children talking excitedly of wishes and desires, hopes for what might lie beneath the tree on the most magical morning of the year. Will it snow?
Times like these are to treasure, to relish, to savor.
Every year, the kids and I make cookies, as many families do. It is a fun, loud, messy occasion, but one I wouldn't trade for a million dollars. Time to bond with my kids, time to be a bit childish myself, time to just be together. Time to teach my kids what the season is really all about, because I know that above all, gifts will come and go, but when they are grown they will remember these times of being a family, of being with one another and having fun, and that is what the season will mean for them, as it does for me.
A Happy Holiday Season to all of you, thank you for your constant patronage of my blog. It means a lot to me to see the comments you leave, the time you take to read about my life. May you all be blessed this season.

13 comments:

heartinsanfrancisco said...

You are a very wise young mother. It is indeed true that the memories that will last forever are the ones in which you and your children did things together, not the presents they received on Christmas morning.

Those wonderful memories will sustain you when they are grown, and them, too, as they learn to be adults from your example.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

InTheFastLane said...

That sounds similar to our house today. The Polar Express songs have been running though my head for weeks now.

S said...

Oh. This one made me all teary! So sweet. Happy Holidays to you and yours, friend. Glad to know you.

Amy Y said...

Who needs pictures with descriptive writing like that??
Happy holidays to you and your family also :)

painted maypole said...

oooh... i want to make cookies with you, too!

Family Adventure said...

What a beautiful post about what really matters at Christmas time. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have lovely holidays with the kids!

Heidi :)

Anonymous said...

A lovely way to spend the day.

Emily R

Kellan said...

This sounds like the most perfect day! We love us some Christmas cookies too! Take care. Kellan

Magpie said...

Happy Christmas to you too.

blooming desertpea said...

Baking cookies is the best activity of the year ...

Merry Christmas to you and your lovely kids!

niobe said...

What a wonderful holiday wish. And what a perfect holiday scene.

I only wish I lived close enough that I could give you some of the gingerbread I baked over the weekend.

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful and blessed holiday as well...

thirtysomething said...

niobe--sounds yummy!