As a Coast Guard family, we have not been able to spend very many holidays with our extended families, and so we have had a great time creating our own special and unique family traditions -- merging some of what John and I experienced growing up and creating some new. My favorite thing is all the baking -- I bake a lot of Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish cookies and breads -- as well as 'regular' Christmas fare. click here to see some of my favorite recipes! We also do a lot of decorating -- the tree is covered with the special ornaments we have collected through the years, and ones that the boys have made. The rest of the house is full of decorations -- most with a country look to them. I do lots of lights -- my new favorites are the curtain lights -- the kind that look like icsicles -- I put them in all the windows. We listen to a lot of Christmas music -- a favorite of the boys' is "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" although my tastes run a bit more traditional than that! I think I can honestly say though, the best part of this season, is spending it together -- with only the four of us, or with friends, or with our families. Togetherness is the best part of all! GO BACK HOME
