Christmas Page

Free Web Site - Free Web Space and Site Hosting - Web Hosting - Internet Store and Ecommerce Solution Provider - High Speed Internet

PLEASE be patient while the graphics load. This is a special page so there are extra graphics.
Thank you for your patience!

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I hope this page helps get you in the spirit,
and joy of that holiday season. We have found some wonderful links we hope you will enjoy.
We will share some of our family traditions with you, and some family recipes.
Please sit back, grab a cup of tea and relax!
We decorate our tree on Thanksgiving night. We are able to do this because
we have a fake tree, due to allergies. The whole family helps,
first Tracey and I put the tree up and the lights and garland on.
Then we get out the boxes of ornaments, then Ryan and Kaitlyn join in adding their
favorite ornaments to the tree. The star that sits on the top of our tree was the star
my parents bought when they were married in 1955. The star has only missed 5 christmas'
since 1955, and will be at the top of my tree until it is no longer able to.
The Santa that sits under our tree was bought by my parents in 1956,
the year my brother was born. We also have a snowman family,
that will be my sons when he grows up. And a teddy bear wearing a
santa hat and riding a reindeer, that will be Kaitlyns when she leaves home.
On Christmas Eve we get together at a family members home to spend time together.
Then when we come home on Christmas eve I read my kids The Night Before Christmas,
from the same book my mom read it to my brother and I from.
This was a tradition for us when we were kids,
that I am happily passing on to my children. Aunt Lani,
bought Ryan How The Grinch Stole Christmas, so when I finish reading
Night Before Christmas, daddy reads the Grinch.
Then we put out the special plate of cookies for Santa,
sprinkle the magic reindeer dust outside, leave a few carrots
for the reindeer, and it's off to bed!
Christmas morning the Christmas carols are on the stereo
as we see what Santa left, and open gifts from each other.
Then we have Cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and play with the kids.
Ryan and I make a gingerbread house every year to decorate our table with.
I decorate the front yard with lights and Christmas things also.
We have a pretty little pine in the front yard that is decorated with lights, ornaments, garlands and bows.
Every year in October, before the snow comes,
Tracey goes up on the roof and hangs the icicle lights.
The moment you step in our home you are greeted with decorations.
Our stair case is decorated with garland, red bows,
and angel ornaments. At the top of the stairs
is the opening to our kitchen. All around the woodwork you will find our Christmas cards.
I hang the cards around the doors so they can be enjoyed by all.
A friend of mine made me a Christmas tree from baby food jars.
It is so pretty when it is all lit up!
This little tree sits on top of the entertainment center.
So as you can see this is my favorite holiday!
I generally have christmas music playing on the stereo, from Nov. thru New Years.

The Toys For Tots program helps towns all over the U.S.A..
PLEASE GIVE TO YOUR LOCAL TOY PROGRAM
OR TOYS FOR TOTS
&
HELP EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!

SAFETY TIPS
Ok now for the safety tips. These are brought to you by Tracey your local Volunteer Firefighter!
When decorating for the holidays, if you must go on your roof to do so,
have someone there with you in case you fall! You will probably be unable
to call 911 yourself if you fall off your roof!
Please if you have a real tree: water it everyday!
{We used ice cubes in our tree stand morning and night.
We found the ice melts slow and waters the tree well.}
If you must use real candles {as I know some people do}
PLEASE!! watch the tree carefully when they are lit,
and DO NOT go to sleep with them lit!
One New Years Eve we had a fire due to
someone falling asleep with candles lit on their tree.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
Please check all your light strings every year for breaks or cracks!
Check for the UL listing label on your lights.
Make sure they are for outdoor use when using outdoors!
Wash your hands after stringing your lights.
We found out that most lights have lead in the wiring,
and it seems few states require light makers to tell you this.
HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT COOKIES

1 Cup Salt
2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Water
Blend salt and flour:adding water a little at a time. Knead dough 7 to 10 minutes until firm.
Roll dough out about 1/4 inch thick; then use cookies cutters to cut cookies out.
Using a nail poke a hole in the top of the cookie for hanging.
Bake on cookie sheets at 325 for 30 minutes, until hard.
When cool varnish to protect from moisture.
Use glue and glitter or paints to decorate your cookies.
Let dry, spray with a protective coating. {I use a ceramic spray finish}
Hang on your tree for years to come.
I put the year my son made his on the back.
These make great grandparent gifts!

MAGIC REINDEER DUST

1 Cup Oatmeal
1/4 Cup Glitter
Mix oatmeal and glitter together. Sprinkle on front lawn. Glows to help Santa
find your house and makes a great treat for the reindeer to eat while Santa does his work.

GRANDMA B'S CINNAMON ROLLS

1 Cup Scalded Milk
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Packages Yeast
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
4 Cups Flour
Melted butter and cinnamon sugar
When milk is luke warm add sugar and yeast. Add remaining ingrediants:
adding the flour 1 cup at a time. let rise till double,
2 to 3 hours. Flour area to roll out dough.
Take sections at a time and roll out rectangle about 1/4 inch thick.
Spread with melted butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Roll from long side, and slice 1/2 inch thick slices.
Bake on cookie sheet at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes.
you can make icing with confectioners sugar.
We always use 1 tsp rum extract instead of vanilla.
But you can use any flavor you want!
THIS IS CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST IN OUR HOME

COOKIE EXCHANGE Every year I invite 5 friends over for a cookie exchange.
This gives us a chance to get together, before things get hectic.
I normally have this about 3 weeks before christmas.
Most cookies freeze well so you can have this earlier and freeze the cookies.
Just take them out the morning you plan to serve them.
To find out more about a cookie exchange, click on the cookie jar.

MY CHRISTMAS CRAFTS PAGE

CHOOSING & CARING FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE

WHAT CHRISTMAS COST IN THE 20th CENTURY

Background and some graphics borrowed from:

Midi borrowed from: