I know it's almost the end of January but, as it's still in the teens outside and I'm wearing multiple layers and snuggling with my loved ones to keep warm, I think we can forgive a post that references Christmas and the holiday season without being
too random! (Hey, at least I finally took my Christmas tree down...the weekend of
Epiphany, as it should be!)
One of my favorite holiday traditions that I hope continues well into my life is the tradition that my sisters-in-law, Cristal and Rainy, and I have of getting together one Saturday in December and just binge-baking cookies and treats. We started it on a whim back in 2008, right after my husband and I moved back to Texas and got married. My stepmom gave us all funny, dollar-store Christmas aprons to wear, and we spent the day snacking, baking, and connecting with each other:
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| 2008 |
We decided to do it again the next year, and the next year, and the next year...
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| 2009 (we still don't know why there's no photo! sad) |
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| 2010 (horrible quality photo, but documented the day!) |
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| 2011 |
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| 2012 |
Each year, we dig out the aprons and the messy recipe cards/printouts and gather at my sister-in-law Rainy's house (it's always been at her house...God bless her for hosting every year!) and dig in for a long, productive day.
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| Rainy makes a darn fine pot of coffee. |
We take turns and help each other mix, roll, sprinkle, fill, chop, etc., and someone is always watching or stirring our lunch (usually a warm, comforting pot of soup) on the stove or making an extra pot of coffee.
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| Prepping the soup! Zuppa Toscana this year! SO GOOD. |
2013 was no exception! We limited ourselves a little bit this past Christmas...we each only baked our "staples" and maybe only threw in one or two new additions (we've gone a bit overboard in the past...). With busy schedules, the addition of little ones to the mix, and colds/stuffy noses, we wanted to make sure we still enjoyed ourselves!
The results were, as always, delicious and plentiful:
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| Sugar cookies |
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| Andes Mint chocolate cookies |
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| Finished apricot cookies |
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| Peanut butter cup cookies |
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| FLOWER? Really, self?! |
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| Cranberry almond biscotti |
I love seeing how much we've changed (you can really see it when you look at my niece, Caitlyn, from year to year!) over the years....
I love this tradition because a) it's tradition! I love traditions! and b) I love these
women, and I'm glad they're my sisters. I have always been known for pretty much thinking that my
two brothers hung the moon. They are fantastic, hilarious,
pain-in-the-ass, smart men, and God gave each of them a woman perfectly suited
to them...who will love them more than I do (which is a lot!) and put
up with them and challenge them and make them into even better men.
I'm so glad this tradition started six years ago, and I can't wait to continue to add recipes and memories for years to come.
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