Tiany over at Less Of Me, More Of Him is hosting a Holiday Open House Dec. 3rd-10th.  What a great way for everybody to share their own family traditions, and get a peek into others' homes.

This may sound awful to some, but most of the time, Christmas is not a holiday I really look forward to.  I sometimes wish Christmas came once every five years.  Probably the main reason I get irritated is because of all the commercialism there is surrounding the holiday.  AND all the OBLIGATORY gift buying.  I wish people would realize that going into a buying "frenzy" to please everyone totally misses what Christmas is really about.  I am working on keeping Jesus the REASON for the season at our home.  I want my children to get excited about giving, instead of focusing on all that they are getting.  I love homemade gifts and really try to make the majority of the presents something I have made.  Giving from the heart means so much more than a $100.00 sweater. The little ones and I are going to be working the next 2 weeks on gifts for Daddy, Granny, and Grandpa.  I really just want my children to know that Jesus is the BEST gift we can ever receive.

TRADITIONS: We don't really have too many family traditions at christmas.   We always go to the candlelight service at church on Christmas eve. We have several celebrations with different sides of our family.  First, we have Christmas with my side of the family...my mom, my 4 older children, my brother and his wife, and my youngest brother.  Usually they all come to my house for dinner and opening gifts.  This is usually around the 23rd of December.  I really love this time, because all of my children are with me and we love being all together.  Then we have Christmas with my husband's side of the family.  His parents, his brother and his wife and Dh and I along with our children, get together at his parents house for dinner and opening presents.  I just love Dh's family.  We are all very close, and we really enjoy this time together.  Lastly, we go to my Dh Aunt's house on Christmas night for a HUGE family dinner that includes his whole family...and extended family.  Dh's Aunt Martha is probably the BEST cook I know of.  We have a gathering on that evening of about 20 people. 

HOMESCHOOL HOLIDAY: The month of December we do "light" schooling, with just the basics being covered(phonics, reading, math).  We do lots of baking together.  My boys especially like to help me make pumpking bread.  We always enjoy making the cutout cookies and decorating them with icing and sprinkles.  We also bring out all of our christmas books.  Just this week, we started reading the book "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Once the book is finished, then we will watch the movie.  I read aloud while they play quietly in the floor.  We also really enjoy all the christmas movies on TV this time of year.  Some of our favorites are- "A Christmas Story,"  "It's A Wonderful Life," "Veggie Tales: The Toy Who Saved Christmas," and "The Littlest Angel."

HANDMADE GIFTS: Most of the gifts I am giving this year are handmade.  So far I have made 2 quilts, 2 collages, and will be putting together several gift baskets for people who serve us in the community. (like my doctor, his nurse, mailman, and some close friends) For my gift baskets, I make a loaf of sweet sourdough bread, a loaf of pumpkin bread, some homemade Cafe Mocha coffee(presented in a pretty jar with some cute fabric tied under the lid), and some homemade cookies. 

THE "BEST-EST" COOKIES EVER: My mom has made the same cookies every year ever since I can remember.  My favorite ones are called "100 Good Cookies." I thought I would share this YUMMY recipe...

100 Good Cookies

Cream: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, and 2 sticks butter(softened)

Add & Beat: 1 cup oil, 1 egg, and 1 tsp. vanilla

Add Dry Ingredients: 3/4 tsp. salt, 1tsp. cream of tartar, 1 tsp. baking soda, and 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Last Stir in: 1 cup Rice Krispies, 1 cup coconut, and 1 cup oatmeal

Drop onto cookie sheet sprayed with pam.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

ENJOY!  And Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS from the Garland House!