Traditions

I have some of the best memories of my childhood because
of family traditions that were created long ago.

I never realized the real comfort and feeling of belonging
that keeping traditions held for me until this past Fall when I
let a few of our traditions fall through the cracks.

Fall didn't hold the same feeling or meaning without
having gone to the apple orchard to pick apples and
raspberries while dressed in rich Autumn colors in entirely too hot weather,
or having gone to the pumpkin patch with my entire family.

It's not even about the actual pumpkin patch, it's the act of going,
reminiscing about who did what crazy thing last year...
Remembering how tiny the youngest was the previous time.

I'm intent on giving my kids the gift of carrying on those traditions and

even more intent on creating some of our very own that they will

hopefully be proud enough to continue with their own children some day.

Around this time of the year, we have a few good ones that I adore.

Old traditions

Baking at my Grandma's for the holidays

She loves baking. I love that I passed that on to her.

New traditions...

Baking and decorating sugar cookies with my
own babies at home for the holidays...

The little sugar bandit...

She ate so many spoonfuls, we lost count!

Here is what we created...it was too late to bake and decorate the cookies that same

night because we got a late start so we did it the following day...

These are the best sugar cookies to make. They are soft and moist.

I hate a hard, crunchy sugar cookie...

Of course Martha has the perfect recipe...

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar; mix until light and fluffy. With mixer running, add egg, milk, and vanilla; mix until well combined. With the mixer on low, slowly add reserved flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
2. Transfer dough to a work surface. Shape into 2 discs, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; set aside.
4. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes, and transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving an inch in between. Leftover dough can be rolled and cut once more. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

I've tried 20 cookies recipes and this is, by far, my favorite.

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Another tradition that I've quickly fallen in love with is our annual

family 17th breakfast. We eat deep fried pancakes and make

breakfast burritos that are entirely too stuffed to be wrapped properly.

The cousins all play together in the backyard, in their pajamas and

we get to just spend time together, laughing and teasing each other

 like my family does best. This was our 2nd annual breakfast and we

sorely missed my two littlest sisters and my brother-in-law this year.

That's hard for me to swallow. I like having my loved ones close.

Mark was a little over-eager when filling his burrito...

Her beloved grandpa...

Grandma/granddaughter toes

Our annual family photo

What traditions are important to you?