Overlapping traditions

In sorting through several digital Decembers I was amused to find these two very similar photos, taken two years apart:

They both show Elise and Emma working to decorate the roofs on wooden gingerbread house forms made by their Grandpa Hatch. The first one was taken in 2007 (ages 6 and 9); the second, which includes Samuel, 2, in 2009 (ages 8 and 11).

The very best traditions are as comfortable as a favorite pair of shoes, or in Grandpa Jim's case, socks. Every Christmas morning he catches my eye and pulls up a pant leg to model that year's installment.

James, 3,  and Grandpa Jim, Christmas 2007

Traditions can be silly, meaningful, cooperative, fun. They connect us. So follow along in this chain of pictures from some of our family's Christmas traditions.

Andrew, 10, and Kyle 11, 2007. 

We all buy tons of candy, cereal and pretzels; packages of powdered sugar and cartons of eggs; and descend on Grandma's house for a day of decorating gingerbread houses with the cousins. Grandma whips up batches of royal icing while the kiddos get to work. This particular tradition brings adult personalities into sharp focus. One wants to just get it done, the quicker, the better, so he can sweep up the kitchen. Some like to help make sure every surface is decorated, happily assuming the task themselves when finished children saunter off. Many, like Jeff, hover  to eat the candy. (I've noticed, though, that no one bothers buying chocolate anymore.) I'm rather laissez faire myself, letting the kids decorate as randomly as they want. (It's less frosting for me to have to clean off the wood later!) No matter what, it's fun, and I'm grateful to my in-laws for establishing these memories.

Ready for the chain? Watch!

Christmas traditions mean ... 

... enjoying the process as much as the finished project ...

Jessie, 5. 2009

... snatching the goodness while you can ...

James, 5, and Elise, 8, sample sprinkles while Emma, 11, cuts more sugar cookies. 2009.

... making other kitchen yummies to share ... 

Jeff stirs a batch of fudge. What? You don't see any? Yeah, that's a tradition, too. It disappears fast.

... stirring, stirring, circling ... 

OK, this link is a stretch. But if I'd taken the photo a minute earlier you would have seen Elise spinning into the strand of pink lights the other children wrapped around her (2009).

... lighting up anew ... 

Above: Samuel, 2, and Jeff at Temple Square. Below: James, 5. (2009).

Kyle, 13, stops to admire the lights. (This was a long exposure.) 2009

... reflecting.

No, this photo isn't upside down. Almost as cool as the Temple Square lights was my children's response to seeing their reflection in the ceiling of the parking garage elevator. 2009.

Elise, 8. likes her reflection in a Christmas ornament. 2009.

I hope you'll find lots to smile about this holiday, too!