It was a slow process and we didn't quite finish. This year I sat on the couch with foot up, ice bag on and acted as "director" while Dave put this Santa there and that snowlady over there. We turned on the electric fireplace, had carols playing on the radio and it was cold outside.....so it did seem like a nice time to get started.
As I sat there I unwrapped our ornaments and Dave hung them on our little tree. Most of our ornaments are traditional and we've been using them for years. It's fun to unwrap them, remember Christmases past and watch them go up on display for another year.
At the bottom of one box were the cookie ornaments. Each time I uncover them, I can't believe they're still usable. I made these ornaments when Todd was two years old and we lived in our first New Jersey apartment. We had basically zero Christmas budget but we had a toddler and we had fun creating new traditions with him. I found a recipe for these cookies in a magazine, probably Good Housekeeping.
Todd had a small apron wrapped around his little body and I had a slightly larger version and we started assembling and baking down in the little kitchen. When the cookies were finished and out of the oven, we let them cool. I did the "painting" with colorful icing while he took his afternoon nap. Each cookie was then covered in plastic wrap and we added a small ribbon and a hook to hang them on our tree. I know we made dozens.....but these are the four that survive.
Unwrapping them I admit that memories came flooding back, my eyes got "damp" and there was a lump in my throat. These little ornaments were made in 1971 so they are 44 years old! They are cracked, discolored and held together by the now yellowed plastic wrap.
Every family has it's own holiday traditions....small moments or activities that mean something special to them. I guess these four little cookies are one of mine. And they are back on the tree again, center stage, Christmas past joining us to celebrate Christmas present.
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