Categories
celebrations Christmas holidays winter

Merry Christmas

Wishing all of our friends and family a very, Merry Christmas! Enjoy this time of peace and celebration with loved ones.

Categories
Christmas holidays memories seasons

“Real” Frustrating

I can only think of maybe two years of my childhood where we had a real Christmas tree. Real trees are, without a doubt, the most beautiful, traditional and aromatic seasonal centerpiece to a home’s decor during the holidays. For some reason, those Christmases as a child seemed extra magical, perhaps because it was something […]

Categories
Christmas holidays illustration

A “Mean” Santa?

It’s surprising that not everyone’s childhood recollection of Santa Claus is that of a jovial plump elf. Apparently some remember the patron saint of Christmas to be an old curmudgeonly prig who teased the children with bags of stockpiled goodies. If a child reached for a bagful of the sweet temptations, Santa would sting the […]

Categories
Christmas holidays illustration

‘Tis better to give…

We’ve heard the saying a trillion times and we know what it means, but the emphasis today seems to be more about receiving – not giving. For the past several years we’ve really tried to stress the importance of giving at Christmas-time to our boys. There are so many that have far less than we […]

Categories
Christmas holidays memories

Plight of the Gingerbread Men

Christmas goodies! Everybody loves ’em, nobody really needs ’em but the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without them. Here’s to mothers everywhere who bake enough homemade favorites to feed a small township. Exaggeration? Hardly. I know moms who had to resort to stashing baked goods on the upper shelves of the garage until Christmas.

Categories
cartoons Christmas holidays illustration

Sharing the Joy

Advent is in full swing and many of us are going through the annual rituals to prepare for Christmas. I hope everyone has the opportunity to take the time this year to really focus on what Christmas is about and the joy it brings. Share that joy with others this year and you just might […]

Categories
Christmas holidays illustration weather

Preparation

Well, it’s December and it still doesn’t quite feel like the season yet (that could change today). My Midwestern upbringing has always assimilated snow with Christmas. I do remember a few “brown Christmases” but traditionally we’ve been pushing snow as early as Halloween. Admittedly the weather this year has been unusual all around and I’m […]

Categories
Christmas finances holidays

Time for a New Tradition

Well, today’s the big day. Will this year’s receipt totals prove that our economy is finally on the mend? Personally, I don’t partake in the consumerist hysteria surrounding Black Friday. Yes, I realize there are great deals out there. Yes, I know that shopping is synonomous with the holiday season. No, I’m not against capitalism. […]