"Sweet" Family Traditions

Family traditions tell a lot about us. They are the tell-all signs that show what kind of a family you come from. It can bring great memories of those that started the traditions and it gives us something to look forward to around the holidays. As a child growing up, holidays were all about cooking and getting together as a family.

When my mother was alive, we always had a family get together on Christmas Eve. As children, we were always given one present on Christmas Eve morning. It was always an article of clothing to wear to dinner later that evening. Knowing that it was clothing never put a hindrance on the event, we loved the fact that we got to open something early and our mother loved dressing up and going out to dinner on Christmas Eve. I remember that getting into some restaurants, even with reservations, was tricky. They were either busy or they closed early. But, she loved the hustle and bustle of it all and the crowds made it even better for her. That was truly one enjoyment that she had each year. Afterwards, we would go back home and have a little party. There were always plenty of appetizers and sweets to eat. One of the staples that we always had was punch with ice cream sherbet in it. The adults usually had alcoholic beverages. Come to think of it…that was the only time that I ever saw my father drink alcohol.

On Christmas Day, we never had to decide who was hosting the dinner, we knew! My mother cooked for everyone that would come, so we always had a crowd. But after her death, my brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles all started their own family traditions. It is funny how one person seems to hold the family together and once they are gone, everyone just goes their own way. One of my biggest hopes is that my children, my grandchildren and their children will cherish family traditions. I want each of them to be part of that "glue" which holds our family together.

As for me, I also love cooking and I like to think that for my immediate family, I am the one that pulls everyone together for the holidays. Luckily for me, my daughter-in-laws also love the holidays and I know that they will keep the traditions going, even after I am gone. Cooking was always exciting for me. From an early age, I would pull up a chair and watch my mother cook. Mama never told me to get down and never seemed to mind that I slowed her up or made a mess. Also, to my amazement, she never used a recipe, she would just pour things into a bowl or pot and everything turned out great. Even my grandmother on my fathers side, who we called “Mother” was a great cook. When we would visit her in Mississippi, she was always up early cooking biscuits and gravy. I would always watch her roll out the dough and cut the biscuits and today I am glad that I took it all in or I would not have any recipes to go by.

I consider myself a good cook and have always encouraged my boys to help cook and do the dishes. They always seemed to like it and when they were little, they loved to help wash the dishes as well. Even though sometimes it was irritating to have to clean up the mess after we finished, I don’t think that they ever thought that I found it to be a chore. One tradition that I had with them was to bake and decorate sugar cookies at Christmastime. I would make the cookie dough from scratch one night and put it in the refrigerator. The next night the cookie cutters, colored icing, candies and sprinkles of every color would come out. We would cut out the cookies, bake them and decorate them as they cooled down. It was messy, fun and we certainly ate our share of warm cookies!

This year, I started that tradition with Rylee, my 2-year-old granddaughter. I picked her and her sister, Haylee, up from daycare and told them that we were going to Mimi’s to bake cookies. Rylee was so excited! Actually, my plan was to do this with both of the girls and then bake enough cookies to decorate with Mason at his house on Christmas Eve. Well, I soon found out that a 1 year old only wants to eat them. Everything goes into their mouths!

So, I put Haylee into the highchair and let her eat while her big sister and I did the decorating. I then decided that I would wait another year for Mason to try. Besides, he doesn’t even eat sweets anyway.

Being in the kitchen with Mimi is not strange for Rylee. From the time that she started walking, she has always helped me out. She pushes a stool up to the counter and climbs up. So, she loved the task of making cookies! The funny thing was that she had to have every part of the cookie covered with icing before you took it away or she would say “No, it’s missing” and grab it back so she could finish covering it.

Here are a few of our finished cookies………

And a video of our fun........................

Next year I will attempt it with all 3 of them. Now that is something to look forward to!

Dear Santa

Rylee, Amy and I went to the Children's Repertory Theatre to watch the production of Dear Santa. Since she did so well when we went to see Charlotte's Web, I decided to go again at Christmastime. Once again, she was a little lady and loved the play. I think that it is so important, at early ages, for children to be taught how to act appropriately in different settings.

It is obvious, that Rylee has caught on! This will carry on in her education and hopefully it will ignite her creative side as well!

After the play was over, all of the characters lined up outside for a "meet and greet" and they would sign your playbill as well. This time Rylee was all about getting her book signed. She went from one person to the next and even though she did not talk a lot....... she would hold the book and pen out and have them sign it. It was really cute.

She has always been a little afraid of Santa and had not been very good about sitting on his lap. However, Amy and I had to laugh, because when it came time to have him sign, before either of us could grab her, she walked right to the front of the line and even posed for a picture. No one seemed to mind as she was the youngest child in the line.

As you can see, we all had a great time.........

After the play, we went to our favorite ice cream place and ate an ice cream cone. I love being able to make these memories and absolutely love getting her started with the "arts". That is something that I never did with my own children, but as a grandmother, I plan to get them all involved with music, art, dance, museums, plays, etc. I think that you should see and appreciate the finer things in life, just maybe they will continue this with their children and grandchildren. And besides....... what else are Mimi's for????

Annual Robertson Christmas Party

This year David and Lynda hosted our family get together at their house. We drew names and for the first time ever, even the kids drew names. This was a big change for them. But, we have so many little ones to buy for, we figured that the new generation would not know any difference. It all worked out well as Lynda placed a rocking chair in the middle of the room for you to sit in while opening your present. What was unique was that she had both the gift giver and the person receiving the gift come up. This way the children could see what cousin was getting the present that they brought. Most of these children only see each other once a year. So, it was a way of getting to know one another.

One thing is for certain........ the Robertson Family had a population explosion. There were a lot of little kids! There sure was a lot of joy in the room as the kids enjoyed the festivities.

Here are some of the children. As you can see, most are under the age of three and all of them wanted their time in front of the camera!

Mason (Mike and Joanne's son)

Haylee (Mitch and Amy's youngest)

Rylee (Mitch and Amy's oldest)

Justin (My brother, Glen's son)

Donovan (Gina & Nelson's oldest son)

Lana Grace (Gina & Nelson's daughter)

Caden (Lynn Ann & Lonny's youngest son)

Leah (Lynda's niece) holding baby Daynen (Gina & Nelson's youngest son) and Kaytlynn (Lynn Ann and Lonny daughter. Also, Frank Jr. (Connie & Frank's son)

Haylee loved the rocking horse that Uncle David made for his first granddaughter over 20 years ago.

And she loved her Pop Pop's lap as well.

That made Pop Pop happy! Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Things that I am grateful for.......

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings back so many memories for me as a child. As I have said before, we were not the richest family and there were many nights that we just ate beans or potatoes for dinner. But, no matter what, on Thanksgiving Day, my mother would always find a way to prepare a Thanksgiving Feast! So, for me it was always a happy time for a very dysfunctional family.

For me as an adult, this day brings families together to share a little time together, to share the thanksgiving dinner, to reflect on the past and to create sweet memories for the future. It is also a good time to remember all that we have to be grateful for.

So, today, I am most grateful for the good health that my family has been blessed with.

Next, I am very grateful to have a good marriage and to be able to share my memories and future plans with such a caring man!

And although we are not rich by any means; I am thankful to have been able to break the "chain of poverty" that I grew up in and to know that my children look to the future with better goals and the know how to push their children to even better goals. So, I am grateful for my two sons and their families.

I am also thankful for this mug! Woof Woof.....

Our dog, Dixie greets us with love each night when we get home. She is so happy to see us, but, most of all, she is happy to get treats and be able to get on the couch!

Next, I am happy that I have three grandchildren that call me Mimi. And just as my mother prepared feasts for us, I love being around to cook and clean up after these messy eaters. Any day at Mimi's is like Thanksgiving for them.....

So, to all my friends and family......... Happy Thanksgiving! Take time to enjoy the day and although we are not "rich" with material things..... we are "rich" in the way that counts! We are all "rich" with health and love!

Trick or Treat..... Smell our Feet! Give us something good to eat!

Oh what fun Halloween is when you have little ones around to enjoy it!

Mitch and Amy brought the girls by so that we could see their costumes before going to a Halloween Party at a friends house. Haylee was a Pirate and Rylee was SuperGirl. They sure looked cute and were so excited to go trick or treating.

Here are a few pictures of them trick or treating. Looks like they had fun! Haylee looks like such a big girl.

Michael, Joanne and Mason came over to trick or treat in our neighborhood. So, we got out the wagon and had some fun in between the rain going to a few houses. Mason was Bamm Bamm and wasn't sure what we were doing, but went along for the ride! Oh yes, did you notice that his dog, Louie, was in costume too? I told you before, that dog will let you do anything to him!

Watch out for the Ghosts and Goblins........ Happy Halloween!

Mason's First Haunted House

The DeWitt Family who live in the Trails of Montverde really go all out when decorating. This year they did a Haunted Walk Through.

So, Mike, Joanne and Mason invited Gary and I to go with them. We wanted to see how Mason would react to his first haunted house, so we were happy to go. We made sure to ask if it was really scary as Joanne and I said that we would sit outside with Mason. They told us that it was made for families and it would be fine. It was truly amazing and they had quite a crowd! Outside, they had games for all the kids and they even provided everyone with hot food and desserts. Had we known that we would have not met for dinner first!

Mimi and Pop Pop having fun with Mason.............

It was hard to get photos, but here are a couple that were okay. The black lights were great!

Once outside, Mason was fascinated with the pumpkins.

Bye Bye, Mr. Pumpkin. I will see you next year when I am a little older and just maybe, I will bring my cousins with me.