In an attempt to put a stop to Noah and Riley arguing, I invited them to help me make sugar cookies. Success! They stopped arguing over trivial things and were completely, 100% engaged in the cookie making process. Fortunately, they did not want the same cookie cutter, because that would have been problematic. Noah was the gingerbread cut-out and Riley was the star.

“Mommy’s job is to flatten the dough. Once I flatten the dough, you can cut your cookie with the cookie cutter.”  I only wish I didn’t have to flatten the dough with the palm of my hand and a glass cup. My mother probably has three rolling pins, and I have zilch when it comes to rolling pins. Oh well, nobody here seems to care that the cookie making process is more laborious than it needs to be.

“Now, Mom?” questioned Riley.

“Not yet,” I respond.

“Now?”

“Go for it, the dough is ready.”

Clean little hands went to work cutting cookies in the shape of stars and gingerbread. The assembly-line process worked pretty well. They cut the cookies and I was in charge of placing each cut-out on the cookie tray.

“Oh man, my gingerbread doesn't have an arm.” Commented Noah. When the cookies started to lose limbs, it was my turn to flatten more dough.

“That’s it. Now it is my turn to deal with the dough again.” I began the laborious dough flattening process all over again and the kids hovered. They were watching and waiting for the moment they could use their cookie cutters again.

“Now, Mom?” they both asked.

“Go for it. Now it is your turn.” I said. The cookie cutting process went on like this all night. We made a mess in the kitchen. The kids laughed and giggled with each other. Dean was mesmerized by the kids and how good they were at making cut-out cookies. The only thing I would change is to use a rolling pin next time to flatten the dough. Maybe I can sneak one of my mom’s rolling pins in my suitcase next time I visit.

Decorating the tree is a family tradition. Without the effort of our Leisgang team, the tree decorating would be a disaster.

Dean hauls the plastic tubs of Christmas decorations upstairs, from the depths of the basement. He also drags the “fake” Christmas trees upstairs; however it is my job to put them together. Our pre-lit tree is a puzzle because the strands of lights on the tree have to be plugged together, properly; allowing the tree to light up. The puzzle is the connection of the plugs. The company that made the tree labeled the plugs A, B and C. So, one would think A plugs into A, B plugs into B, and C plugs into C. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I thought I was smart a few years back and labeled the plugs, with silver Sharpie ink. In my perfect world, the silver Sharpie plug number 1 connects with the other number 1 plug. Then, plug 2 connects with plug 2, and so on. Sadly, my world is not perfect. This year I could not figure out how to make the tree light up, period. Alas, I broke down and weaved a green extension cord up the trunk of the tree. All the A’s, B’s, C’s and 1, 2, 3’s are plugged into the green extension cord. Magically, the tree lit up.

Moving on to the decorating portion of our family tradition involves tons of help from Noah and Riley. Noah and Riley are in charge of decorating the tree. They even had stools placed in front of the tree this year so that could place ornaments closer to the top of the tree. Noah had a plan to place all the theme ornaments near each other. So, if you wander over to our house and notice all the jingle bell ornaments clumped together, you will know why. Riley worked hard to fill in the empty spaces on the Christmas tree. My job is to un-clump the ornaments, so they are spread throughout the entire tree. But, I must be very sneaky when relocating ornaments, otherwise the kids will get upset with me for moving their carefully  placed ornament. Dean is in charge of unpacking ornaments from boxes, placing hooks on them for hanging and reminiscing about the history of each ornament. He has a great memory for who we received ornaments from, why we received them and the sentimental value attached to each ornament.

Last but not least, Dean, Noah and Riley place the singing stuffed animals on the fireplace each year. Many years ago I declared a holiday theme of snowman, so we have singing snowman coming out our ears. The kids like to place them on the fireplace and make the snowman sing, AT THE SAME TIME. It is hilarious the first time this happens. It is funny the second this happens. It is even funny the third time this happens. However, singing snowman, singing different songs, all at the same time does get tiresome.  But, I wouldn’t change any of these moments. I look forward to our decorating tradition, and so do Dean and the kids.