Christmas traditions

One more post for today, and then I'm done - or so I think anyway!
:-)

I just came across a contest and it sounds like fun, so I wanted to enter. Hopefully someone will see this soon, because if you want to enter, you only have until midnight (California time) tonight! The link is: http://curvatude.blogspot.com/2008/10/10-weeks-giveaway.html

To secure my entry in the contest, I am going to talk about a very important Christmas tradition in our family. Every year, I bake and bake and bake to make up beautiful cookie and candy trays to give to friends and family. Several of my neighbors tell me that they anxiously await my trays to make their holiday complete. :-) But inside this tradition is another that is even more important. One of the goodies that we make is dipped pretzel rods. I buy the large rods, white almond bark, and an assortment of sprinkles. And then we schedule family pretzel night! The kids adore this, as they have a blast dipping the rods into the melted bark and then rolling it in whatever combination of sprinkles strikes their fancies. They come up with some beautiful creations, and these treats are the centerpieces of my goodie trays. The kids are so proud to contribute and feel like they are giving their own gifts to our friends. It wouldn't be Christmas without this family night of fun. I wouldn't give it up for the world!

Wow....10 weeks till Christmas. Isn't that wonderful?? I'm sure I will be posting lots more traditions, ideas, and recipes over the next several weeks. It's the most wonderful time of the year......