Cookies, cookies, cookies! (And traditions!)

Tis the season for COOKIES. No, really. Look at all these beautiful, decorated with icing and sprinkles, cookies.

They're the reason I'm late posting my blog this weekend. It was busy with ALL THE HOLIDAY THINGS. Like the annual tradition of all the cousins getting together to decorate sugar cookies. Dozens of them. Maybe even a hundred. (I should have counted...)

It's just one of the many traditions we've followed for as long as I can remember.

I like traditions. They're the things that I look forward to every season, like cookie decorating. But also like driving around the neighbourhood to admire the Christmas lights, making Christmas cards, or taking hot chocolate to the local seniors' centre. (We're doing that one night after school this week.)

Tradition. We have a few in the Duffy family. What are some of yours?

Gotta jet! Just five days until winter break. What are you most excited about over the holidays?

~ Chase Superman Duffy 

Christmas Cards, Anyone?

A few years ago, Mom started a new tradition of making Christmas cards for the entire family—even for the cousins we haven't seen in years. I get it, the personal touch is so much better than just sending an email (even though we call most of the family on Christmas morning too) but I'm beginning to think she's overestimated our craft skills.

One year, we made these Rudolph cards using our fingerprints.

They were fun—and easy!

Next up were these cards, which aren't quite as easy as you think. Mom dug out the ruler to make sure the ribbon was in THE EXACT MIDDLE of the card.

But, we got through it, and even Grandma said we made perfect little bows.  (She has to say that though—she's Grandma!)

I tried to convince my parents that we should just have our family photo taken—better yet, I would set up the camera and take the shot myself. But no...Mom isn't having it. She has a "thing" for penguins this year, so we're making these...

Cute, right? And also very very hard. I mean, we have to make TWO DOZEN of these cards...today. Mom has already dug out the craft supplies. Which means I need to start cutting and gluing and painting, oh my!

If you want to join my "pain" for the day, here's the tutorial on how to make the cards. Time to get crafting.

Gotta jet! See you next week.

~ Chase Superman Duffy 

Tis The Season

For kindness.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that when you're jostling for position in a long line, trudging through snow or slipping across ice, or when you're scrounging for nickels to pay for that last Christmas present. The season of holiday lights, hot chocolate, and family gathered around the table can also be very stressful.

So this year—like last—I'm making a list...of ways I can spread a little kindness this season. Little things *I* can do to make it easier on someone else—my family, my friends, even strangers. The world needs kindness. And this year, I'm going to do my part.

Here are a few ideas I had:

• Bake cookies (with Grandma) and drop a batch off at the local senior's home—or maybe the police station, fire station, or hospital. Retailers aren't the only ones working extra hard over the holiday season. 
• Shovel the neighbour's walk—or for someone else on my street. The weather man says we're in for heavy snowfall this month. That's definitely one way I can help. 
• Buy hot chocolate for the person behind me in the coffee shop line. 
• Take my sister ice skating.
• Help my neighbour put up his Christmas lights. Obviously I won't be climbing on the roof or any ladders, but I can arrange the light-up snowmen and deer on the lawn!
• Smile! It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised what a genuine smile can do during this stressful time of year. 
• Volunteer to wrap presents for local seniors or maybe the children's wing at the hospital. 
• Leave a Christmas card for the mailman in the mail box. 
• Pick up trash at a park and throw it in the garbage.
• Donate some of extra toys, books, or clothes. 

That's not a bad list. Have things to add? Great—we can all brainstorm together and come up with the BEST list. Share your Random Acts of Holiday Kindness in the comments so we can keep the ideas coming.

Gotta Jet! I’m going to start on this list this weekend. See you next Friday!

~ Chase Superman Duffy