Happy Thursday! I am linking up with Holly and Patti to finish out the year of Monthly Musings. This month we are talking about December holidays and looking forward to next year. Even if you don’t blog, you could put some answers in the comments. I love hearing everyone’s traditions.

1 – If you celebrate Christmas, what are your traditions?
We do celebrate Christmas and we have so many traditions! I feel like traditions are what make it feel like Christmas. We decorate our Christmas trees together and tell the stories of the ornaments. We bake and decorate Christmas cookies together. We drive around and look at lights. We watch Christmas movies together throughout December. We always contribute to the adopt-a-family through the kids’ schools.

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We usually have some fun adults only Christmas parties, but not this year. It’s so fun to get dressed up and spend time with our friends. They give our kids a fun part of their Christmas traditions too – a night with their grandparents. 😉

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2 – If you celebrate Hanukkah, what are your traditions?
We don’t celebrate Hanukkah.

3 – What are your holiday plans this year?
We are going to see my husband’s family on Christmas Eve morning, like we always do. We are planning to see them outside around the fire pit. Jeff’s grandmother is 96 and we are trying to keep her as safe as possible.
We’ll come home for Christmas Eve for our favorite dinner of the year and to stream our church’s mass.
On Christmas morning, we’ll stay home and enjoy a cozy morning. Then Jeff’s parents will probably come on Christmas evening for appetizers.

4 – Favorite recipe you are willing to share?
I make a chocolate cream ball candy that is so yummy! I should probably share it one day next week! My handwritten recipe says that I usually double it because it is such a favorite around here. Here is an early preview for you.

Cream together: 1/2 cup butter and 1 box 10x sugar
Add 4 T heavy whipping cream and 1 tsp vanilla
Cool in the refrigerator and form small balls.
Melt in a double boiler: 2 T butter, 4 sq Bakers semi-sweet chocolate, 1 sq in paraffin
Drizzle over the cream balls and chill in the refrigerator.

I usually put them in tiny paper muffin-like papers.

5 – What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
I am most looking forward to the hope that is coming with a vaccine. I know it isn’t going to be an instant fix but it gives us some hope.

I am also looking forward to warm weather again. I love cold, snowy weather during December and January, but by February I am ready for the sun to start warming things up!

6 – Gift wrapping… love it or hate it?
I love wrapping presents. I usually wrap a few nights sitting on the floor watching Christmas movies. This year I figured out that our counter is the perfect height to wrap. It has been a total GameChanger!

7 – What are you having as your holiday meal?
We have our big holiday meal on Christmas Eve. I’m making a rib roast with potatoes cooked around the meat. It is Jeff’s and my favorite meal of the year and we can’t wait! On Christmas morning, we always have my mom’s homemade sticky buns.

8 – Open gifts Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
We have a special few gifts that we open on Christmas Eve. My mom always writes from Eve on the gift tags so she knows which ones are for Christmas Eve and which ones are for Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve, we’ve always gotten new pajamas and an ornament that represents something from our year. My parents give the boys a nutcracker that is representative of their year also.

I started celebrating Jolabokaflod a few years ago. It is so fun, and a little stressful to pick out books for everyone!

9 – What are you doing New Year’s Eve?
I am not sure what we’ll do on NYE. We’ll probably stay home to welcome in 2021! We’ll have champagne and sparkling cider and a delicious dinner. Maybe we’ll watch a movie or more likely the bowl games.

10 – Do you have a word for 2021?
I don’t have a word for 2021. I’ve never had a word, but I think this might be the year to pick one. I’m open to any suggestions.

That was fun! I can’t wait to see what everyone else answers. Have a great day full of sunshine and books!