I’m not going to lie...

I’m not going to lie, I love getting presents. As I got older, I started to enjoy giving gifts. I like to pick out the perfect gift for a specific person. I watch for a reaction, as they open a present from me.

I still get excited at Christmastime. As a twenty-nine year old, I get excited over different things, than when I did when I was a child.

Now, food is part of what makes this time of year so special. I love to eat the traditional baked goods. My Mom makes shortbread cookies that melt in your mouth. She ices the cookies with white icing and dips them in candy cane crumbs. These cookies taste so good. I’m sure I’ll gain weight during the holidays, but it is worth it.

My Grandma McIntyre used to make gingersnaps. Some people liked them soft and others liked to hear the cookie snap. I remember making these cookies with Grandma & my cousin. Our job was to roll a chunk of dough into a ball. After the dough was in the shape of a ball, we rolled it in white sugar. This made the cookies sparkle. My brother Stu bakes gingersnap cookies every so often. They taste just like the ones Grandma used to make.

My niece will celebrate her first Christmas this year. It’s hard to believe she was not here last year. My oldest niece is two years old. This year she will be an active participant in the gift opening. I love to see my nieces smile. I had lots of fun shopping for them.

It’s Christmas Eve & all the wrapping is done. The house smells of maple & the make ahead veggies are well underway. Tomorrow, my family will gather for Christmas brunch. There’ll be French toast made with special bread, sausages, bacon and sweet bread. In this family, you’ll never go hungry.

As an adult, I have realised that the meaning of Christmas cannot be found in a box or a gift bag. Love is what brings us together. Family & friends gathering together for food & chatter means so much to me.

I am still a kid at heart.