Coffee Cake for Christmas

It is starting to feel like Christmas, and not a moment too soon! I haven't much been in the "holiday spirit" as of late. Just too much happening in our lives right now. It has left me drained, tired and leaning towards the sadder side of things.

But this morning meant the start of Christmas vacation for my sons. We went to my mom's house this morning and jumped right in to our family's traditions. Grandma and the boyz, along with my sister and mocha cub, spent a couple of hours decorating sugar cookies in bright colored icing, candies and even drawing on them with edible markers. After finishing and eating some lunch we watched Grandma's favorite Christmas movie, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

We headed back to town by early afternoon. The boyz and I went to get last minute presents for Daddy D and our dog Ginger. We then ran into our grocery store to get some of the essentials that we were low on. Milk was needed to put out later this evening, as well as orange juice for breakfast in the morning. There was a great sale on the refrigerated cinnamon rolls that I could place in the oven in the morning which caught my eye. I grabbed two tubes and went to toss them in the cart. As I haven't been feeling very into the Christmas tadoo, I mentioned I would make them for breakfast in the morning.

Seth looked at me and said, "along with the coffee cake?". I always make the same coffee cake my mom would make from scratch every Christmas morning. We eat it warm out of the oven. I told him that we would have these instead. He replied that he wanted coffee cake. It is our family tradition.

And in the aisle of Shoprite I realized that no matter how little I might be "in the mood" for Christmas, my kids are excited and have expectations. Not necessarily of what gifts they "should" be getting, but of what this day means to them. It is a time that we do things together as a family. In a pattern and with meanings that are special and significant, if only to us.

Funny that in those moments the motherly instinct kicked in and gave me the extra oomph that I have been missing. Christmas eve dinner of a roasted chicken and vegetables is baking in the oven. Cookie dough is mixed and ready to go in next.

And in the morning I will get up early and make the coffee cake from scratch, get it in the oven and watch my son open presents. Then we will sit at the table and eat warm coffee cake together as a family. It will be Christmas for the Desrochers. Past. Present. Future.

May you enjoy all of the special things that you do with your family and friends for Christmas!