When my boys were little, we had a tradtion of hanging candy canes on the Christmas tree, one for every day until the big day came. In the evening, we'd take one down, share it and read a story together, sitting by the tree.
This year, Sugarwings thought of an improvement to our holiday rituals. She saw a cup of cocoa with a candy cane in it, on the pages of her Rudolf book, and wanted to give it a try.
Life with little girls gets a bit fancier than with boys. We weren't just going to sit by the tree, we had to create a pretty party!
She and I moved her little table next to her pink, glowing tree (that she decorates and undecorates herself, over and over) and had a hot chocolate party, in the dark while we sang Christmas carols together.
We had French vanilla marshmallows shaped like snowmen, and chocolate mint candy canes to add to our drinks, and pulled out the good tea party dishes to serve it on.
This cocoa party was so fun, we did it again the next night she stayed with me. I make the hot chocolate with organic milk, a little melted Belguim chocolate and some honey, so its a bit of a healthier snack than packaged cocoa. Yes, the marshmallows and candy are full of HFcorn syrup, but hey, its the holiday season and we need to splurge sometimes!
We also discovered that Dorkies love candy canes. And can climb up on the little table to steal them if the treats are left unatended.
A tradition that begun last year was the never ending gingerbread house. When she comes over to stay, she adds to it with more and more goodies and icing. I have to help with the can of icing, but Sugarwings does great with heaping on the candies.
She and I agree that there is no such thing as too much when it comes to decorating. And she also knows this house isn't for eating. I was impressed with how fast she learned not to snack on the house. We have plenty of other treats around, but this is a "pretty" and way too much fun to destroy by eating it. I've told her that if she eats the candy, we won't be able to keep adding on to it, and that solved any issues with sneaking treats off the rooftop.
We might have another new tradition. I've always been a fake tree person, I like pink, white and silver. But there is something quite wonderful about the smell of a fresh cut tree, for sure.
This year, my fairy grand baby kept talking about chopping down her pink tree and gluing it back together. At first I thought it was just a craft project she had in mind… then I realized that she wanted a traditional tree, and wanted to go pick it out and cut it down herself.
So, I found this tiny little seedling growing in my flower bed and gave her the clippers.
There wasn't much to it. She probably could have taken it down with nail clippers.
The little guy is so tiny that I had to support it with a wire. I added a metal star and jingle bell to the top of the wire, the tree wouldn't hold much in the way of decorations itself.
We stuck it down into a flower pot that was on the porch, added some moss and a hint of silver tinsel, then a bow.
Since decorating is an ongoing thing around here, we redid the pot with a teeny vintage glass ball on a strand of tinsel and took off the bow. We liked this better.
The star has a rhinestone jewelry remnant on it. Do you ever use The Ulitmate? I love that glue! After the wire was in the dirt supporting the tree, we thought the star needed something, so I glued this jewel on. It was too late to lay it flat to dry, but that glue is super tacky and held the piece in place as it was.
If you'd like to enter the giveaway for my ONE MILLIONETH vistor (yippee! thanks guys!!) please leave a comment HERE before the 12th, when I will draw a name for the lacey trimmed bag full of holiday cheer.
What a wonderful holiday tradition. I love her little tree and her gingerbread house is so sweet. We make a house each year also. Love it.
Bethany decorated a gingerbread house over turkey weekend at my parents. Its so fun! Goodness looks like you need some of those homemade marshmallows! 🙂 too funny about the dorkies. Love all of your decor! Miss you all!
So Sweet ~ when my kids were little, we had “Christmas Cocoa” which was Hot Chocolate with a Candy Cane, while we decorated the Christmas tree…. then we always left a few boxes of Candy canes out on Christmas eve along with Cookies & Milk & Santa would Not only leave gifts, He added the Candy Canes to the Tree….. Now My kids are all grown & My Grands now have their own traditions…. I miss the old ones.
Cheryl
How lucky Sugarwings is!!
When she grows up she’ll have such wonderful memories of a grandma who encouraged creative thinking and indulged a little girls dreams. Christmas doesn’t get mcuh better than this!!
Festive cheer to you Karla,
Kerryanne
What a sweet little tradition! Sugarwings is so much fun!!!
I love that candy cane tradition – and the little Christmas tree is too cute for words.
Your cocoa with candy canes has been offically dubbed Snowman Soup. I’ve seen it for sale at craft fairs.(I’m sure yours is healthier) But your idea of the tree and china cups makes it soooo super special!That child is so adorable and she definitely has her way of expressing what she likes and wants. No day with her could ever be boring!! What a dolly!
Congrats on your 1 millionth !
Sandy
What a wonderful, fun Grammie you are! Magic in the making is making the ordinary, extraordinary! Loved this post~
Adorable little tree!
awwww so much fun with your grandbaby…love the idea of that there is never too much goodies on the gingerbread house..my Mom loves trains, so we found a train gingerbread house..fun with the nieces, Mom and sister…
Hello Karla…wish I could send Sugarwings a little tree from my British Columbia home….I guess it wouldnt be the same as digging one up with her Grammie…love those memory moments with our little ones…Lorraine
My grandchildren love when I make them cocoa~ we add a little whipped cream and sprinkles…great new tradition!
Thank God for grandchildren! The world would be very boring without them! I getting two news ones next year and I can’t wait!
Theresa
aka:TOT
My fairy grandbaby turned one today!! And she will be spending Christmas with us…I SO look forward to cocoa parties with her! I am paying CLOSE attention to your grandmotherly ways and taking lots of notes! 😉
And leave it to you to make a sorry looking seedling look like a work of art when you’re finished with it!!
Blessings!
Myrna
Love your little tree – what a great idea. It looks so pretty in the flower pot.
xo Tina
This is such a dear post! She is so lucky to have you. She will have the best and warm memories ever!
That little girl is sure a new coming crafter, and how beautifull meetings, with grandma, she hold in her heart forever…Karla, you are the best grandma ever, I can see that-and just so lucky.(know I say that all the time 🙂 )
What a lovely tradision you two made here–and the mini tree is so sweet.
We alwayes uses only real trees -most people in Denmark, with real candles on, so my tree will not be up untill just before christmas…
Hugs,to you. Dorthe
So sweet and what a great Grammy you are!
Leann
I love how you made that little Charlie Brown tree into something special! Sugarwings is a very lucky Fairy Granddaughter and you are a very lucky Grandma! karen….
Where did you find those marshmallows? Too cute!
So sweet! We’ll be doing the candy cane thing.But the twins like there’s piled high with Whipped cream and sprinkles.Warm Blessings!~Amy
Oh, this is all so magical! I love that you follow Sugarwings whims with her! These are such special moments!
That’s the sweetest little tree! And it’s dressed perfectly. Love it! Merry Christmas!
Karla,
I love that you let her ideas blossom! She is going to grow up with such wonderful memories to look back on. Hope you have a great day!
Yum! I haven’t done candy canes in cocoa for years…forgot how good it is! Thanks for the reminder. And just in case you wanted to do the natural candy canes, hammondscandies.com sells them. Their candies are absolutely beautiful…so old fashioned looking. 🙂
Oh Karla, how I want to be Sugarwings and have you for my grandma! Her times with you always sound so magical and fun. What a joy for both of you to experience.
Hugs,
Judy
she’s precious:) Rachaelxo
Hi Karla, what lovely traditions you have created! The
little tree is so endearing and I’m sure it is so very
special to Sugarwings along with all the memories that
you are creating for her and for yourself. : )
Hugs,
Janis
Karla, Do I hear a new Christmas fable (with fabulous illustrations) coming on … The one about the teeny tiny seedling that became a beautiful and loved Christmas tree, thanks to a magical little girl and her Fairy Godmother? What wonderful memories you are making! Happy Holidays!
your pictures made everything look so magical great photography -Congratulations on all the visitors -a million
I love that little tree.
YUM!!! This looks like a wonderful Christmas tradition. Thanks for sharing.
Debby
So special and sweet Karla! You are one professional memory maker!
That’s a great tradition, Karla. What a wonderful Grammy you are!
Hugs,
Suz
What fun new holiday traditions! I think it is great that they evolve to suit those involved, much like how you encourage people to make crafting tips and projects their own.
Seems like a great time to buy a teny tiny Christmas tree and plant it…a photo each year next to the tree as they both grow…another great lesson…
Aren’t traditions what this holiday season is all about? What a sweet one you two share…. and your lil tree reminds me of the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree; I wonder if Sugarwings would like it (or maybe wait a couple of years)? 🙂 mercedes
Sugarwings is full of ideas and new thinking. She surely will become an artist as her grandmother! warm wishes /Therese