My daughter and I have adopted our own Christmas tradition. We make gingerbread houses for the season. Knowing me, of course, they come from a box purchased at a local retailer. We just open the packaging and put stuff together. Not the real thing? Of course not. But you have to understand me: no Christmas tree in the house (too expensive and too much mess); no homemade cookies or treats (yet– no time); no lights (where to put them?), etc. You might call me the Grinch, or Scrooge, but the honest truth is I’m lazy. There, I admit it. Working full time and owning a part-time business takes a lot out of a girl. Well, that and poor planning. I have vowed to myself and to my poor daughter that next year will be different; I will start planning in August. Or September. No later than Halloween. I promise!

Nonetheless, we have managed to create our tradition and stick to it, even if the base of it came out of a box from Costco. We spent some good, quality time together having fun, and I managed to take some photos and scrap them. Years from now, my daughter can see that for Christmas I at least managed to something.