This weekend was just full of holiday stuff, for which I’m a total sucker.

Tonight, I’m grateful for holiday rituals and traditions:

The sing-along up at school, complete with nearly 500 luminarias, each one hand-cut by a chlld.

The funny little Charley Brown Christmas tree in our living room, bedecked with bells from my godmother, needlepoint stockings from my mom, decorated toilet paper rolls from the girls when they were small.

The stack of holiday picture books in my living room, from The Night Before Christmas to The Grinch, from Santa Knows to Stopping by Woods, from Polar Express to The World’s Number One Toy Expert.

The creche set that was my grandmother’s.

The Christmas music — from Johnny Cash to Johnny Clegg. Amahl and the Night Visitors. Jingle Bells. Joy to the World.

The cookies we rolled and cut and frosted and ate after dinner tonight.
Yum. 
And fun. 
I’m totally and completely grateful.