This past weekend Marcus and I participated in establishing our own family traditions. I can remember Marcus sharing childhood memories of his family's adventures of cutting down their family Christmas tree. Once he said they had a live tree I was hooked on the idea.

I myself don't have memories of having a "real Christmas tree" but have always had a dream of one day walking into my home during the Holiday Season to be engulfed  by the fragrance of a real tree. Not to mention Marcus stated that after they were finished the family would head off to the near by playground and drink hot chocolate.

Little did I know the energy it would take to saw down a real tree!! I have vowed to start training to not only be able to fit into my wedding gown but to have the strength required to saw down a bigger tree next year. This Christmas however Marcus and I picked a cute modest tree. Small enough that I could easily place the Angel on top and not even have to stand on my tippy toes to do so.  We even have a small collection of Christmas oranments that I have started to collect from places we have visited and an ornament that is personalized with our names (a sweet gift from dear friends).

On Sunday, Marcus and I baked some Christmas cookies; "pierniki" cookies which are a Polish cookie that his family has been making for many many years. It is like a sugar cookie but with a strong anise taste, a little like black licorice.

I didn't know if I would like them, but after having a few, I do. It was a lot of fun to bake, roll, cut, frost and decorate them, but also a lot of work. I did get to use my sheep cookie cutter Marcus bought me several months ago, unfortunately they lose something during the baking and frosting and sprinkles; and the final product is not as cute. I look forward to the years to come to work on the cookie aesthetics.