Some of the stuff we sort of just happened to do when my daughter was little became a tradition for her. Mainly I was just working around her dad's schedule and lack of consideration. So whenever she was home we'd open presents and eat fancy cheese plates and little tasty bits. Once we had game hens for a meal; I forgot about it, but then DD remembered and requested them and then that sort of became a tradition too.

I have a collection of Steinbach ornaments and that's about all we put on the tree now, so that's a tradition too, I guess. When the kid was little, I pretty much let her have her way with the tree, and that was pretty funny sometimes. Same thing with a gingerbread house.

I guess the main traditions are to stay flexible, try to spend time with people I enjoy and to try to enjoy people I spend time with.

I like cookies, so I usually do some.

The kid also went to a Jewish school for 5th and 6th grade. I really quite like the pyro aspect of Hanukkah, especially when we have dismal dark weather. You start with one little light and gradually it fills the world...well, especially with a menorah that is not quite wide enough for its candles--it seems like I might burn the house down in one great waxy fireball.

I guess I'm not traditional in any traditional sense.