D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 8 • M a r i e m o n t, O h i o • Vo l u m e X L I I I , N o . 4
Residents Share New and Old Holiday Traditions By Suzy Weinland Each year, the holidays bring timehonored traditions and cherished memories as well as opportunities to create new ones. The Town Crier asked residents to share their favorite holiday times with us. Here are two we received. If you have a holiday memory or tradition (new or old) you’d like to share in next December’s issue, feel free to send to us and we’ll keep it safe and sound until next year!
The O’Brien Family Our family has loved to ice skate at Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati for as long as we can remember. Every Christmas Eve morning, immediate and extended family gather to ice skate at Fountain Square and
then go on to Rock Bottom for hot chocolate, grub, and connecting conversation. No matter what the weather, we are there and skating! All are welcome to come and join, adding to our tradition—over the years we have met others with this same tradition too. Jen Durie and Pat O’Brien
The Tuttle Family As young parents, we purchased age appropriate Christmas ornaments and books for our children, Betsy and Jonathan. We wrote down our goals for the following year in our stockings. It was fun to see our height/ weight changes and if we did meet our goals as we started the next season. In 2006, our first grandchild, Mackay, arrived. What traditions could we start for her – and just a few years later, grandsons Jay and Cooper? Over the years, we have selected ornaments with words and items of interest to each grandchild, such as hearts for Mackay (12) and snowmen and pull-string ornaments for Jay (10) and Cooper (6).
In 2010, we desired that the grandchildren learn about the Heifer Pictured, L to R: Jen Durie and Pat O’Brien’s nephew Luke Henke, Maeve O’Brien, Pat, Bryanna O’Brien, niece Maddie Henke, and Jen at the Fountain Project. We donated money in their Square ice rink.
Ed & Carolyn Tuttle with grandchildren Cooper, Jay and Mackay and their Heifer Project tree. names to purchase an animal. Each year we purchased an ornament to match our specific gift (chicks, bees, pigs, sheep, cow etc.). They now have a specific Christmas Heifer Tree. We shared the purpose and country where their gift might go to help those less fortunate. They would be helping families attain a healthier lifestyle now and for the next generation. In 2018, we are challenging our grandchildren to share their allowances to select a Heifer animal. We will double their amount and locate the animal to represent their donation. We encourage our grandchildren to share the precious gift of compassion and generosity with those in need who learn life-sustaining skills. Carolyn and Ed Tuttle