Holiday Greetings! I absolutely LOVE Christmas. It's my very favorite holiday - I think it's because of the great Christmas traditions that my family had when I was young. They weren't extravagant by any means, but they were ours.

Every year, my family would go to a Christmas tree farm and cut down our own tree. We'd be freezing when we were done and would drink hot chocolate by the fireside to warm up. And then once home, we'd decorate our tree with homemade ornaments that my Mom had kept over the years.

Our family would always go to my Aunt Jean's on Christmas Eve and eat chili and chicken sandwiches - same menu every year - and then have a gift exchange with my mom's side of the family.

Christmas morning, we (my older sister and me) woke up as early as possible and tried to convince Mom and Dad to get up so we could open presents. And then we bundled up and headed to my grandparent's house just down the lane for the rest of the day.

I married a city boy not a farm boy. :) So the memories we are making with our twins are a bit different from the ones I had growing up, but I believe it's a good mix.

Like always, we are headed back home to visit my family in rural Coshocton County, Ohio where the kids will feed the cows and go on a tractor ride with Uncle Gail and bake and frost sugar cookies with their Aunt Lee. Then we'll head up to Warren, Ohio to visit my husband's family, where they'll play ping-pong matches and X-Box Guitar Hero with their cousins, aunt and uncle and Nanny and Pop-Pop.

So yes, it's different but what remains the same is family. Spending time with family during the holiday season is one of our most important traditions. It was important to our grandparents, our parents and now us. And I hope will be passed down to our children.

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope that you will consider what traditions you are passing down to your children, nieces, nephews and friends.

At least in the US (and quite possibly other places), it's easy to get caught up in all of the holiday chaos that surrounds us. Shopping, baking, wrapping presents, sending cards, holiday parties…

Readers - my wish for each of you: Take time to enjoy the magic and wonders of this amazing holiday season. My colleagues at TheCropSite and I wish you and your family all the best in 2013!

A special note, your next newsletter will arrive January 2, 2013.

Have a great holiday season!