THE FAMILY

The Bernals: Tim, Shelli, Andi, 8, Thomas, 5, and Gabrielle, 2

THEIR HOMETOWN

Statesboro, Georgia

THE TRADITION

Shelli Bernal and her family had lived in their new neighborhood for nearly six months, but they still didn't know most of their neighbors. So, to help spread some holiday cheer and meet the people on their street, Shelli decided to gather her children in the kitchen to bake bread for the whole neighborhood.

"At Christmas, I've always made my grandmother's three bread recipes: lemon, apricot and banana," says Shelli. "But last year we made it a real family event. It turned out to be a wonderful way to meet the neighbors." Shelli supervised while eight-year-old Andi read the recipe instructions and cracked the eggs, five-year-old Thomas measured and poured, and the toddler, Gabrielle, stirred and mashed bananas.

Although covering the kitchen with flour was definitely a hit, Shelli thinks her trio particularly enjoyed delivering the bread. When Tim came home from work, the family set out with a few loaves wrapped in butcher paper the kids had decorated with paint and glitter. "Everyone was really receptive, and it took us forever because most people invited us in for cookies or had us look at their holiday decorations," she says.

"We definitely feel much closer to our neighbors now, and some have already told me, 'We can't wait for that bread again this year,'" says Shelli. "I actually think they enjoy seeing the kids more than the bread, but we'll be making it every year. It's a mess, but it's a lot of fun for everyone."

To keep the experience as easy and stress-free as possible, Shelli bakes bread over a few days--one day with the kids and one on her own--to make enough loaves for the neighborhood, plus family and friends. She also saves a rainy day in November for the kids to make the wrapping paper. "I could never bake bread and create wrapping paper with these guys on the same day. I'm not that good," says Shelli. "Instead, I roll the paper back up when it's dry and store it, so we have it all ready to go when Christmas or birthdays come around."