It isn’t often four generations are able to spend time baking together, but this Christmas season Geri Fiereck and her daughter Lisa Hemmer, granddaughter Allie Neu, and great-granddaughter, 18-month Lydia Neu, got together to do just that.

 

Fiereck has enjoyed baking since she was a child. Although her mother taught her things such as cooking, knitting, crocheting and canning, she wasn’t a baker, so it was Fiereck’s job to provide the treats in the household.

 

“She’d tell me, ‘Take over the kitchen and make what you want, just clean up afterward,’” said Fiereck.

 

She passed that enjoyment on to her children, baking with them ever since they were young, and continuing the tradition with granddaughter Allie Neu and now great-granddaughter Lydia Neu.

 

“I have fun with it and they have fun with it, too,” said Fiereck. “Allie always says, ‘Grandma, when are we going to bake?’”

 

Everyone gets their own Christmas apron, made by Fiereck herself. This year she remade a baby bib pattern into an apron so Lydia Neu would have one that fit her. It was Neu’s first year joining in the fun.

 

Although they make a lot of different kinds of Christmas cookies, cut-outs are everyone’s favorite because they get to decorate them.

 

Fiereck bought a child-size rolling pin for 18-month old Neu, and it was her job to roll out a little piece of dough they put in front of her.

 

“She was so fun to watch,” said Fiereck. “She picked up on what we were doing, so she would sprinkle the flour before rolling the dough.”

 

Although she also cut out one of the cookies, she was napping by the time they were ready for decorating, so next year that part will be another first for her.

 

Along with baking for Christmas, the group also gets together to quilt and cook.

“We do it to make memories,” said Fiereck.