[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”56″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″]Holiday Memories[/typography]
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″] Laura[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Family[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Santa Magic[/typography]
The year Santa’s reindeer left prints in the snow remains one of my favorite holiday memories. Later I discovered that Santa had left a bell from his sleigh for me on the tree. Now, we enjoy hosting both Thanksgiving dinner (with turkey AND lobster) and Christmas Eve at our home.
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″]Laurie[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Tradition[/typography]
We would spend Christmas Eve at my great grandparents’ house. Four generations shared food, cookies, and presents before driving home. We would count Christmas lights and my parents would carry us to bed.
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Innocence[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Life[/typography]
My birthday is on Christmas Eve–which is kind of a stinker. But as a child, I never really felt slighted because it’s such a magical time of year. I have a giant stocking that one of the nurses knit for my mother and brought me to her in. My daughter Lilly was born on December 17 and I have a special tiny Santa hat also made by a nurse. I cherish them.
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Romance[/typography]
Gary proposed on Christmas Eve because that’s how he rolls. Then on a Tuesday night in January we eloped without telling anyone (Yeah, we were crazy). We had our “real” wedding that June and my friend’s husband (with no official credentials to marry people) was the officiant, but it didn’t matter, we were already hitched!
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″]Melissa[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Laughter[/typography]
When I asked Melissa about holiday memories, she hesitated for a minute and said that one of her favorite memories is funny, but a little off color. When she was 14, her aunt was going through a tough divorce so Melissa and her family traveled to Florida to be with her and her two cousins. “My aunt was very depressed,” she writes. “My mom was drinking and trying to cheer her up. The radio was playing in the background and ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ came on. It was very popular, and my mom (who is basically out of it), started dancing and being silly. She’s this little tiny lady with big boobs and things were bouncing around. My aunt had been crying all day, but she finally relaxed and laughed. Everyone was dying laughing. I mean laughing so hard we were crying. This was almost 20 years ago, but everyone still talks about it. We joke that she almost knocked herself out with those things.”
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″] Lyndsey[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Silliness[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Christmas Spirit[/typography]
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″]Colleen[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Comfort[/typography]
We didn’t have any major traditions growing up, but I always remember it being homey and comfortable. The smells of pine and candles, my mom playing Christmas music while wrapping presents, and being able to eat whatever I wanted Christmas day. One of my favorite holiday memories is of the Christmas morning I got my Cabbage Patch doll. This was way back in the early 80’s when they were original. I think I was around five. I was so excited, I cried.
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″] Amanda[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Feeling Like a Kid Again[/typography]
This was maybe 10 years ago; whenever Spongebob was a big deal. Apparently, I was into him, but I totally forgot about that phase…on purpose! I was in college. I got a nose piercing and dyed my hair and cut it into a short rocker style. But I loved coming home and feeling like a kid again. Christmas was always at my parent’s house. We would wake up early, make piles of gifts for each person, and then take turns going around and opening gifts.
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″]Stephanie[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Olde World Charm[/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Kindness[/typography]
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″] Diana [/typography]
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”32″ size_format=”px” color=”#de1134″]The Gift of Fond Memories[/typography]
My childhood Christmas memories were magical. On Christmas Eve in Kingston, Santa would ride through town on top of the fire truck. The four of us kids would always listen for the sirens and then run outside to wave from the front porch. My folks would let us open one gift then we’d get all dressed up and attend Midnight Mass at this gigantic church that was over an hour away. The music there was absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never heard anything like it. We’d get home late, sometimes 2 a.m., and hit our beds exhausted, but too wired to sleep. Once when I was 12, I remember sharing the bed with my four-year-old sister. I adored her (still do) and loved how excited she was about Santa coming. I remember thinking that I wished I still believed in him too. Precious.
[typography font=”Dancing Script” size=”56″ size_format=”px” color=”#0d9438″]Making Holiday Memories[/typography]
[typography font=”Handlee” size=”42″ size_format=”px” color=”#179c51″] Amanda[/typography] This is our first year really creating our own traditions. We are kicking off the season by devoting a whole Saturday to all things Christmas: cutting down our first tree, making garland, drinking hot chocolate, and watching The Polar Express.