Scuffing Boots, The Hideous Santa Head & More

What Are Your Fondest Christmas Memories?

Christmas memories are an amazing way to measure the passing of time. My earliest memory of the holiday is of my Mammaw & Pappaw Clark visiting us - they lived in Kansas and we lived near Mom's parents in Kentucky.  I was so excited to see Mammaw and Pappaw, I fell from a dining chair onto the open oven door. It was hot, but I don't remember any serious burns.

A few years later we lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma and I remember waking late at night on Christmas Eve convinced I heard the scuffing noise of Santa's boots in our hallway. In all likelihood, the noise which woke me was my Mother and Father going to bed after putting the presents under the tree. I suspect they did not get much sleep that Christmas Eve - we were up opening presents in the dark since I was so insistent I heard Santa's visit!  And I remember my gifts that year were a small sewing basket and a tiny tea set.

When I was in kindergarten and had just learned to read, Mammaw and Pappaw Clark traveled to visit us in Tulsa. My Christmas gifts included lots of books. It was awesome!

And, finally, the last best childhood Christmas memory is getting a letter from Santa in my stocking. It had been a rough year: Mom and Dad - Grandpa Bob - had moved to Portland during the summer and Dad was in a car accident on Halloween. We had a Christmas tree and too many presents, but the letter was the best.  I wonder if my Mother has that letter....

All of these memories are great, but my fondest memories of Christmas, by far, are of our family's Christmases. So many memories all jumbled together -

• Bringing home a huge tree and listening to the Christmas in the Stars album while decorating it together.
• Watching you girls hide Dad's hideous Santa head tree ornament (it really isn't so bad.)
• Opening one gift while drinking hot cocoa on Christmas Eve.
• The delight on your faces every Christmas morning - makes me tear up just thinking about how much you both loved Christmas as children.
• And, now, as adults, it warms my heart to know you take bets on what will bring on the tears!

Speaking of tearing up - really, every Christmas?