Creating Christmas

My absolute favorite time of year; Christmas.
To me its the most selfless time of year. A goal to make everyone around you feel the spirit you feel. Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. And being so Thankful for everything you have.

Some of my Favorite Christmas memories...

Mandarin Oranges. The smell of them reminds me of Christmas morning. A strange thing to have on a Christmas Memory list I know, but the memory of rushing into the living room to open our stockings first thing Christmas morning is just one of my favorites. And how EVERY year there was a mandarin orange in the bottom of the stocking.

Egg Nog. An acquired taste. You either love it or hate it. I chose to love it.

Slumber parties. Christmas Eve me and my sisters would all sleep in the same room. Not much sleeping actually got done. Instead we sat there all huddled in our blankets reminising about previous Christmas' and what we thought we were gunna get that year.

Santa's Anonymous. I remember every year in Elementary school we would color Teddy Bear cutouts that would get sent to the malls after. A description of a needy family or child would go on the back and then get hung on a tree. People can then pick a teddy bear and buy a gift for that person(s). Im so happy I was apart of it.

Christmas Carollers/Decorations. Something we dont see enough of anymore. I used to love going to the malls at Christmas. Not for the shopping but for the atmosphere. The halls were filled with lights, garland, streamers, bells, trees, nativity scenes and carollers. Christmas music echoed down the hallways. It just felt so Christmas.

Advent Calendar. Not those cheazy cardboard ones filled with stale chocolate. Im talking about the one we had as a kid. Home made with tiny pockets that were filled with tiny glittery ornaments. I remember as the days pass I would put the ornaments back in the pocket just so I could take them out again.

The Nativity Pageant. An event I anticipated every year. I was in it for many years as part of the 'crowd'. I loved getting all bundles up in my winter gear then all dressed up in 'rags'. It was neat to be able to pet the llamas and the sheep.e We would get to roast marshmellows while standing around a fire 'behind the scenes'. I would get my fill of hot chocolate and apple cider then head back to the chapel for pizza! (some nights)

The Nativity Scene. By far my favorite part of setting up Christmas decorations. I loved arranging it and then just sitting there admiring it. White porcelain figures of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The Little Shepard Boy, the Three Wise Men, the Angels, the Animals....all surrounding a wooden barn placed on a blue satin sheet.

Turkey Dinner. A given with all holidays but for some reason its just so much better at Christmas. It must just be the atmosphere. Or maybe it was those big red goblets that came out every Christmas. (which are now in my possession)

The Tree! Not those ugly fake manufactured kinds. No, im talking a REAL tree. The ones that fill your house with the sweet smell of fresh pine and not nasty toxic plasticy fumes. I loved decorating it as a family. Every year the same ornaments, until they got broken, and at the very end the tinsel. My Dad had a specific way of doing it. Gently draped over his hand picking up only a few strands then strategically placing them on the tip of nearly every branch. He would hand us a small clump and direct us on how to put on tinsel properly as if he was deemed 'tinsel expert'. When we were done we would catch him going back to the tree and fixing any spots we did that werent quite right.

There are many more memories of Christmas I love. Listening to my Mom sing Christmas songs in the choir or even just hearing her over the crowd, Going to Grama's house for more spoil'n, the adventure of finding or making that perfect gift for a friend or family member, Christmas cards. The list really could go on but i just wanted to write down a few that stand out when I think of Christmas.

Today the kids and I set up the Christmas lights. I loved how excited they were getting. They can't wait until tonight so we can plug them in. They are especially happy about the GIANT Santa Claus Nana Jevne brought up for them. We even started our decorations inside and turned on the Christmas tunes! I have so many plans for Christmas I honestly think it will be impossible to get them done but im going to try my best! My goal for this year is to spend next to nothing on Christmas (only using what I have) so we are making stockings, a Nativity scene, and a million Christmas presents! Not to mention all the yummy treat making I want to do! Im so excited to get the kids involved. Hopefully I can get Evan in on some of it too!

Tis' the Season Everyone! Merry Christmas!