What is you FAVORITE Holiday Memory

  I started this  3 years ago and always get such a great response I wanted to do it again this year.  Post your favorite holiday memory to share with us.  I will be bumping this post up a few times between now and Christmas so we can enjoy all the great and wonderful stories.

Here is mine,  I know this is a repeat memory but this is one that has been the most meaningful,   

My favorite has not changed so here it is again for the new folks and everyone

PLEASE SHARE YOURS:

Growing up every Christmas morning we would go to my Grandparents. Their house was a huge 675 sq feet and here is where they had raised 6 children. Imagine if you will all 6 children plus spouses, grandchildren plus spouses and great grandchildren. 45 or so would enjoy Christmas breakfast together shoulder to shoulderStarting at 7am the crowd would start arriving. The first to arrive would start cooking breakfast. Full on eggs ham bacon biscuts toast coffee, you get the idea. After you ate you took your turn at the stove. Plates would be passed over heads and under tables, thru the windows and out the back door. Everyone ALWAYS showed up and there was always more than enough for everyone the more we ate the more food there seemed to be. It was hot and everyone bumping into each other. The hugs were never ending and the noise, a loud roar. Grandpa would spend the day looking around with his silly smirk and beam at the mob scene he had created. Grandma would radiate with the love she felt so deeply for each and everyone of us. after breakfast came the presents. The tiny front room would be filled to the ceiling with gifts for everone. Grandpa would shop every year and pick out the gifts for each of us. One year while I was in my twenties, he bought me my first power drill. He loved the fact that I worked on my own car and had asked him to teach me wielding, (which he never did, he said that a pretty young lady should never be burned) yet he was so proud of my ambition. Grandma would always hand make something for each of us. Imagine if you will 45 handmade bedsize quilts, or 45 handmade dolls. Each one lovingly crafted with us in mind. She saved old clothes and used the fabric in theses crafts. She made me a doll in a gown made from the fabric of my aunts wedding dress. I have each doll she has made me to this day. I hold dear those memories, the first 30 years of my life were embedded with the love of my grandparents, though they are gone now, I know that they are with us as we carry on our version of the tradition with my own family.

Mine is a tie. My brother and I shared a room growing up and then split into our own rooms as we got older. I can remember to this day sitting up in our room waiting. We finally crashed out about 5:30 am and "santa" came, 6am I tell ya our eyes were open and my parents out of breath. Now my son does it to me. LOL

The second one is I am a trained Classical Trumpet player. I have always used a hand me down instrument that I adored. When I was 16 there was this gift under the tree, had my name on it. My mom and dad had saved and saved bought me a brand new professional horn for my senior year of high school and collage since I had a scholarship to USC lined up for Music.  You see my mom was a stay at home mom and my dad worked his rear end off to make sure we had anything we might need. And Music I could only do since my Aunt had a horn an ex boyfriend had left with her for 15+ years.

My favorite Christmas memory was in 1999.  The previous month, my mother died due to complications of diabetes.  (Normally, I had my pick of several houses to go to and people would make their request's for my company several months in advance. )  I was supposed to have gone to my girlfriend's house to spend Christmas with her and her family (they had asked me to be with them the previous summer).  My cousin told me that she knew that I usually spent the holidays with friends, but that it was time to "come home to family".  She said  that I needed to be wrapped in love  and the extra support from my family.  She was so right.   I called my friend to tell her that there were a change in plans.  Her and her family were disappointed but they understood.  I went to my cousin's house and had a grand ol' time.  While it did not take the pain away of my recent loss, it did help me to manage it better and it reminded me of what a loving family I had.

Great post!! I love it.

I so miss being at my grandparents house during the holidays.  Both my grandparents have passed away. 

Since they lived near by, everyday after school I would go hang out at the house and wait for my mom to pick me up.  My grandma would always bake and cook holiday treats!

On Christmas Eve, I would spend the night and the next morning my grandma made us all a big breakfast before we could even open up the gifts.  The house was always warm and comfortable.  I miss my grandparents...

When I was younger, my mom and her siblings took turns hosting Christmas day at each others house.  It was either our house or one of my aunts or uncles houses.  These were some of the best years for me.  I was surrounded by my family and all us cousins were together.  The oldest 6 are all close in age and we got along real well.  Grandma and Grandpa were always there too.  Thinking about it now brings a slight tear to my eye.  I so miss those times.  Things were so much fun.  I miss all those people.  I haven't seen any of my family in so long because everyone moved away.  Now Christmas is just spent with me and my kids.  I wish they could have known the Christmases that I had.

Thank you for starting this thread, Sue. Its awesome!

I actually have 2 Chistmases that remain in my memories.

The first was from when I was  born until I was around 14 years old. My dad's family would always celebrate Christmas Eve. So we would go out to my Grandma's house, Where with all the aunts, uncles, cousins and others we would celebrate VERY LOUD! Lol, we would play games, sing songs, gossip, There was always a game of poker, pinnole, po-keno, or something going on somewhere in the house. There would be close to 60 people in gramma's little house. The highlight would be when an uncle or aunt and later on the cousins would dress up as Santa at midnight to hand out the gifts. I still remember her homemade tamales, and her special stockings that she gave each grandchild. After everybody would start getting sleepy, but our night wasn't over yet!  Nope, we had to go across town to my other grandparents house so that we could celebrate Christmas day! Here again, we would find ourselves surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and giftwrap! My grandma would make a big breakfast. The smell of buttered toast, toasting in a toaster oven, still brings back memories of my grandma. When my grandma Marge passed in 1973, it was 6 days before Christmas Day. All my grandparents are gone now, but I have these precious memories.
My other memory is my dad's last Christmas. He passed away 10 years ago. We knew he was terminal, but he wanted my grandma's last Christmas with him to be a happy one. So he didn't tell her. Everybody had a great time and he was so happy. He told my grandma in January. He went into a coma that afternoon. We cared for him at home with hospice. I moved back from Michigan to stay and help. One time he came to, his "swan song" if you will. We had our chance to say good-bye. My dad passed into the arms of Our Lord on March 27, 1999. There isn't a day go by that I don't think about all my loved one that aren't here. That is why I am a firm believer of saying I love you all the time. Why keep those words for a special moment? Every moment we are alive IS a special moment. Thank you for allowing me to share. Sorry it is so long.

Michelle

Sue Bee,

Love this post! 

I would have to say our annual Family Christmas party is still the best memory of all...

My Dad's side of the family had 5 siblings and in 1955 my aunt Margie held the 1st "Family Christmas Party" at her house.  All the aunts, uncles and cousins got together for dinner and carols.  We would all run to our Grandmother and ask her if we could open just one present.  Of course she said yes, and it always seemed to be a strategic present of a new pair of Christmas jammies that all of us cousins would put on and we'd be running around like wild indians!  Well, this year will be our 54th and it will be at my cousin Nan's house.  All the Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents have since passed away but my cousin Nan and I will not let this tradition end, we each host the party every other year.  Generally there are about 50+ people between in-laws and neighbors and friends but we have fun as ever and always include a visit from Santa.

Thanks and hugs,
Barb

SUEBEE!

Last year mine was different this year I can laugh about it.  It was my 2nd Christmas with my husband.  We rented a cabin in the mountains and invited all of our freinds. (HUGE CABIN).  WE packed up our car and our Van to the hilt and off we went.  My husband took one of my friends into the other room to show her my gift.   SHe came out laughing hysterically.  SHe said Rhonda don't get mad at him and remember that he loves you with all of his heart.  I did not understand what she meant until Christmas morning.  I opened up my package and I about died laughing.  He bought me underwear and a bra.  Mind you I was 365 lbs and the underwear I could have used for a car cover!  The bra I could wrap around me twice!  I thought I was going to die.  It was hilarious.  I know some would have been offended but to me I had to laugh.  He went into the store and told the lady that his wife was a big woman and he needed the biggest size they had.  Well he got it.  I got a new car cover and the kids had a ball using the bra as a giant snow ball throwing sling shot!   So a potential icky moment turned into the best snowball fight I ever had!  Kids will never forget that!  Neither will my friends or the people in the cabins in that neighborhood!

OMG Rhonda I am laughing myarse off...thats a great memory for sure....

OK Rhonda, somehow I can just picture this!  LOL  that's too funny.  Give my buddy Gerry a hug for me and all the kids too.  I miss all of you bunches.

Hugs and love,
Barb