Christmas Memories

I've become very nostalgic as of late. Decorating and preparing for Christmas gets me thinking about the Christmases I had as a child and the small details that I will forever connect with the holiday:

--the hiss and pop of the Christmas album playing on my grandparent's turntable (Brenda Lee, Gene Autry, and the gang have never sounded as good since)

--trying to make it so the colored bulbs on my Grandma's ceramic tree were truly varied (there is no way to ensure two of the same color will not be side by side)

--the smell of my mother's, decorative and not to be lit, Christmas candles (I equally liked the smell before and after my sister and I lit them to have our very own Christmas morning about a week before the actual date)

--ribbon candy. I have always hated the taste but miss it sticking to the inside of stockings

--My name in huge glitter letters on a bright red stocking

--everyone sitting around the table talking or playing board games, two gallons of eggnog toddies later (Grandma always at the head of the table and me snuggled next)

--smell of Cherry Halls cough drops: for about 4 years in a row I was blessed with a horrendous cough and sore throat for Christmas Eve

--my dad pointing out the ACTUAL sound of hooves on the roof on Christmas Eve (doesn't everyone have left over deer legs in their yard for such reasons?)

--the school sing along: Kindergarten through 5th grade crammed into the gym singing to the words on the overhead....very out of key, soooo not politically correct

--getting "dressed to the nines" for Christmas Eve at my Grandma and Grandpa Sheppard's. HUGE party, everyone dressed up, and the table set nice enough for Martha Stewart to be envious

May you all reminisce on the little things that make this season so great.....and it is NEVER the presents that are remembered.

Merry Christmas!