Mine would be Christmas 2002. We had just transferred here and bought our first home. We moved in on Christmas Eve and were so happy to settle into our new home. We were crazy unpacking everything and even putting the tree up. It was a wonderful holiday.

That would be Christmas 1996.  Jake was 6 months old, and we were living in South Dakota. 

Being from England, I had never seen a truly white Christmas....until that year.  It snowed Christmas Eve and it kept snowing until the 26th.  It was my first White Christmas, and it was the first Christmas with Jake.  We didn't have a whole lot of money, but we had a good time....we had good food, gifts, and each other.  It was truly special.

The next memorable Christmas was in 2001.  Dave was gone for that Christmas, so whilst I let the kids open a few gifts on the day, it didn't really feel like Christmas.  Dave came home on the 29th, and THAT was when we had our REAL Christmas with all the food and the presents and stuff. 

Being a military spouse has taught me that you can have Christmas any day you want it.  Even in July, if you feel like it.

locomama:
that sounds like fun...I think decorating is the best!

Dharma:
what good memories!
"...you can have Christmas any day you want it.  Even in July, if you feel like it."
That is so true. It's the people and memories that count.

I can't really pinpoint a year, but up until 1999 when my father passed away, I think the adults on my father's side of the family really tried to make Christmas magical for us kids...and it was.

Christmas Eve everyone would converge on my grandparent's two bedroom teeny-tiny little house. Most of my father's 7 brothers and sisters would be there (we lived all over the state and the country though, so there were usually a few absent), along with their children and grandchildren. My grandparent's homely tree would be buried under hundreds of gifts. The adults would draw names and the children would draw names, and usually my grandparents and my aunt Bonnie would get a gift for everyone. Usually all the cousins would play around the farm and sled and beg to open presents all day, and then around supper time we'd all eat ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, Swedish meatballs. Grandma's kitchen would be thick with the smell of lutefisk (yuck!). After we digested a little bit, the older cousins would help the younger ones pass out gifts to everyone and we'd all dig in like a pack of hungry wolves. We'd all throw the wrapping paper into the middle of the living room so the little kids could tunnel underneath of it all. We'd pick up and the guys would go burn the paper, and then we'd have dessert and listen to some cheesy Christmas stuff on TV. In later years I'd read the Christmas story from the Bible, and I think one year I played the guitar or something. The next day we'd go back to grandma's or my aunt Fern's and eat leftovers, go sledding out in the cow pasture, ride snowmobiles, or go ice skating together and drink hot chocolate down by the pond.

I think probably the WORST Christmas I've ever had was 1999. I'd had a car accident on December 16 and broke my humerus. I was on TONS of pain meds, I couldn't wear a bra or even put a t-shirt on, so I was wearing a tank top with a strap cut so I could get it on, and one of my dad's old humongous flannel shirts and pajama bottoms. I was so drugged I think I pretty much had to be spoon fed, so that was kinda funny, looking back, anyway.

Other than that, they've all been really good. It *really* is all about the people you love. The older I get the more I realize how stupid gifts really are--you spend tons of money you don't have on things that people will never use. Blech.

Marcie:
What cute traditions! it sounds like your family really makes the most of the holidays

1999-ouch! That had to be rough! It's good though that you can now look back and laugh!

Where in the world are your articles?? they aren't coming up...

Marcie: What cute traditions! it sounds like your family really makes the most of the holidays 1999-ouch! That had to be rough! It's good though that you can now look back and laugh! Where in the world are your articles?? they aren't coming up...

The holidays are kind of depressing...in all reality I hope sometime soon Ryan and I can just have his mom and my mom to our house. Ever since my dad, grandpa, and uncle died and my grandma had her stroke, Christmas is pretty much an obligation versus something to be enjoyed. It's a mix of psychosis and hard feelings and I hate that crap. Ryan's mom needs somewhere to go, and my mom doesn't feel comfortable with my dad's side of the family because of the psychosis and hard feelings, so she needs somewhere to go. Maybe next year.

My articles...I am sure there are some other bloggers here who would love to tell you where they've gone. I can open the most recent ones up to you if you'd like though.

Marcie:
Wow...I hope that can happen...That sux that there is so much baggage these days.

Sure...open them up....what kind of drama have you been causing!?

"Being from England, I had never seen a truly white Christmas"

So it doesn't snow in England then? It snowed when I was there in Feb 05.

THIS is going to be our most memorable Christmas ever.

Other than that, when Orian was a baby (nearly 4 mos.) and Xavier was 3 and a half, it was such a wonderful time. We lived in the same town as my parents and grandparents, so we were all together. Orian still had the "new baby smell" and was a real treasure, and Xavier was into the The Grinch, which was fun!

Everyone came to our house a few days before Christmas and we all exchanged gifts and laughed and played. Christmas Eve it started snowing, and we ended up snowed in with all our loot and no power!

We couldn't go to work or even leave the house! It was awesome! We played with the little ones in the snow (Orian had the CUTEST bundled up Teddy Bear outfit that I had found at a second hand store, it was toasty and so adorable!) and Adrian and Xavier rode a sled down the hill beside our house.

It was indescribably perfect. Just wonderful.

PS - Baileys and Hot Cocoa sounds SO good! Sounds like that may become a Christmas Eve tradition for me and Adrian!

Everyone came to our house a few days before Christmas and we all exchanged gifts and laughed and played. Christmas Eve it started snowing, and we ended up snowed in with all our loot and no power! We couldn't go to work or even leave the house! It was awesome! We played with the little ones in the snow (Orian had the CUTEST bundled up Teddy Bear outfit that I had found at a second hand store, it was toasty and so adorable!) and Adrian and Xavier rode a sled down the hill beside our house. It was indescribably perfect. Just wonderful.

Isn't it fun when you get those quintessential Norman Rockwell holiday moments?

Unfortunately, my most memorable Christmas was when we were so broke, we basically had NO Christmas...no presents, pretty much no food...we went to bed hungry...oh, it was awful...heartbreaking even. My mother can't even speak about it without getting emotional...me either, actually. I must've been about nine or ten at the time...

But you know, remembering that time (and actually that whole period when we suffered from poverty), makes me feel thankful that we have come such a long way from that...it makes me feel blessed that we (my siblings, mother and I) were able to overcome that, and now find ourselves living decent lives. I am sure that in time, that "memorable" Christmas will be replaced by a more jovial one.

Baileys and Hot Cocoa sounds SO good!

that it does! Merry Christmas Alison!

tex:
You go girl! create those moments!!

I highly recomend the bailey's and cocoa!!

What a cute and memorable xmas story!

inbloom:
Wow...that sounds like such a memorable time. It really makes you thank your lucky stars for what you have. It just proves that it's all about who you spend your time with.

shovelheat:
Thank you! you too!!

But you know, remembering that time (and actually that whole period when we suffered from poverty), makes me feel thankful that we have come such a long way from that...it makes me feel blessed that we (my siblings, mother and I) were able to overcome that, and now find ourselves living decent lives. I am sure that in time, that "memorable" Christmas will be replaced by a more jovial one.

I was trying to think of my most memorable one, when I read your response!  We could have been siblings growing up!  But even tho we got very little, they were still magical.  I have never had ones that good since I was about 8.  Thanks for reminding me of what the season really is all about.