'Tis the Season!

Some of my earliest family memories involve the winter holidays. As far back as I can remember, Thanksgiving morning meant waking up early to catch the beginning of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While glued to the television in the family room, my sisters and I would start peeling apples for the pie as my mom prepared the crust. After dinner while Dad did the dishes, my sisters and I would curl up on the couch in our turkey coma to watch the first Christmas movie of the season. Whether it was It’s a Wonderful Life or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, we’d undoubtedly be asleep before the credits rolled. 

Within a few days of Thanksgiving, we’d be back to the family room to set up the Christmas tree. As Dad hung the lights my sisters and I would hang our homemade ornaments while my mom arranged decorations throughout the rest of the house. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.



For my family, Christmas is about love and laughter and time spent together. Christmas equals Peanuts and The Grinch, holiday lights and Nat King Cole, and eggnog and Oreos. Of course, as we kids grew older and moved away from home, some of our favorite traditions fell through the cracks; but thankfully, one has survived the years.

My favorite tradition is my sisters' and my letter to Santa. Every year on Christmas Eve, the three of us write a detailed letter to the Big Guy that is nothing short of outrageous. We all take turns writing a sentence, and the letter is usually so long and silly that I’m amazed anyone can read it the whole way through without taking notes. The magical part about this tradition is that my sisters live in Alexandria and Los Angeles, yet we have never missed a letter. Traditions like these are the ones that last a lifetime, and I can only hope my kids can share in this wacky Christmas activity one day.

I think family traditions are what keep love alive; and let's face it, these days we could all use a little extra lovin’ in our life. I may not see my family as often as I’d like, but I know that every Christmas Eve our letter to Santa will bring us right back to that family room where so many of my favorite memories were made. 

This holiday, revisit your favorite memories and carry forward those family traditions. You might be surprised how many you remember, and there's no doubt it will lift your mood.

Happy holidays, everyone, from me and mine to you and yours!