Best of Christmas: Memories

The final Best of Christmas posting, and another one where you are not allowed to argue with. With Christmas inside of a week away, and my return home a mere few days away, it's time to give you an insight into some of my favorite Christmas memories. There were many to choose from, but these 5 are some that have stuck with me and bring a smile to my face. So, without further ado....

Top 5 Christmas Memories (rank ordered)

5. Christmas with Dad - A year ago, my sister and mom went to spend Christmas and New Years in England with the current in-laws. That left Dad and I around for Christmas. While this lacked much of the normal Christmas feel, it was still neat. We bowled, we watched movies, we spent time with family (my brother and dad's side of the family). It was a different Christmas, but still one I'll remember.

4. Nerf Bow and Arrow - As a kid, I owned many many Nerf weapons. Without a doubt, one of the greatest of these was the Nerf Bow and Arrow. My brother and I got these the same year at Christmas. Shortly after gifts were opened, we were standing on opposite ends of a room and began firing at each other. The Nerf Bow and Arrow was an awesome toy and many many hours were spent playing with them. One of the coolest Christmas gifts.

3. Grab Bag gifts - My Uncle and Aunt (on my Dad's side) have some unique things about them. One year, they came for Christmas and did not have time to wrap gifts for my siblings and I. So, all of the gifts were in one big sheet. They put it on the floor, opened it up and said go get it. We started tearing through the gifts pulling stuff out. In the end, we made some trades and were pleased, but it was an experience that will probably go unrepeated.

2. Snowing at 12:01 am - Everyone can think of a White Christmas, but there is a particular kind that sticks with me. At the end of an 11 pm candlelight Christmas eve service, exiting the church on Christmas day and it is snowing. Really cool. I don't believe it turned in to much more than a dusting, but to walk out of church on Christmas Day and to see it snowing...wow!

And my Number 1 Christmas Memory....

1. Visit by Santa - To be honest, this one is primarily a memory of being told as opposed to experienced. That is I don't truly recall it (in my own head), but have heard the tale numerous times. As a very young kid, my family and I were watching Mickey's Christmas Charol when we hear "Ho-Ho-Ho" and the front door shut. We (my brother and I) race into the living room and bam, our gifts are laid out on the floor. Amazing. Santa visited us and we never knew he was there. Thanks for some creative parents, this will probably never leave me (and might even cause me to attempt a repeat of it for my own kids).


There they are. I look forward to making new memories each year, but it'll take some special things to overtake some on this list. An early Merry Christmas!