It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Matching pajamas for seven children aren't all that I remember from my childhood Christmases. My mother would make caramel popcorn balls that filled the house with an aroma extraordinaire. She would also get us kids all set up on the couch with needles and thread and bowls of popcorn and cranberries for stringing. What we lacked in sewing skill we made up for in enthusiasm. First the strings would decorate the tree inside the house, then they would provide snacks for the birds on the discarded tree outside.

Another family tradition was to go for rides to see Christmas lights. There was a neighborhood in town that was worth the drive and we oohed and ahhed while our bright little eyes took it all in. And then on Christmas Eve, with our stockings hanging by the chimney with care, we would all go to our grandparents' house for the family Christmas party. The small house was filled with aunts, uncles, and cousins, and there would be wonderful food and lots of it. The chicken salad rolls and pecan pie were always my favorite. But the highlight of the night was the visit from Santa Claus. There were 22 grandchildren, and we scrambled up to sit on the carpeted staircase with the mysterious velvet curtains at the top, and waited for the man of the hour. It was crowded, it was fun, it was exciting, and once Santa came through the front door, we all got a gift. My siblings and I never got to see what was on the other side of the velvet curtains, but I heard recently that one of my cousins actually went through those curtains.

Once we had our children, we had different traditions. Going for rides to see the Christmas lights was an annual outing, and we would be fortified with snacks like popcorn and candy. To call attention to any decorations at all, the girls would call out, "my side" - easier for pre-schoolers than "left side" and "right side".

We spent many happy Christmas Eves with loved ones who lived close by in Nashua. The four cousins would scream with excitement every time they got together and Christmas was especially exciting for all of them (and us). There would be delicious party food and lots of yummy desserts. One very special Christmas Eve, the kids, ranging in age from 3 - 6 years, were all upstairs watching a movie when they heard a sound outside. They all went to the window in time to see Rudolph flying through the night skies, then rushed downstairs to tell us they had just seen Santa Claus. It was an unforgettable moment for them, and it made it easier for us to bundle our girls up and get them home to bed to await Santa's arrival.