A Magical Time
Growing up, my mother had a challenging childhood. There was never any money and celebrations were scarce. When she had children, she made sure to create memories for us. Baking cookies was a special event. She used almond extract when making the sugar cookies and today that still tastes like Christmas. We made lots of frosting in a variety of colors and there were always sprinkles. We had tons of fun making the cookies. Of course there was fudge, cinnamon rolls, and various quick breads that needed to be made. Food played a large role in our celebration. My mom always made sausage balls, a couple of cheese balls (the one with the olives was a family favorite), and of course, my mom’s bran muffins (it may sound a little strange, but she only made them at Thanksgiving and Christmas and the day would not be complete without them). On Christmas Eve, my mom often made chili because Christmas was a feast with roast turkey and all the trimmings.
Another holiday tradition when we lived in Beaumont was a trip to Santa’s Village in the San Bernardino Mountains near Arrowhead. (This particular trip was always a favorite of my dad’s.) We loved seeing Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the reindeer. It was also fun to actually touch the North Pole.
No Christmas celebration would be complete without Santa!
Alex and Kylie 
Becky and Jacque 
Gary and Jacque with Santa Dave
When we were young, we opened our gifts on Christmas morning (Gary and I still do). The suspense and excitement was as important as any actual gift. We were allowed to open one package on Christmas Eve and it was always a new set of pajamas. In addition to our actual gifts on Christmas morning, the stockings were a special treat. They contained an orange, nuts, candy, and some small inexpensive gifts that I know my mom had fun shopping for.
Ultimately, Christmas is a time for traditions. This is a time when we share our culture with the children in our family and help build family bonds.
Putting up the Christmas tree provides an opportunity to tell family stories, recall memories, and have a chance to be creative together.
Merry Christmas!
