Three more holiday memories this week. First, Cudahy Branch Manager Suzanne Thomas recalls the shenanigans she and her brother got into on Christmas Eve:
My brother and I had bunkbeds in our bedroom when we were very little, about 5 or 6 years old. On Christmas Eve, after dinner and hanging our socks up (back then we didn’t have the dressy huge stockings they have now — we actually hung up a pair of clean socks), we went to bed and made a “pact” that whoever woke up first after Santa came would wake the other to go look at the presents and check them out under the tree. We did this every year. We’d sneak quietly out of our room to to the tree to look at the gifts and who got what — we were in such awe of the gifts and wrapping. We were so excited that Santa came! One year we were caught — wow, did my dad scare the “reindeer” out of us! He yelled out at us from the doorway, “There will be no gifts for sneaky, nosy kids if they don’t get back to bed now.” My brother and I jumped out of our skin and fell over each other trying to scramble back to bed, wondering if we just blew it for Christmas.
The following year, we got up again and kept it up until my mom passed away and we moved. As a teenager, I’d still get up to go look at the tree and gifts that I now knew weren’t from Santa, and just remember the thrill it was as a little kid. I’d smile over the fun memories, and then I’d wish my mom a merry Christmas and go back to bed. Every year to this day, I wake up and spend a quiet moment in the early morning looking at the tree, and remembering…
And Grafton PB Robin Kohlwey breaks out the cookie sheets:
My favorite holiday season tradition is helping my mother bake Christmas cookies. She usually makes between 10 and 12 kinds and then puts together giant cookie plates to give to family and friends. It’s something I’ve helped her do since I can remember.
Oak Creek CSR Marie Hamilton knows how to get in the spirit:
The thing I loved most about Christmas was when getting together with my grandchildren (I have five). They loved it when I made apple cider and we would all sit in a circle near the fireplace, and, one at a time, we would each pick a song and sing. If that doesn’t get you in the mood, I don’t know what does, They have all grown up, so we haven’t done it in a few years, but it’s nice to remember.
Previously: Holiday delights: Fondue, dump trucks and family
Sights, smells, sounds…how evocative small things are to remind us of the season. The glitter of lights on bright ribbons, the scent of sugar and cinnamon wafting warmly throughout the house, the cherubic voices of children lifted in song. Thank you, one and all, for bringing in the holidays.
Oh the memories I have of past Christmas’s. We always celebrated on Christmas Eve. As a family of 6, we all would get together for the full day of games and preparations for the evening. We sometimes has to wrap the last few gifts, talking about last minute. We always had Chili for dinner, then whent out to look at christmas decorations. Our favorite place to go was candy cane lane. Our mother always stayed behind to do the dishes. ( oh I mean bring the presents and place them under the tree.) When we returned, what a joy to see all of those presents under the tree. Before we could open our presents, we all sang Christmas Carols. We each had to pick a song. We still keep all of the traditions. When it came time to open the presents, one person was selected to be Santa’s Helper. That person would then pick one present at a time and we would all watch that person open his/her’s present. I brings me much pleasure to share this with others.