We all have memories of our favorite Christmases. It was either the gifts, the guests, the meal or something funny or spiritual that happened. Perhaps it was some of the family traditions, please tell me yours. I remember waking up to German Stollen and later in the day having tamales for lunch and french fod for dinner.( we had to cover all the ethnicities in the household) One year after opening all the gifts, I got sad as I did not think I got my blue bike I wanted. Then mom said go set the table out on the cabana and we will eat. There was my blue shiny bike. I remember even the first mud and scratch on it.

Hmmm - usually the ones that I spend in Darwin, Australia - they usually consist of going out partying Christmas Eve at midnight and not returning home until 6am when a champagne breakfast buffet is arranged by the pool for the adults whilst the kids demolish their presents. Rest of the day is spent zoned out after said partying and boozy breakfast leaving the kids to play with their gifts uninterrupted :-) Christmas’s away from home are always great as you get to sample the different ways people celebrate around the world.

When I was a kid, on Christmas Eve, we always went to midnight services at our Presbyterian Church. My father's family has been members there for generations & my aunt & uncle & cousins are still members. My dad was a deacon. After services, we went back to my Aunt Ruth & Uncle Bob's house for a late supper of Oyster Stew with a few light trimmings. For some reason that I've forgotten, there was some tradition about fish on Christmas Eve, but I don't remember. Then, Christmas Day, we had our turkey with 2 stuffings, regular sage & the left over oysters for an oyster dressing. And we kids always had to sit at the kids table ! And our food was always cold cuz my Grandfather served everyone on Christmas Day & we kids got served first !
" Now. Laurie, you want some of this fine oyster dressing, don't you ? "
" No, thank you Grandpa. I hate oysters. "
" Laurie, nobody hates food in this house, your Grandmother & Aunt Ruth worked hard to provide us with this wonderful feast, and besides, if you eat it you'll get to like it so I'm giving you a double scoop. Be sure to eat every bite ! "
*sigh* There is NOTHING worse than cold oyster dressing, I'm here to tell you.

My favorite Christmas was also my worst. I was 7 and got a guitar for Christmas from my dad (I wanted to be the next Linda Ronstadt or Joan Baez)...that was the best part of that Christmas. The worst part of it was that I had chickenpox really badly...even on my hands...so I could not actually unwrap my gift...and obviously that also meant that I was unable to play it until my chickenpox cleared up.

**For the record, my singing sounds like sh*t, and I can't play guitar either. Needless to say, I never became the next Linda Ronstadt or Joan Baez.

Oh Jen you are hilarious!! Lauren, I remember having to sit at the kids table for years and finally growing into the teen table. We debated life issues at the teen table. Oyster dressing sounds delicious. Phil, your champagne breakfast buffet sounds yummy.

I don't see why not being able to sing or play guitar would keep you from being the next Linda Ronstadt or Joan Baez.

(*ducks*)

I just thouht of a less itchy best Christmas. I was maybe 20, I went home to Hawaii to spend the holidays with my family. My brother and I went to a Stone Temple Pilots concert (but we had to take my kid sis who was about 9, which is never fun when you are 20)...but the concert was still awesome. Then a few days later for New Years Eve we lit about 500,000 firecrackers which we'd hung from telephone poles (in Hawaii its tradition to light as many firecrackers as money can buy for ringing in the New Year)...I was deaf for about 2 days, but it was a blast (no pun intended)!!!!!

I haven't had my best one yet.. Still waiting..

I hope this one is a good one for you!

Of course it will be .. I've been invited to Ann's

Hmm, one question though Keith ... will you be sitting at the 'big people's table' this year?

Well.....as long as there's no Oyster Dressing involved.....

You better show up.. I am so looking forward to pinching those cute little cheeks.. Tutu is looking forward to checking out the ears..

Will there be any chance of a photo-op?

Now, there are some images that would warm and lighten the spirits of the members, methinks.

Personally, I want to see the introduction of Keith to Tutu. Seriously, does Tutu make a good first impression?

Of course, she is a Persian you know..
She is a real cat.. With very long hair..

Tutu is an admission by Ann that she didn't want to mess with Dorothy's lawyers ... Toto has been making cold hard cash for decades

I don't know if the TV show "Family Plots" makes it's way to where you are, but, you have to see the patriarch of the family and his Persian. This is one tough man and to watch him melt with his kitty is priceless ... in the best way.

Hmm, I am now wondering if it is a good idea to be out on the porch calling out for my cat, "Microsoft, here Microsoft .... come here."

Hehehehehe Tutu loves you..

You know, I'm actually afraid for Keith, ...Tutu will be trying to play with his blinking nose....It could get painful !

Tutu will be gentle.. She's a sweet kitty..

Ok, tearjerker time ...

I cannot say exactly which Christmas, or how many times this took place, but ...

Being young and determined to catch 'Ol Saint Nick in the act, I would camp just outside my bedroom door in plain view of the tree. And as always I would wake up the next morning tucked in my actual bed, wondering?? ...

And again, I don't know which Christmas, when the realization of who the 'big guy' was, but ... I love the idea that my parents watched, hopefully laughed, smiled and were there Christmas morning to watch my eyes go wide ... time and time again.

Tom Clancy once wrote something like .. "Life just kinda goes downhill once you stop believing in Santa Claus"

Yeah, true say.

I will, willfully, admit that from time to time I still listen to the broadcast reporting Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Eve :) .

there is a website that on christmas eve tracks santa's journey around the world...we get on it every year...but i cannot remember the site's url right now...if i remember it, i'll edit this post...but i suppose it can probably be googled. the kids love it...and santa is a speedy guy for being such a "jolly" men...me, gimme a nice chevy big block, and i'll take santa on...race for pinks...

Lololol.

Although with 'Blinky' in the front and the beefed up suspension and struts, and then displacement wise kicking it up to and kissing the 5000 cc. mark this year, I am not sure where to put my money. Drag, or track?