It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like

Christmas!

I've got my house all decorated. Most of my presents are wrapped. And soon we'll be on our way to Montana for Christmas. Hooray!

I just love the snow. Especially on Christmas. It wasn't that long ago that I left it because I was tired of it. But now, I miss it and I love it. Of course, that's probably because I left it, but oh well.

I'm looking forward to cozy evenings with the family gathered in the living room around the "Vegas Tree" as it's come to be known for the number of bright lights. The annual Christmas party will be the day we arrive and promises to be as big and fun as ever. We'll have enough food left over from the party and my mother's tendency to over do it, to last all six of us through the following week. And she won't stop there! No sireee. She'll make a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner where we'll sit and talk and sip wine. Then we'll load up the 4-wheel drive family sleigh and hit the streets to see all the pretty lights. Silly headgear* is required for this trip. No one is admitted without it.

Upon our return home, exhausted from laughing and dazed from all the light seeing, we will open just one present of our choosing. The choosing of the present is an art in itself. When my brother and I were young, and had time to be home alone with the presents, we would scope them out, guessing, shaking, and fondling each package. By Christmas Eve we knew good and well which one had us the most curious, and therefore, which one we would open that night.

It's my favorite time of the year. There's no doubt about it. And Christmas Eve is my very favorite part of it because of all the fun traditions we've developed over the years, and the great memories that go along with them.

*Silly headgear; (n) an object, usually a hat or headband, worn on the head that is so ridiculous or silly that you cannot possibly take one seriously while wearing it, nor be serious yourself. Christmas silly headgear should either flash, blink, jingle, or at the very least, look utterly ridiculous.