Christmas All Year Community

I thought it's about time, we got this going again and the perfect question would be about this past Christmas 2009.

What one thought from this Christmas time stands out? Was there a certain smell or sound that sticks with you? A comment someone said? It doesn't have to be good or bad, just something that stood out to you.

Smell: My mom's and mother-in-laws tamales. It isn't a Mexican Christmas without them.
Memory: This year my son and daughter (4 and 7) argued about whether Santa had a magic key or magic dust in order to enter into homes without a fireplace. The homes in our area do not have fireplaces.

Two things stood out... Making a gingerbread house with my brother and his wife 4 days after Christmas. A blast! The second memory is the quiet time spent with my mom and aunt on Christmas Eve. Comfy and quiet. Loved it before the hustle and bustle of all the other parties.

It was Strange. Nothing really seemed right. We left the in-laws a day early and didn't go back for New Years. Everyone just seemed so stressed and we didn't want to add to it.

We spent the next week at home, just the 4 of us and that was good. It had been a few years since we were home for New Years and it was pretty fun.

For New Years it was the first year in a long time that we went out to a party. Since it was a family function the kids were invited. We danced, drank, and ate plenty of nice goodies. We also stayed the night so we wouldn't have to drive home.
The best memory of that night was when my brother-in=law tried to do The Worm/Snake (an old dance move) and he could not get off the floor (he is a bit on the heavy side) so he sort of just slid. It laughed so much!!!

Two thoughts stand out of this past Christmas,

1. Getting to watch my autistic son in a school program(never thought that would ever happen)

2. How the enitre season went by so fast, I feel like I blinked and its gone.

I already have bought my mom and aunt gifts for next year! It was sad for me to take down the Christmas tree today. FYI, it is -7 degrees fahrenheight right now outside!!!