Favorite Christmas memories

Photo to cry for

My favorite Christmas memory is when my brother and I were very little. My parents had us all dressed up in our Christmas outfits. We were all in our family room and my parents were preparing to take our Christmas card photo. I was dressed in a cream bunting suit with red tartan trim.

I was supposed to hold a baby bear dressed in a red stocking cap and night shirt. My brother was to hold a bigger version of the same bear and was wearing a red flannel outfit with cream trim. My mother sat us next to each other on a large rectangular ottoman covered with a white blanket.

As soon as she got us and our bears propped up just so, she would hurdle to the side so my dad could snap the perfect Christmas photo. But every time my brother or I or one of our bears would tumble over or one of us would start crying. My mom would scoot over and prop us back up or comfort us to prepare us for another attempted photo shot. This routine continued for nearly an hour.

Finally, in desperation, my mother ducked down behind the ottoman and kept us in place. The final photo turned out great except you can see an arm alongside one of us. Even after all these years, this is our favorite Christmas photo.

--Michael Guffey

The crooked tree

I had completed this assignment and was ready to turn it in. Until today became the funniest Christmas memory ever! I woke up and found out that we were going to cut down our Christmas tree. This was the first time we've ever done this (and probably the last!).

So off we went and I didn't know what to expect. We climbed on a hayride and took a ride through the forest. My little brother, Ryan was holding on to me very tightly during the ride.

We finally got to where we were supposed to be. Then we got dropped off. We wandered for quite a while and saw many different types of trees. Then we saw one that stood out from the rest. There were no holes, brown spots or twisted trunks. (We thought.) Our family took turns sawing it down. We loaded it on to the car and brought it home.

There was a lot of ice on the branches, so we put it in the garage to defrost. My dad brought it in about two hours later. It was still wet, but we tried to put it up anyway. Believe me -- it did not work! First, it almost tipped over! My parents tried over and over again to make it straight. They finally got it to stay but it was very crooked.

My dad said he was going to chop the bottom off to see if that helped. So he got the saw and started cutting. I heard an "ouch." My dad cut his finger really badly! Once we got that taken care of, he ended up cutting 8 inches off the tree trunk to make it straight. My parents tried one more time and they finally got it!

Everyone was so happy. This is the smallest tree we've ever had, but at least it won't fall over. We call this our Charlie Brown tree. Next year I think we'll get an artificial tree!

--Mollie McDonald

The Jacuzzi blew up

My most memorable holiday was in Texas in 2005. It was snowing, and we decided to use our Jacuzzi on Christmas Eve, but it blew up! My mom was slipping on ice trying to fix the thing. It was so bad that the neighbors had to come over to help us.

During the next few days, chunks of ice were in our pool, so my dad had to break it up. That was my most memorable holiday because we hardly ever had snow in Texas.

--Chris Neill

The Three Magic Kings

My favorite Christmas memory is when we celebrate "The Day of the Three Magic Kings." The Three Magic Kings followed the star that lead to Jesus and brought toys to him.

Every January 5th, the kids write a list of what they want and put it inside of their shoe. Then they put their shoes under the Christmas tree. When January 6th comes, the Three Magic Kings come and put presents under the kids' shoes. That is how you celebrate the Day of the Three Magic Kings.

--Oscar Valazquez

No one wants this gift

You think getting coal is bad for Christmas? Every Christmas our family has a tradition that has been around for decades where someone gets a coal bucket for Christmas. It started long ago when someone wrapped up and old coal bucket as a "present" and gave it away to someone in the family. Now every year, this coal bucket present gets passed around our family. The person who has the coal bucket wraps it up beautifully and gives it away to someone in the family. No one wants to get the coal bucket, and nobody knows who will get it next. Last Christmas my parents go the coal bucket. I think this is a fun tradition.

--Chris Grandquist

Tree a tradition

We have many holiday traditions in my family. Every year we put up our tree after Thanksgiving. Our family also rings the Salvation Army bell. We decorate cookies and gingerbread houses with my Mom. On Dec. 25, we have a big Christmas breakfast and dinner. I love spending Christmas with my family.

--Thomas Vitucci

Christmas in Hong Kong

My best Christmas memory happened the year I was adopted from China.

Our flight home from China was on Christmas Day. I celebrated Christmas in Hong Kong, China and later in Carol Stream. It was 1999, so we all started to celebrate the coming of the year 2000. We wore Santa hats and glasses with the number 2000.

We woke up the next morning, it was Christmas in Hong Kong. Our flight was 9 a.m. from Hong Kong. We got on the plane and flew for a long time. We got to the O'Hare air port in Chicago at 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day in Chicago. We met our family in the airport and went to my new home in Carol Stream where we opened gifts and celebrated Christmas again. This time with my grandmas and grandpas, aunt, uncles and cousins.

It was fun but I was very tired, so I jumped in bed with my new kitty Shadow and fell asleep.

--Lindsey Gansen

The 24-hour rule

Every Christmas Eve we go to my Grandma and Grandpa Lasalvia's house. When we get there, we make snowflakes. After that we eat dinner and every year I put ten black olives on each finger, so every finger has a black olive on them. I love black olives.

Every Christmas day, my dad's side of the family comes over and after we eat and while the parents talk, we make the crafts my mom buys out of a catalog. After the parents are done talking, we open presents and go play with them. Every year we do a thing called the "24 hour rule." When you get a present you get to play with it for the rest of the day and you don't have to share it because you just got it. It's so fun to see my family who comes from so far away.

--Ashley Duer

Santa should call again

My favorite Christmas memory was two years ago when Santa called us on the phone. Santa asked what we wanted for Christmas. It was very exciting when he called. I just wish he would call again.

--Clayton Cortina

Find the birdie

A cool thing my family does during the holidays is that my dad hides a bird somewhere around the house, and whoever finds it gets a prize. He hides it more than once, and it gets more difficult each time. Last year, I found it three times.

Another object he hides is the Christmas Pickle. This is different, because it is hidden only on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day, and it is only in the tree. It is very hard to find because it is green and so is the tree.

I have never found the pickle, but my older brother has gotten it every year. The prize for finding this is even bigger than the one for finding a bird. This makes the holidays even more fun!

--Ben Shabowski

The birthday tree

My favorite Christmas memory starts on a cold day in November. My family and I go to cut down our Christmas tree at Lee's Trees. We walk around trying to find the perfect tree and then we see it! A dark green beautiful tree! My dad grabs the saw and we start to cut. Then we bring the tree home. When we get the new tree inside and in the stand, my mom brings out the decorations. We put on the lights and unpack the ornaments. At that time, my brother and I start to hang the different colored ornaments on the tree talking about the memories that go with each one.

The day after Christmas we transform our Christmas tree into my spectacular birthday tree just in time for my birthday on Dec. 27. To do that, we have to take down all the Christmas ornaments. Then we make it a themed tree. Every year I have a birthday theme. This year it is going to be art. In years past, it has been Madeline, soccer and Funky Diva. I love decorating the birthday tree and I can't wait to do it again.

--Maddie Parise

Sensational skiing

A couple of years ago we went to California over the holidays. We were supposed to go to Donner Pass to go skiing. A storm came, and the winds were blowing at 75 mph. The road was closed, and we could not go skiing.

The next day, we went to my aunt's in Fresno. We were close to the mountains, so we drove up to Sierra Summit, where I learned how to ski for the first time. By the end of the day, I had gone up the chair lift three times. Coming down the mountain, I was faster than my Mon and Dad. It was a great trip!

--Clayton Welch

Making anise cookies

One of my favorite Christmas memories is making anise cookies with my grandma Alma. Every year, we go to her house a few weeks before Christmas to make these yummy, licorice-tasting cookies.

Anise cookies only have five ingredients: eggs, powdered sugar, anise oil, ammonium bicarbonate and flour. You don't measure the amount of flour you put in. You keep putting flour in until you can cut the dough with a knife and have it come out clean.

When it's time to cut the dough into shapes, I like the gingerbread man cookie cutter the best.

Something very different about these cookies is you have to let them dry overnight and bake them the next day.

This is my favorite memory because I get to spend time with family while making a delicious treat. Anise cookie making has been a tradition for so long that my grandma made them with her grandma over 80 years ago. I hope we keep this tradition until I have grandchildren and even longer than that.

--Jessica Keen

The yellow and black bike

My favorite holiday memory was when I ran out of my room and started screaming with excitement. I was so excited!

I remember looking down from the balcony at all the presents. There was a sea of presents, but the one I most remember was a black and yellow bike in the back left corner. From that day on, my memory of Christmas will be the picture of that yellow and black bike.

--Mac Feehan

New Year's to remember

My New Year's Eve started out by going to a Japanese restaurant with my cousins, aunt, uncle, Mom, Dad and brother (we stuffed our stomachs).

After eating we went to my cousins' house. In their basement they have a strobe light. We played a game with it on, and you needed to get from one side of the basement to the other. I was walking, and I didn't see the wall. I ran right into it! I ran up the stairs to my Mom. She made me feel better.

I looked at the TV and it was almost midnight! Everyone came running up. On New Year's Eve my family always sets off poppers on zero to the countdown for the ball to drop.

It was finally midnight. We all popped our poppers and it was finally the new year. I could not feel the pain in my body anymore because I was so happy it was the new year!

--Allie Mikos

Fearn

Dog enjoys holiday

My favorite Christmas memory actually doesn't start on Christmas. It starts on Christmas Eve. We always have a huge party at my grandma's and my house. The Christmas Eve party is at my house, all the family is invited.

My favorite Christmas memory is from 2004, the first Christmas for my dog. We had just got a pet dog. I would wake up very early and look at all the presents under the tree. When everybody is up our dog would run around the Christmas tree and living room. Mom and Dad would take pictures and Dad would videotape it. Even my dog gets a present. We bring our stuff up to our room. I just think it's special because it's my dog's first Christmas.

--Adam Miller

A brand new puppy

My favorite Christmas memory is this year when I got a brand new puppy. I got him on Nov. 23.

His name is Benny, weight one pound, height as big as a soda can and loves to play.

Funny stuff about Benny is he marches when he plays, he walks up to your shoulder and takes a nap there, plays with a squeaky toy bigger than him and barks when he see his reflection. I want Benny to stay in my life forever.

--Audrey Buchner

Grandpa's house

My favorite Christmas memory is when I go to my grandpa's house each time. We go there and have rice, beans, tamales and one big stuffed and juicy turkey.

When we eat we first pray to Jesus. My family always gives thanks when we eat dinner. That's my favorite part -- dinner. I love to eat my favorite thing -- turkey. Every one of my cousins thinks its all about the presents but it's all about being with your family and having a good time.

I think its amazing that Jesus was born on Christmas. When it's time to open the presents all my cousins and all the 4-year-olds run and start screaming because they're happy. Well that's the best Christmas I had.

--Alex Lopez

The wiggly tree

My favorite Christmas memory was well, let's just call it the Wiggly Christmas Tree. One fine afternoon I was listening to Christmas songs and my two smallest sisters were running around everywhere in the house. My oldest sister Emily was doing the same thing I was, listening to Christmas songs.

Now my two youngest sisters, Regan and Bethany, were chasing each other. Bethany was chasing Regan down the hall. Then the funniest thing happened. Regan ran into the Christmas tree and the Christmas tree fell on her. She was full of sap, water and pine needles. Emily, Bethany and myself couldn't stop laughing. My mom said it wasn't nice. So she said our punishment would be to pick up all the pine needles. We did that while my mom gave Regan a bath. I still kept laughing.

This was my favorite memory because it was so funny. I still laugh at it once in a while.

--Megan Mehlbrech

A special gift of health

So far, my favorite Christmas was a few years ago. It was my first Christmas at may aunt's house in Oswego, I was worried about my cousin. She had a sickness and had to go to a hospital in Chicago and I thought that she wouldn't be able to go home. She had to stay there for approximately 3-5 months. She was cured about half a month before Christmas and I was glad that she was all better.

In the afternoon, my mother and I were making dinner for the special day. I made a delicious vanilla cake with my older sister who was 5 years older than me. At about 5:30 p.m. my mother, father, two sisters and I went to the car to leave our house to go to my aunt's house for Christmas.

After we ate, we would bring out baby Jesus, which my little sister brought out. I carried the candle behind her that twinkled brightly. For the first 2 seconds I walked out, my cousin blew out the candle and he had to re-light it. After the candle was lit again, I re-entered the room and the candle was beautiful. At the end, we all ate candy canes and opened presents.

This was my favorite Christmas because I couldn't imagine a Christmas without my cousin because she was in the hospital. I was worried that she wouldn't come back.

--Jennifer Aguilar

Going to Chicago

My favorite activity I do for Christmas is to go to Chicago. I get to pick one friend. I sometimes pick Teighan. We both bring our Ipods in the car. We listen to the song "S.O.S." My parents tell us not to sing because we are too loud. When we get there we go to Build-a-Bear. I received a monkey last year and Teighan got a bear. I love making bears because I like to stuff them. We also go to the American girl Doll store. It is so cool there because every doll is out and there is so many clothes. Then my parents get to go to their shops.

At night we see the lights. There are all different colors of the rainbow. The Christmas is so big with all different color lights. After we are done looking at lights we walk to our car. We get all comfy. Then we go and get some ice cream for the ride home. Then we are off!

--Alyssa Getz

Enjoying the Chinook

My favorite Christmas memory was when I had to wear shorts on Christmas vacation. The reason I wore shorts and a tank top are I was in Canada and in Canada there are these things called Chinooks. Chinooks make it hot and humid for the rest of the day. Even if it is supposed to be 0, it is really 15 degrees because of the Chinooks. It was the weirdest day of my life. When I went to the house, my dad told me that it was going to last the rest of the week.

After that day was over I was starting to get a headache from all this hot and humid air. That's why my favorite Christmas memory is this one because it was the first Christmas that I wasn't cold.

--Savannah Kral

The best grandma

My favorite Christmas memory was my grandma's very last Christmas when I was 7. This was my favorite Christmas memory because she gave the best hugs and was the best grandma ever.

Once she came with us trick or treating and I took a picture with my cousin Jack. The picture was adorable because he was dressed up like Tiger and I think I was piglet. It was hilarious. The Christmas of 2004 I had given my grandma a scarf she loved. She was having a blast that Christmas. I could tell she was happy just being able to be there. She will always be with me and I know that.

It still brings a tear to my eye when I think about her. I now have many of her belongings because my grandpa moved out and didn't want everything. So my family and I gathered up some of the things we wanted. The one thing that I just loved of hers is the silver container like a snow globe and also genuine gold in the same thing. They are so pretty and I love them so much.

--Tina Lirot