How kids see holidays: Family, food, gifts

Some say the best way to experience Christmas and other winter holidays is through the eyes of a child. We asked area elementary school students to share their favorite holiday memories. From unforgettable gifts to sledding trips, here are recollections of some very special Christmases for Richmond Elementary fourth-graders in St. Charles and H.C. Storm Elementary fourth-graders in Batavia.

Richmond Elementary

Great food and fun

On Christmas Eve my Mom made cookies and my Dad made a fire. Then we went to go sledding and we went with our friends.

After Christmas we went to a Christmas party and it was a lot of fun. Then it was time to eat and there was a lot of food. We had gravy, turkey and mashed potatoes

--Lia Farwell

Let it snow!

My favorite Christmas memory was a few years ago. It was Christmas morning and I went downstairs to open presents with my family.

After we opened presents I looked outside to see if my Dad was there to pick me up yet and it was not snowing. I got really mad because it was Christmas and it was not snowing.

My dad was there to pick me up. The whole time we were in the car I was asleep. When I woke up we were there. I got my jacket and my backpack on and I got out of the car and it was snowing. I was so happy I was jumping up and down. I threw my backpack on the ground and started playing in the snow.

--Natalia Knudson

Sledding lots of fun

On my last Christmas Eve we spent it at my cousin's house. My cousins are Aidan who is 5, and Tommy who is 17. Also my aunt Andrea and uncle Bill are sharing Christmas with us at their house.

When we got in we took off our coats and settled in the blue house. After a while my uncle decided to let my cousin Tommy, Aidan, and I go sledding with him. We went sledding on my uncle's hill because my uncle lives on a huge hill. As I went down I think now that I was rushing! I also think my cousin Aidan had a lot of fun because he was smiling. My uncle Bill and Tommy enjoyed sledding too!

When Tommy, Uncle Bill, Aidan, and I got inside the house we took our snow pants off and snow boots, hats, gloves, and more. We hung around my uncle's house. I think I even played with Aidan. But after a while we all went to bed, Aidan went in his room, Tommy went in his room, Bill and aunt Andrea went in their room and my mom and my grandma and I slept in the play room. My grandma slept on the couch and my mom and I slept on the floor. "Wow" when we got up it was Christmas day and when we looked outside we saw tracks from Santa's sleigh.

After a while my aunt Debby and Uncle Horst came over and we all started saying hi. Next we all started to open Christmas presents. We all liked what we got. I even think we took pictures. Thanks for listening. Merry Christmas.

--Claudia Anne Sitko

Family and food

My favorite Christmas was in 2006, because my grandma on her tree has a green pickle. Me and my sister have to find it.

We have the best food ever. We always have ham, sweet potato pie, green bean casserole and more stuff. We always eat before we open our presents. Last year I mostly got clothes. No toys barely though.

We have two trees at my grandma's house. One is mine and my sister's tree. We call it our angel tree because, me and my sister collect angels and we hang them on it. The big tree is my grandma's normal tree.

I liked this Christmas because I was with my family and we were all together and we had very good food and cookies.

--Tara Johnsen

Decorating a tradition

Every Christmas my mom and I decorate the Christmas tree. We decorate it with ornaments, lights, bows, and the stand. We also hide on Christmas Eve so we can meet or see Santa Claus. Before Christmas my mom goes to buy my family presents. Sometimes my relatives come to my house or we go to their house. Lastly me and my family have a great time.

--Yiesl Lopez

Clean … and party

On Christmas Eve my family and I cook and clean all day for tomorrow. And when tomorrow comes we cook a little more and clean a little more.

Then the company comes and we talk a little bit and then we start to party!

Then we all eat dinner, go to our neighbor's house and give them cookies to spread Christmas joy.

--Megan Storms

Presents and pinata

On Christmas Eve we make Christmas cookies for Santa Claus and he gives us presents the next morning. We get to open the presents that are for us then we go give our presents to our families. They give us some presents then we sing a Christmas song and we hang a pinata in our apartment. When we break it we get candy and a Christmas book then we go to sleep.

--Elain Vargas

Cookin' up some gifts

On Christmas Eve me and my sisters go on a shopping trip. This year we bought my mom all new kitchen supplies from Crate and Barrel. When we walked into the store we look at the kitchen stuff. There was a variety of kitchen utensils. We found 3 things for her that she will love. We got her a new ice cream scoop that gleams, we also bought her two different kinds of measuring cups that were also gleaming too. When we were done at the store we drove home and wrapped her gift and put it under the tree before she finds out. My Christmas is the best time of the year.

--Megan Westhoff

Finally able to eat

My mom makes delicious chicken and delicious gravy on top. I would ask my mom "can I eat now?"

"No! Not yet," my mom would answer. "Because I have to take a picture first."

My mom always wants to take a picture so they remember what we do on Christmas Eve.

Than we finally were able to eat! It was better than delicious! It was fantastic! It was so good that I ate way too much!

After I ate I went to my bed so it would go by a lot quicker to Christmas Day! So that's special to me!

--Gabriele Butkute

A family thing

Every Christmas my family goes to my grandma's. I always see my uncles, cousins and my grandma. It's kind of like a family thing.

When we arrive everybody is surprised. My whole family brings presents and same with the rest of my family.

An hour later my cousin David dresses up like Santa and gives out presents. My little cousin Jessey likes to pull down David's beard. It's really funny.

After that we eat dinner. It's like a feast. And boy is it yummy!

--Karen Laguna

Hanukah memories

One morning my mom and I went downstairs to get ready for Hanukkah. When we were done at 7 p.m. my cousins started to come. I was so happy to be there.

When it started we read stories about long ago and then we acted them out. By 7:30 p.m. we ate hard bread then we played while our parents wrapped our presents. Then we played with our dradle. But then we got to open presents. It was awesome. When it was time for me to open my present I got a cool car that flips. It was cool.

After we were done opening presents we sang a song. Then everyone went home. I went to my cousin's to sleep over because my Mom and Dad said it was all right. When we got there we started to play his PS2 it was cool. Then we went to bed. I thought it was the best holiday ever.

--Jake Rosefeldt

A feast, and a PS2

One day I woke up and went downstairs and went in the kitchen. My mom, my sister and my dad were in the kitchen too. They were eating so I joined them. It was 11:05 we had to leave at 12 to get to the Christmas party.

We got to the Christmas party at 12:45. When we got there my uncle Mike and my aunt Sarah were the only people there. When my cousin Joseph got there we watched a movie when everybody got there we put the h'ors dourves on the table.

There were shrimp, breads and there were chips and dip too. We had to wait two hours before we should open our presents. My aunt Sarah brought out some chocolate on a silver tray. Dinner was ready 10 minutes later. There was turkey, ham and mashed potatoes, gravy too.

It was about time to open presents so one of my cousins and me ran downstairs and sat down by all the presents. Rachel opened her presents first. Then I walked over to my presents and started opening a present that was a square. I opened it and it was a silver PS2. I got so happy because that's what I wanted.

It was time to leave so we drove home and while we were driving home I couldn't stop looking at my silver PS2 in its white and black box.

--Ryan Devries

Special ornament

On Christmas I always help make Christmas cookies with my relatives. Also I help my mom with the pretty Christmas tree and decorate it with ornaments and on top a gleaming star. Sometimes I make gingerbread houses and put glass houses on a town with fake snow.

My family listens to holiday songs and watches the news because they show where Santa is. We always go to my aunt's house and we open more presents by her tree. I go back to sleep after drinking hot chocolate.

Also when I decorate the tree I have a special ornament. It's a birthday one and it's yellow and says it's a boy and if anyone puts it up I will take it off and put it back on.

--Joey Petersen

Hot chocolate the best

Every Christmas I get to see the Christmas lights. They have lights on every block, I also get to wear my pajamas when I'm opening presents. When I'm outside I play in the snow with my friends. Then when I come in the house I have some hot chocolate. I also get to have chocolate that is so good while I am opening presents. We each get a box of chocolate and some times we share.

--Ashland Hollenbach

Special gift tradition

Every Christmas my dad and I make a special gift for my mom.

Last year, I made a tree topper. I call it the "Ornimastic."

The Ornimastic looks like a cross with a circle and a triangle on top and it is painted red and green.

My mom always says that she loves the presents that I give her. That makes me feel very good.

--Luke Neville

Family get-togethers

Last year on Christmas Eve my mom, Andrea, had her side of the family come to our house. We have to make food for 50 people. Then when we make the kolackies, my sister Rachel sneaks one. When we make the cake, we put baby Jesus in the cake. Whoever gets Jesus get a prize.

On Christmas Day, Mike, that's me, wake Rachel, Hannah, Billy and Tina. Then we all jump on my parents. Then we all have our Christmas pants on and my Dad and I have slippers and a robe.

Then once we all open presents we all get dressed and we all go to my grandma's house. Then, my Dad's side of the family comes. We all give and get presents. Then we all have a turkey dinner.

--Mike Rawson

Mouthwatering smell

Every Christmas we go the my Aunt Georgia's house. Everyone from my mom's side of the family comes.

We have miniature feast after we open presents downstairs. It smells sweet from the pastries, but the warm soft bread and the hot gravy make a mouth watering smell. After all that, and it's about time to leave, we light the candles on the cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday.

That is what I do for Christmas and it's a lot of fun.

Happy Holidays!

--Megan Castro

Watch that snowball

When I was little my brother and I were playing in the snow. When we got back inside my brother pulled my hair. He did that because a snowball I threw hit him in the face.

We were getting ready to go to my aunt and uncle's house. When we got there we had dinner. There was ham, sweet potatoes, stuffing and more.

After dinner my cousins and I played hide and go seek. I was always found last. When we were done Hanna, their dog, ran into me, picked me up and carried me on her back.

--Cameron Inman

H.C. Storm

Time to be excited

Christmas means putting cookies and milk on your table. Too excited to sleep. Waking up in the morning and seeing the cookies and milk gone and so many presents under your Christmas tree! Getting all different presents and getting the stuff that you really wanted.

--Adrian Guzman

A special visit

To me Christmas means giving presents to show that you care about someone. It also means that you should spend time with your family and have the best time ever. My favorite memory about Christmas is when my Aunt Mitzi came for the first Christmas in three years. I was so excited to see her.

--Emily Clark

A gift to remember

One Christmas morning my brother woke me up by yelling, "Go downstairs!" So I ran as fast as a bullet down the stairs. I ran in my living room and found a medium-sized present. I picked it up and the present was a light as an ant. I tore it open. Inside of the present it said go downstairs to the basement.

So I ran down the stairs pushing and shoving my brother. My foot hit the bottom of the basement, I turned around and my eye lit up with amazement. I saw a huge hockey table! I was amazed.

--Daniel Roesler

Traditional trip

Two days before Christmas, my family goes to church. Also, my brother comes home from college in New York to come with us!

At church, we put on a play and get presents. One Christmas my sister Jeanne and I ran full speed downstairs to open presents, and we found a present wrapped in a shimmery, silver paper. Wrapping paper was flying everywhere! It was a bubble gum pink, brand-new Nintendo DS! Also, we play in the snow if there is any and have a snowball fight!

After that, my big brother Brook, my big sister Jeanne, and my mother and father Silin and Yingjie, have cookies and hot cocoa. Every year we go to the Kalahari Hotel in Wisconsin on Christmas Eve. While we are there, we try and go skiing. I will remember this for a long, long time!

--Karen Li,

Reason for the season

What Christmas means to me is Jesus being born. Also it means Santa coming down our chimney and putting presents under the tree and spending time with family members too. Also giving and getting presents.

It's a time to have peace on earth. My family goes to church on Christmas Day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We go over to relatives and play games. We play white elephant, which is when you take a present from the table and you get to trade it with someone who has what you want. I love Christmas and that's what Christmas means to me.

--Laura Hix

It's about giving

Christmas to me is not about getting its about giving. If you just like it for getting you are very disrespectful. It is about having fun and celebrating with family and friends. So if you always think about getting you should change your ways.

--Zachary Sims