Some of my favorite Christmas memories...

Here goes (and I love the funny stuff, so Becca should do another post to keep us all rolling...)
* The 4th ward has us all take a family name off a tree at the ward christmas dinner to do a Christmas surprise for... we get the Harpers. (Remember Danene? Remember Danene's eyelashes???) So a few days later we make a little plate of goodies to take over. It is sunday afternoon, the sun is setting but we still have good light. We park beyond the Harper's house and do a u-turn so we are in the middle of the dead end street (ah, remember when Salem had places where there were no houses?) The older boys run up the street to the door with the gift, Jared wants to follow so badly, 4 years old and shoeless, we find him a pair of shoes in the car- they are too big because they are not his. I can still see Jared, grinning from ear to ear, shuffling (to keep the shoes on that are too big) down the middle of the road toward the Harper's. In the meantime the boys have delivered the gift, rang the bell, and are running like blazes toward the car. They pass Jared who continues grinning and shuffling away from the car and toward the Harpers. We frantically call him back- he does not come. shhhh shhhh shhhh go the shoes, taking the grinning boy closer and closer to Harpers. Danene opens the door, bends to pick up the gift, and looking up sees cute Jared- shhh shhh shhh. She laughes, "well, Hi Jared!" she says laughing, she looks up and waves to us (we're cracking up in the car...) "Merry Christmas!"

I love the OakRidge Boys and our little dance to "la la La LA!" That tradition started in Rexburg- dad was working at Osco and we were all anxious and waiting for him to come home that Christmas Eve so the celebration could begin. Time started to hang heavy so desperation kicked in as I looked for things to keep the evening fun and you kids entertained. I assigned you each a room and a light switch... Adam was stationed to watch for dad. We practiced Adam sounding the alarm and your response by rapidly flashing your assigned switch off and on, off and on. Playing in the back ground was, you guessed it... the Oak Ridge Boys. We turned off the lights and waited - a few minutes later Adam sounded the alarm and the windows of our home came alive with the flashing of the lights. Dad was so delighted by this happy welcome home, and you kids were so excited that you were practically glued to the ceiling. That night we did danced to "It's Christmas" for the first time, and I LOVED it.

Another one- I loved having you all sing us awake Christmas morning. We could hear you as you got your act together in the kitchen. Then the singing would begin, a little disjointed at first but gaining volume and strength- we would lay there for a minute or two and just listen. Fun memories, happy times.

And last- the year dad surprised me with the peach colored dress with the white lace collar- it was the perfect gift- I felt lovely in it, and well surprised and loved by him... but he has made me feel that way every Christmas.

Love you all- now you share too! Mom/Denise