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The Holiday Memories I Cherish Most

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams - homes for sale - Florida - Gulf - Beach

When I saw this contest come up today, it instantly brought a smile to my face!  Christmas has always been by far and away my favorite holiday, and the memories I shared with my parents, and now with my children, are something I will cherish for the rest of my days.  

The festivities always got started the day after Thanksgiving, when we would go out together and find the perfect tree.  Dad would have to hold them up while Mom and I walked around inspecting each potential candidate for bare spots or damage.  Then we'd strap our selection to the roof, bring it home, and get to decorating!  Mom isn't the biggest Christmas fan, but she always got a kick out of playing her classic cassette tape of Elvis Christmas songs while we strung up the lights and hung the ornaments.  

Leading up to the big day, the whole family would pile up in the car at least once a week to ride around and find the best holiday light display.  We especially liked the houses that would sync their lights to an AM radio station - we'd sit out in front of these strangers homes and listen to at least a song or two!  But the best neighborhood was always reserved for our Christmas Eve drive.  My dad told me that Santa liked to stop at our house first every year, so we had to leave after Christmas Eve dinner to go for a longer than usual light search to give the big guy time to drop off the presents.  It took me more years than I'll admit to figure out that that was the ONE time each year where my dad would somehow "forget" his wallet or his hat or keys, and have to run back inside and take way too long to find it!  After he FINALLY found his stuff and we rode the streets for a while, Mom and Dad would both point up and swear they'd seen Santa zooming away from our neighborhood, and we would hurry home to open our gifts. 

My Dad is a hardcore jokester, so the unwrapping was always a laugh.   He would send me on scavenger hunts all through the house, or wrap the present and cover every seam with tape so it was near impossible to get in.  He loved to buy jewelery for my mom, and would put a tiny pair of earrings in the biggest box he could find and load the bottom up with weights to confuse her.  The process was almost more fun than the gifts! 

Now, I'm a parent with kids of my own, and I'm maintaining those old traditions, and implementing new ones, too.  Our new favorite memory are our weekly baking sessions!  Everything doesn't always turn out picture perfect, but we love spending the time together and having a special holiday box of goodies to snack on for the month! 

 

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Comments (22)

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

This was an absolute joy to read! So many wonderful memories, both new and old. Seeing the best light displays is a tradition my family continues to do, or at least, my husband and I. I think we appreciate the effort a bit more than our kids since they never had to do house decorating!

Dec 07, 2017 04:47 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Joel- I love this and glad that it was featured. It is a tribute to your parents that you are continuing the Christmas traditions with your own family. Thank you for sharing this with us. 

Dec 07, 2017 04:54 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays too, Joel.  I love the part of your story about how your dad wrapped presents.

Dec 07, 2017 04:59 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Joel, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!    

Dec 07, 2017 05:00 PM
Corey Martin
Martin Presence Group - Ruston, LA
Real Estate and Management Solutions

Time together with family is always the best Christmas present. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for sharing! It sounds like you have some pretty awesome memories. 

Dec 07, 2017 05:03 PM
Tyra Hatcher Mitchell
Alliance Realty - Portland, ME
Southern Maine Realtor

Christmas lights have come a long way...

Dec 07, 2017 08:21 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Joel

What wonderful traditions and memories. Thank you for sharing this personal side of your life. Love what you Dad did with presents! What fun!

Jeff

Dec 07, 2017 10:46 PM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I am seeing a common theme about the Christmas time we spent with our parents. Me too.

Dec 08, 2017 12:17 AM
Janelle Ancillotti
Seneca Home Staging - Syracuse, NY
HSR Certified Home Stager, Syracuse, NY

Joel, those are great memories to cherish! Thanks for sharing.

Dec 08, 2017 05:08 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

When people are away from home this is what they think about. It is that simple

Dec 08, 2017 07:11 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

How delightful! This was a wonderful post to read. I could just see your family sticking to their traditions. It's great that you are now carrying the Christmas spirit along to make memories for your family.

Dec 08, 2017 08:14 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Joel. This is a really story and I enjoyed it ever so much.

Dec 08, 2017 09:48 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

While I do love living in the country, I've always been a little envious of people who could drive around neighborhoods looking at the Christmas lighting displays. I love how you're carrying on the family traditions with your own kids.

Dec 08, 2017 10:08 AM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Thanks for sharing. I have an old picture of my brother and I with a few presents around the tree. Those were simpler times!

Dec 08, 2017 12:08 PM
John Wiley
Fort Myers, FL
Lee County, FL, ECO Broker, GRI, SRES,GREEN,PSA

Thanks for sharing a great family Christmas memory.

I am glad you decided to continue the tradition with your family.

Merry Christmas

Dec 09, 2017 08:01 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I'm so enjoying reading about all of these wonderful memories. I think traditions for children are so important. My grown children now carry on some of the things I did for them when they were young - with their own twist of course. Thanks so much for sharing. D 

Dec 11, 2017 01:45 PM
Tyra Hatcher Mitchell
Alliance Realty - Portland, ME
Southern Maine Realtor

Great memory! Thanks for sharing...."ride around and find the best holiday light display" is what my husband and I did for date night last night- so fun even for big kids

Dec 11, 2017 08:06 PM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Joel,

Thanks for sharing your special memories! 

Happy Holidays:) 

Dec 18, 2017 11:47 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

There are about 8 houses a few blocks from mine that have their lights synced to a ratio station.  So cool!  A fun way to experience lights!   Great post!

Dec 26, 2017 07:02 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Great memories, Joel. I am certainly in tune with your baking tradition. My wife loves to cook and bake and she loves the Holidays. We have more goodies than we can eat and/of give away. Of course, I do my share to cut down on the surplus.

Dec 30, 2017 03:39 PM