What I wouldn't give..

To be a kid at Christmas. Lately I have been having these...I guess you would call them memories...or flashbacks(??) of Christmases past. Nothing long enough to enjoy, just couple second clips when I see/hear/smell certain things this time of year. For example, in the grocery store the other day looking down the aisles and seeing the hanging Christmas decorations, it was a pretty easy flashback because I think the grocery store in town has had the same decorations for 15 years.
Every year the day after Thanksgiving, my dad would take us to the local Christmas tree farm and pick out a tree. We would go to a little rinky-dink resturaunt in town (now gone) and have fries and a pop and then go home and decorate the tree (lights first, then ornaments and the star last). The Saturday before Christmas was always the Milton Christmas (my dads family), my grandma and grandpa spent their winters in Arizona and would fly back for a few days to have Christmas. Above picture is the entire family (minus one, not born yet) Bottom picture we would take turns dressing up each year, myself as Santa and my cousins as Mrs. Claus and the elves.

Christmas morning we would wake up early, go downstairs and open presents, one at a time, youngest to oldest. After presents, we would get together with my aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma and cousins (moms side) either at our house or my aunt and uncles. Bottom picture is Christmas morning, my cousin and I (in my favorite Christmas dress of all time).

I know this is kind of early, but I have had my Christmas decorations out since the day after Halloween - if you haven't guessed, it is my favorite time of year!