Our 12 Days of Christmas event is drawing to an end. We've had a wonderful few days and we're going to go out with a bang!
Today, the Alinar authors are going to share one of their favorite Holiday memories with you and, as always, there will be a contest at the end with one lucky reader taking home a bountiful crop of eBooks!
So without further ado, I'll turn it over to the Alinar Authors.
Lily Graison
One of my most prized memories is from when I was a youngster. Christmas was always magical and Santa was this mystical being that left wonderful things under a sparkly lit tree. We didn’t have a lot of money back then so we didn’t have store-bought trees.
Every year, my daddy would grab his axe and trudge my sister and I out into the woods. We’d spend countless amounts of time looking at every cedar tree there was, hunting for one that was straight, wasn’t too big, and was full and didn’t stink too much. LOL When our treasure was found, we’d stand by while daddy chopped it down for us.
Back then, I remember it snowing more than it does now so most of the time, we were bundled up while the snow fell. Being in the woods in the winter, while it’s snowing, is a bit magical in itself. Its quiet and those snowflakes make the tiniest tinkle of sound as they come down and settle on the branches. I remember standing there as snow skimmed my face while I watched my daddy chop down, what I know now, was the ugliest tree in history. LOL
My sister and I were always the ones to haul the tree out of the woods. We’d grab the trunk and pull while daddy picked up the end so it wouldn’t be heavy. The occasional squirrel would come along for a ride and most jumped ship before we made it back to the house.
It wasn’t until I was a teen that we got our first artificial tree. I didn’t mind because by then, trudging through the woods just wouldn’t do, but I actually miss that special time with my daddy. He’s getting on in age now and I can’t imagine him wielding an axe, let alone chopping a tree down. My tree this year is a big artificial monster that doesn’t smell of fresh cedar. There’s no loose needles falling to the floor. There are store bought ornaments and the stringy tinsel is a thing of the past. Old Christmas memories are now treasured and I really wish we had given my own children a memory like that to hold on to. Sadly, in today’s society, everything we need is conveniently available in the store. Homemade ornaments, popcorn garlands strung with cranberries, are now made of plastic and easily used year after year. I miss those old ornaments and believe it or not, my mother still has a few. She puts them on her artificial tree every year and its fun to look at them and remember a time less hectic. When Christmas was more than presents and shopping. When being with your loved ones were the only things that mattered.
Lily
Kallysten
My favorite Christmas memory was when I surprised my then-boyfriend, now-husband by traveling to the United States to spend the Holidays with him.
We hadn’t seen each other since that summer and it felt like a very, very long time, even with daily emails and internet chats and weekly phone calls. Keeping the secret once I bought my plane ticket was one of the hardest things I ever did.
I eventually told him two days before I was supposed to arrive. I asked him what he was doing that day, and when he replied “Nothing special” I said, “Good, because I’m going to need a ride from the airport.” I only wish I could have seen his face during the few seconds of silence that followed.
I was there two days later. We decorated our first Christmas tree together – and crafted our first ornaments, a custom we’ve followed every year since.
I don’t remember what Santa brought ether of us that year, but being together was truly special.
A few months later, he proposed. And a year after that, we got married. This year will be our 14th Christmas together, and they're each more beautiful than the last.
Candy Nicks / Alexandra Marell
The two Santas
I used to be a teacher and in my first year in the job I worked in an infant school (kids aged 5-7) teaching a class of six year olds. The school had a tradition of Santa making an impromptu visit after the Christmas party and this particular year for reasons I never found out, the teacher in charge decided to ask one of the dads to be Santa. He readily agreed and turned up on the day in costume. All well and good so far. But, no one had told the elderly caretaker (janitor) he wasn’t needed as Santa that year and yes, he duly turned up in a Santa suit, too. Cue panic from the teachers and a frantic note going round saying there were two Santas on the loose in the school and the kids were not to see both in the same place. Dad Santa knew of Janitor Santa, but Janitor Santa would have been terribly offended to see a usurper doing his job so it was also imperative the two Santa’s didn’t meet. The funniest moment was when Dad Santa arrived in my classroom and I spotted Janitor Santa ho-ho ing his way towards us across the playground and Dad-Santa, in response to my frantic sign language, had to pretend he needed to dash out to feed the reindeer and would be back in a few. Luckily, the kids only saw a man in a beard wearing a red outfit, size and shape didn’t come into it when the other Santa rolled in.
Confused? Thank goodness all Santa’s look alike and kids of that age are so ready to believe.
Thanks to everyone who's visited the blog for our event. Was lovely to see you! Have a great holiday season, if you celebrate it.
Candy / Alexandra.
We hope everyone has had as much fun as we have during our 12 Days of Christmas event! The Alinar authors are offering up a massive 10 eBooks to ONE lucky winner! To enter, just leave a blog comment, telling us YOUR favorite holiday memory. Make sure to click the I DID THIS button on the form or your entry won't count!
Be sure to come back tomorrow when we'll list all the winners and tell you how to collect those wonderful books you've all won. In the meantime, head over to Alinar Publishing and see all the books our authors have written. Maybe you'll find a few to ask Santa for!
Up for grabs today: Kallysten's: 3 Christmas Books Bundle, The Missing Star, Christmas Magic and I'll Be Home for Christmas, Lily Graison's: The Wicked Series, 4 book bundle,Candy Nicks: Can I Keep You and 2 Book Bundle of The Moon Child Series
Yesterday's winner was drawn by Rafflecopter.
The Winner is....entry #2..Melody Prater!
10 comments:
Wow I really enjoyed reading what memories you all shared!
As a child you always want a white Christmas, just like in the movies. But when you live in the South East it just does not do that. When I was nine years old I can remember wishing for a white Christmas and thinking that it was a I wanted. When I woke up Christmas morning not only was it a white Christmas but the snow was about two foot deep. We could not drive because it was to deep, so we had to walk to my Grandma's house. I can remember that walk, we were bundled up all warm, laughing, singing, and had soooo much fun just walking the three blocks to her house. My dad had to help my little sister get through the snow, my mom held my hand and it's one of the best times I can remember with a white Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you ALL!!
They are wonderful memories to share.I started some of those when my children were born since my christmas memories are so different since my family never did those things.
Thank you for sharing.
Merry Christmas
Merry CHristmas. My favorite memory is my granddaughter's first Christmas. Everybody in the house was sick, but seeing the expression on her face when she tore open her presents was priceless. My and my children were all just kind of okay I got this, but her eyes got big and she loved playing with the wrapping paper. This was my best Christmas yet, even though we were sick.
I look back now to my first christmaswith my husband in our first apt. I hated the apt., but after only living together for a coupole of months we had so much fun combining our traditions from our two very different families.
The Christmas that sticks in my mind was one where I came into the living room to find that my mother had made new clothes for my dolls. The dolls were displayed in their new finery under the tree.
when i was growing up, we'd go out in the woods to find a tree. we live in a very rural area. i took my kids to a tree farm. you still had to cut it down. it was quite an adventure.
My favorite memory and the the one i will never forget was last year. It snowed on Christmas day and it was the last year we got to spend Christmas with my great grandmother :)
One of my fave memories was helping my father wrap some presents for my little sister the night before and placing them underneath the (fake) Christmas tree, while my mother kept an eye out for her and waking up Christmas morning surprised by all of the additional gifts that Santa dropped off for us girls. :D Good times.
Ode T.
I'm the proud Mommy of 3 children, ages 5, 4 & 1, and each year I'm blessed with more beautiful memories of Christmas with my children. This year, my oldest wrote his first letter to Santa. It was such a moment! I'm incredibly joyful that my son is learning to read and write! Every year, we add another wonderful moment to remember and cherish!
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