Final winner picked for Festival of Trees and Lights
Karen Bender (and five people she chooses to take) is going to the Dec. 2 Family Night during the annual Festival of Trees and Lights on the South Shore.
Lake Tahoe News in collaboration with the Barton Foundation is giving away four packages of tickets to Family Night. The package includes tickets for six people to the festival and a group picture with Santa.
Thank you to everyone who participated. For those who did not win, tickets are available for purchase.
The smells in the kitchen for what seemed like a couple months with all the baking.
Waking my parents up so early was great. Just had to see what santa brought. Not so great having my own kids do it. But I know it’s a good tradition.
My brother, sister, and I were always excited when Thanksgiving was over and the first day of December arrived. We could barely sleep and jumped out of bed first thing in the morning without any fuss because we knew we had a surprise waiting in the kitchen. The daily ritual of opening a door to our Advent calendar and enjoying the chocolate morsel inside was a fond memory that I share with my three children even today. It is these simple traditions that make the holidays indeed magical.
My favorite memories were the little presents that Santa used to leave on our nightstands. I used to wonder how on earth Santa could get into the house and our bedrooms without waking us or the dog up. Now he leaves little gifts on my children’s nightstands. Once the kids even woke up to new stuffed animals in their bed with them. That Santa is magical alright. :-)
The day SANTA DROPPED OFF A BRAND NEW Corvette WITH A FULL TANK GAS.
One year our boss paid for all of us to go sing carols to people at this care facility where the people could not get out to enjoy the season. We brought a little Christmas spirit to them.
I can still remember it clearly. Out of the mound of presents, I opened a medium sized box and was transfixed in the way only a 3 year old can be. As I looked through the cellophane window, staring back at me was a beautiful lion hand puppet, compete with yellow cat eyes and a soft mane. How special was that puppet? Fifty-five years later he still brings a smile to me when I see him on my shelf looking at me as he did that day. He has gone to summer camp (the reason my grandmother had to sew up a hole in his tummy), been left in Mexico and the LA airport (boy did my dad hate driving city streets to get him back to the San Fernando Valley before the San Diego freeway was built) lived overseas twice and been in every place I have ever lived. Science Lion is the best!
As a child we would have an annual Christmas Tree party where a bunch of families would gather and make a trek into the woods to find and cut down a Christmas tree. Then we would have a tail gate snack, then go back to one of the houses for a dinner party.
At two years old, both of my kids did the same thing and it made me realize how our expectations really ruin Christmas for us as we get older. Lily reached into her stocking and pulled out an orange and lit up like the Christmas tree, no interest whatsoever with the rest of her gifts. Quinn did the same, he reached into his stocking and pulled out a wooden sun toy and lost interest in all else. He loved that toy for years, too!
A few years back we heard a noise outside. When we went to go see what it was there was a package on the front step, with gifts for every family member. THE KIDS LOVED THIS SURPRISE, given by a church member. Although my children are now grown, I am hoping to surprise another family this year!!!!!
Dad and Mom loaded up the old green station wagon with us 4 little kids, and we drove 8 hours to get to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. “Is it shoes and socks time?” all of us kids would say now and then to see if we were close to arriving. I remember being in the kitchen with Grandma, Great Grandma and Mom cooking all sorts of delicious food. I enjoyed just being together with my family and making/wrapping presents for everyone more than receiving presents.