christmas eve

i remember when i was a kid- i loved christmas eve. why? because we got to start partying! mom would bring out the snacks- we didn't have them throughout the year because they were expensive- and we would have the record player going with our favorite christmas tunes (elvis blue christmas was always in there :) and---- we got to open presents. yes. you see- we had to open the gifts from mom and dad and the aunts and uncles and who not to make room for santa's gifts. those were the really exciting gifts! the family would always give you gifts like mittens or underwear or candy and whatever. not exciting. no- you wanted what santa brought. toys like breyer collectible horses or simon or barbie in whatever variety was out that year. those were the gifts you went outside in subzero weather and played with- if it was an outside gift- or you bugged mom until she put the batteries in- or you just started right in (in barbie's case). in many ways, my house was not unlike ralphie's. :) have a safe holiday and enjoy your loved ones. namaste.