Quote Originally Posted by jackmilliesmom
...but now becoming at tight squeeze with 36 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. but what a tradition it is wonderful.
Goodness! That is a lot of grandchildren! How totally neat that must be with everything together at Christmas like that

Things that take me back include music, cooking and getting the tree. My dad brought home a record when I was just a wee little one with a picture of a man's face and he had snow on his beard. Over the years, my sisters and I came to refer to that record as "the man with snow on his beard". It's really Roger Whittaker and this is the album:

Mom and dad would put a stack of records to play on the record player when us kids went to bed, and I would creep out of my bed and lay down in my doorway and just listen. Christmas ins't complete with the sounds of Roger Whittaker. Imagine my joy when I found this album on CD!

My mom always makes the best cookies, fudge and hello dollies (these are like the 7 layer bars) and my dad makes snickerdoodles with my grandmothers snickerdoodle rolling pin. All of the sweets are made in early december before getting the tree. Getting the tree was always one of my favorite things. I grew up in Indiana, so it was tradition to drive for what seemed like forever to a Christmas tree farm. Complete with a saw, we would walk for miles to find just the right tree. Dad would cut it down and we'd drag it back to the farm where there was hot cider and treats for the taking. The tree would get strapped to the top of our van and we'd drive home very slowly. Once home the tree would get put up while mom got out plates full of cookies and fudge and also eggnog. The Christmas records would be turned on and we'd all listen while decorating the tree. Those are precious moments in my life, with my family all together like that.

**hugs**