Family is an important part of the holidays and everyday life. A lot of us would not be in college right now unless a parent told us we could do it. Family is the best part about the holidays and the reason that I decided to commute to school every day, wear hand-me-downs from my younger brothers and decorate every square inch of living room with Christmas d�cor.

Family is the reason I watch Veggie Tales, Rescue Heroes and Bob the Builder on a regular basis. It’s the reason I know the lyrics to every nursery rhyme and children’s tune and sing them regularly. Family is the reason I pick up 10 copies of the DE every time my article is in it. It’s the reason I am okay reading a copy of my brother’s English paper, knowing that it is better than mine was.

Family is laughing at jokes that don’t make sense and listening to Tigger’s line several times in a row. It’s loving the fact that a ride in “sissy’s” car is special and learning that cat is spelled “c-a-t” all over again.

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During the holiday season, family plays a big part in my life. The tree inside has to go up, strung with lights and decorated with nonbreakable ornaments.

Mom has to wrap the presents. Because there are now four of us, she developed this clever number routine. All the packages are numbered, with no names on them. Her “master list” will let us know which present goes to whom. If the list dares to get lost, then we will have to open random packages and practice a gigantic gift exchange – this Lego set for that book and so on.

Another great thing about Christmas is believing in Santa Claus again and putting out a plate with goodies on it. One of these days, I hope to graduate to “head elf” status and be able to consume some of Santa’s goodies.

One final tradition is the live Nativity scene. Each member of the family dresses up like a character from the Nativity. Every year, my dad and two brothers play alternate shepherds and wise men and I play an angel. For all the years we did a Nativity scene with our church, I would wear an angel costume. Every year, the pastor’s wife would serve hot chocolate, and I would always spill it down my heavenly white robe. The next year, we would reverse the costume to cover the stain, and the following year, my mom would make a new costume because both sides of the old one were stained. I still have those costumes. I wore one this year, in fact.

I claim to be too young for memories, so those are some of the traditions in our house. I am sure you have memories of your own.

This Christmas, remember to appreciate traditions and family and have a merry Christmas!

Lindsay is a junior studying journalism.

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