This has to be, by far, the best time of the year for me.  The sites of fall with the colors changing from the beautiful green to red, orange, and yellow.  When the cold hits, colors seem to fade away turning to a gray and brown.  I realize that winter isn’t the most eye-catching season until it snows or something, but it’s awesome.  As I look out my window and see the brown grass and trees with no leaves on them.  That actually reminds me of the scenery out in Las Vegas, brown and dull.  Anyways, what better time of the year is there?   The cold weather is great.  Being able to sit by the fireplace and sip on some hot chocolate.  I love wearing shorts and enjoying the warmth of the summer as much as the next person, but that’s why I like living in Oklahoma.  The variety of weather allows you to experience it all. Also, family from everywhere comes together and enjoys some great food, funny stories,  and catching up.  Watching the younger kids open up their presents and enjoy what they got.  I love wrapping and giving gifts, even though many times I don’t have the money to get people gifts.  But, I’ll tell you that I am one hell of a gift wrapper.

Then there’s the great atmosphere that comes with winter.  People are in more of a giving and thankful mood.   Some are stressed about everything, but they tend to calm down eventually.  One of my favorite traditions were having three Christmases in one day.  We would open up gifts in the morning at home, eat some breakfast and watch TV.  At noon we would go to my Grandma’s house with my dad’s side of the family and for dinner we would go to my Granny and Papa’s house for my mom’s side of the family.  It was a blast as a kid.  How could you not beat three different times of opening up presents?  These days are a bit different due some passing of some grandparents and others living out of state, but it’s still fun.  Another tradition is sitting by the fireplace while watching one of the greatest Christmas movies ever, Christmas Vacation
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGxyIhsSAow&hl=en&fs=1]

and even Elf is great too.  
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyCfRHumHU&hl=en&fs=1]

How can you beat Clark Griswold and his family’s antics along with Elf and his ginormous toilets?  Fawesome!

My birthday is 4 days before Christmas and that is cool and it makes this time of year even better, even though some people like to give me Christmas/Birthday gifts (which is not cool).  But what is even better is Christs’ birth.  I know some people love Easter, because Christ died that weekend for all our sins.  I totally understand (wow, I’m talking like my 15 yr old sister) why people love Easter, but to me without Christ’s birth none of it would be possible.  All the cool stories leading up to Jesus’ birth makes it an amazing story.  From Joseph taking Mary as his wife even though he could have sent her away to the Shepherds being told of the news by an angel and following the star to the humbleness of being born in a manger.  It is just amazing story.  

I hope that all of you have a great Christmas holiday with your friends and family.  Enjoy.