Marshmallow Shooters with 5 bags of ammo

You can chart the stars by the types of Christmases we've had. Not really, but they do have their own personalities. Their own folklore. And we talk about them every Christmas, to keep their memories alive.

There's the food disaster Christmases, like the 2000 Tales from the Crypt smoked turkey which we opened to emaciated skin and bones. I tried chicken broth to rehydrate the poor thing but it was too late. My brother called around and found a turkey dinner somewhere that hadn't been picked up, and saved the day. Then there was the great 1976 Turkey Roll mishap where he burned the stuffing and it carried the charcoal flavor through the turkey roll.  I think we ordered a pizza that year.

   And the creative and artistic years, giving well-meaning things both useless and hideous.

          I loved the Singalong Messiah Christmases. And each year retelling the manger story after church, and selecting one of the boys for the great honor of putting Baby Jesus in the manger.

            Who can forget the activity themed years of scubadiving lessons and skydiving, kayak, hockey and ski equipment.

               And the sucky ones with hastily store bought item just to have something under the tree. 

                  There's the baking years when no one was on a diet and Weight Watcher holidays  when everyone was.
                
                      The Christmas after my dad passed when we had to go away, and we spent it in a log cabin in Tahoe, in the snow, with a real tree covered in handmade lace snowflake and red apple ornaments.

                           It's hard to beat the sweet Christmas eves, nibbling on cookies and leaving sooty footprints all over the hearth as we set out the gifts. And especially the ones when the older brothers discovered what was what, and each in turn became part of the Stay Up Late Club to scurry around in hushed voices and head off to bed just before we finished up.

There are a lot who accuse Christmas of becoming an obligatory and commercial holiday of forced generosity. And I agree. A lot forego adult gifts altogether and instead choose to give more spontaneous gifts during the year to create what they think is a more authentic reflection of their affection. Some families pick names to keep the costs down. Some give nothing at all, and instead spend it on lavish meals and get togethers.

I've tried it all. But for us, this year was every bit authentic and magical. For the first time our family had no visible seam from blending three families together. Don's wife and my husband and my sons together without any awkwardness.  It was truly a joy watching the faces as each opened really thoughtful gifts. That's my indellible memory of Christmas 2011.

But I'm sure what everyone else will remember are the Marshmallow shooters with ammo bags of mini marshmallows that threatened to take out the kitchen. It was pandemonium!!! Thank God we got that under control before the boys had a chance to reload!!