Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Aly and Molly's Christmas Blog Challenge - Day 2

Day Two of Aly and Molly's
It's not to late to link up with them as well!


Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions
Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks
Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season
Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special
Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)
Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays
Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe
Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles
Day 11: New Year Resolutions
Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outside)
Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe
Day 14: Oprah's Favorite Things: What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?

# 3: Most meaningful/Best gift you've received


I really had to think about this one, because I've received a lot of really great gifts in my twenty three years of life. However, I do have to say the most meaningful gift I have ever received was the year Santa brought me a tether ball. 


Obviously if he could see me when I was sleeping and he knew when I was awake, he knew that I LOVED tether ball. I was the tether ball queen at recess in elementary school. I must have been in 3rd or 4th grade that year, I had been wondering where my Dad had disappeared to after we had opened our regular Christmas eve gifts. My mom said he was out in the garage working one something, so I just went along my way, went to sleep, and hoped that Santa brought me exactly what I wanted. 


Just recently I told my parents this part of the story, at about 4am that morning, I had woken up in the middle of the night and the anticipation was just killing me, I HAD to know what Santa had brought for me, so I crept out of bed, past my parents bedroom, and into the living room. My heart sank because I didn't see a tether ball anywhere under the tree or next to it. I peeked in my stocking and there was a piece of paper that said "Look outside". I opened the blinds and sure enough, there in our drive way was a homemade tether ball set. It was a tire with cement poured into it and a metal pole stuck in the (now dried) cement with a beautiful golden tether ball hanging from the rope. I had to contain my squeals! I ran back to bed and hopped under the covers. I remember thinking, "Wow, he IS real and he knew exactly what I wanted."


Now, until I found out the truth about Santa, I just always remembered how cool and awesome that gift was. But when my parents broke the news to me I realized that when my dad had "disappeared" after gifts that evening, he was really working at hard and building my tether ball set :) Since then I've always thought I hope that I'm that kind of parent, making my kids hopes and dreams come true like that. Even if it's just an old tire, some cement and a yellow leather ball. It was one of the very best Christmases ever and I definitely used that ball until it went to tether ball heaven!


Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me be a kid, and giving me such memorable Christmases, I'll remember them for the rest of my life. <3


PS- snOMG!! Check out 365 Days in Pictures the [How do YOU measure a year] tab at the top of the page! Stormwatch 2010 commenced yesterday here in the pacific northwest!




8 comments:

  1. Bahahaha, tether ball?! :) I remember the good 'ol tether ball days in elementary school. I was never #1, but I still remember to this day who the girl was to beat. Too funny, sweet story!

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  2. ummm this is absolutely ADORABLE!! ha Tether Ball! I love it!!

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  3. DUDE! I so rocked the CORT!! East Hill had a tether tourney.. so serious.. I won! :) i got your back there girlie... But do you know your a day ahead?? this is supposed to be tomorrows post.. Day 1 was the 22nd.. unless I read it wrong

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  4. This is an adorable Christmas story :)

    Thanks for following my blog! I'm your new follower! :)

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  5. Just FYI, you being a day ahead because of your holidays post last week being your traditions post is throwing me (and obviously also Jaimie) off.

    That's a cool story. It's neat how dad's know how to make stuff for us :)

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  6. Sarah and Jaimie - I know I'm a day ahead, I doubled up on the first one because I had written a blog about Christmas traditions last week. But I plan on not blogging tomorrow about this so I can be on the same track as everyone on Monday :)

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  7. Ahahaha Its coo wit me. you can be a day ahead.. reminds me what i'm writing about.. lol Your always more prepared mandapanda.. do your thang! ;)

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  8. Aww, this is so cute! Love the idea of a Christmas blog challenge!

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