As we wake this morning, we find it is Christmas day! Bursting through our stockings and dumping them out as if they were a bag of treasure. Leaving shredded paper all throughout your living room, until days after finally picking it up. Christmas has come and gone once again. The holidays are the best, and my favorite is Christmas. Here's why.

I love the holidays because it means I'm going to spend a lot of time with people that aren't just my immediate family. Times with aunts and uncles and cousins and the youngsters are the best. As people get older, traditions stay the same. The annual gift swap where everyone battles over the correct rules, or the annual work party my dad has where the catered food is just to die for.

Now that the next generation of kids has begun, I love that we can pretend Santa is real again. I can say that here at least because I know everyone here has lost that magic. However, for the next generation, it's amazing to remember those times when we did have that magic.

I miss preparing the cookies the night before and making sure that Santa got his glass of milk. I miss waking up the next day thinking what was Santa going to bring me this year. I miss making my list to Santa and being convinced I could hear him the night before. Even though I can give the correct credit where credit is due now, it was nice having that little faith.

I love Christmas because even though I have barely any money to buy gifts, it's nice splurging on one big gift that means a lot to the people I love. I love making more sentimental gifts than the material gifts. It's nice showing my family they are in my thoughts.

I love Christmas because everything feels so cozy. The tree is lit up and night and I can find myself just sitting there listening to soft music, and admiring its beauty. I love being in my comfy clothes eating my favorite Christmas meal with the candles lit and actually sitting at the dinner table with my family.

It's so festive and rare, since everyone is always so busy, or we want to watch a movie while we eat. Something is so classic about it.

I even love the super sad Christmas movie that my mom and I watch every single year.

I love the faces on my nieces face when I get here she has been asking for. I love how she appreciates it, and I love her little face as she plays with the gift as soon as she opens it.

Christmas for me is the most wonderful time of the year. As the years pass on things will change and new hosts of the annual parties will come, but I will never forget the memories Christmas brings and the way it makes me feel.