As Christmas approaches, the weather becomes more brisk allowing individuals to partake in iconic winter activities, such as skiing in the mountains, ice skating at Gateway Ice Center and enjoying Christmas lights with family and friends. Whatever the activity, winter provides memorable events that can be cherished for a lifetime.
Since the winter season is at hand, The Feather has collected several stories about the winter season and activities in which individuals participate. Over the next several days, additional stories will be published below.
In addition to these responses, The Feather encourages readers to email their own memorable stories to The Feather until Dec. 15.
Family gatherings
Aaron DeWolf, ’15
Dec. 16, 2011
A lot of the time I hang out with family, sometimes we go on vacation, but we usually have a lot of family reunions and dinners. Normally we just socialize and have fancy dinners.
A Theme for Christmas
Kaitlyn King, ’14
Dec. 16, 2011
Our family comes over from like Oregon and Florida and we do like theme Christmases. One year we did like a Mexican theme and my grandma made her famous chicken enchiladas.
Secret Santa
Abby Cowin, ’13
Dec. 15, 2011
I usually just chill at my grandparents house and hang out with family. While there we do secret Santa so we all buy each other a gift and then give it to each other on that day. Sometimes with the adults the gift are funny because that’s how my family is, but we try to give each other what we know they like.
Snowboarding and basketball
Brandi Thompson, ’12
Dec. 16, 2011
I go snowboarding, play basketball and hang out with my family. I have been snowboarding the past four years; I ride down the big runs and those box things. One time I was going on this pipe thing and I totally ate it in front of everyone and it was really embarrassing. It’s pretty sunny when we go up there, so after we usually sit out on the deck and drink hot chocolate.
Baking cookies and ornament exchange
Lucas Lopez, ’14
Dec. 15, 2011
I usually go to my grandparent’s house and just hang out with them until New Years’. Usually, I will help my uncle make cookies and every year we put them out for “Santa.”
We use to do an ornament exchange, which is the most Christmas-y thing we ever did, but that stopped a few years ago; we would give funs ones [ornaments]. One year, there was an ornament made out of wine bottle corks and they were glued together in a shape of a deer. Other than that, they are usually hand-painted or sculpted.
Skiing in the mountains
Sara Peterson, ’15
Dec. 14, 2011
We like to go to the snow a lot; we ski. I have been skiing for the past three years and I have tried the big diamond runs, but they are a challenge for me to get up there, so I stay away from those runs.
Disneyland on Christmas Day
Briana Graff, ’13
Dec. 13, 2011
I like to go snowboarding at Sierra Summit [now China Peak] and I usually go to Disneyland on Christmas Day. Going to Disneyland on Christmas is fun and exciting because there is so many shows going on and it’s all decorated really Christmas-like. I’ve been going to Disneyland on Christmas ever since I was little.
Pot luck Christmas with Indian food
Brahamjit Randhawa, ’12
Dec. 13, 2011
For Christmas Eve, my family that lives here in California all get together and we have a dinner. This year, we are going to LA [Los Angeles] to have it with my aunt. The dinner is kind of like a pot luck, where everyone brings their dish and we all share it; the food is cool and fun with a lot of Indian food.
Cookies and Grandma’s house for Christmas
Amy Savage, ’13
Dec. 12, 2011
For Christmas, we make Christmas cookies and give them to our neighbors, and then we go to my Grandma’s house to celebrate Christmas with our family members. We play games during the day, go out and play football until Grandma is done with dinner, then we open presents after dinner. When we open presents, everyone just attacks their gift all at once.
Christmas in Kingsburg
Eric Cowin, ’14
Dec. 12, 2011
For Christmas, we take an annual trip to our grandparent’s farm in Kingsburg. We have a second Christmas there and the entire family is there and it’s kind of a big reunion. We open gifts, but we also play basketball and volleyball without rules so it gets very interesting; I’m in a very large family so the games can get very intense.
While there, we also ride quads on the farm. One year, we had about eight people riding on a quad just going around the farm; we almost tipped over, but didn’t.
Hallmark movies and sledding
Mackenzie Devereauz, ’15
Dec. 12, 2011
During the winter, I like to hang out in the snow with my friends. One time, I was sledding with my cousin and there was this huge ditch where a whole bunch of trees were. He tried to go around it, but he didn’t and went right into the ditch. The ditch was way to deep for him to get out, so we had to leave him there and go home to get something to get him out; it was really funny.
I also like to sit around the fire and watch movies. I really like to watch Hallmark Christmas movies by the fire.
Ice skating and Christmas Tree Lane
Jacob Williams, ’12
Dec. 8, 2011
In the winter I like to go ice skating with friends and walk Christmas Tree Lane. I like to do this because I get to spend time with both my friends and family, and enjoy their company. Through these activities we are able to grow closer as friends and have a lot of fun.
Pizza after sledding
Colby Lee, ’15
Dec. 7, 2011
As a family we always get a Christmas tree and decorate our house with lights and stuff and sometimes we go up to the snow to sled. I really like sledding and we will eat pizza up there, and after being out in the cold and stuff it’s really nice to go inside and eat pizza and warm up.
Falling in the snow creates memories
Emily Gonzales, ’16
Dec. 6, 2011
When I think of winter I think of the snow because I like to find the deepest part of the snow and fall in it; the snow gets in my clothes and then I get cold and wet.
My favorite snow memory was when I went up to winter camp with my friend’s church. There was this hill and we brought water tubes, and we would go to the top of the hill and we would get on a tube and slide down. It was really scary and some people fell into the water.
Christmas in a cabin
Victoria Hinds, ’12
Dec. 6, 2011
Normally during winter break we go up to our cabin for Christmas and we open presents. Then, we go to Badger Pass in Yosemite and we give the lift operators chocolate or homemade baked goods. We will ski for the rest of the day and then come home the day after Christmas.
Winter time means soccer season
Theresa Perez, ’13
Dec. 5, 2011
To me, the winter means it’s time to play soccer because it takes up all of my time and I practice on the weekends. I love being on a team and just playing again, because during the summer I don’t have time to play; so it’s nice to just be doing something that I’m good at.
An In-N-Out Christmas Eve
Matt Jenkins, ’13
Dec. 2, 2011
Every Christmas Eve my family goes to In-N-Out. It started when In-N-Out was first built and my grandparents didn’t have any food on Christmas Eve, so they went to In-N-Out. I think it’s pretty boss that we get In-N-Out for Christmas Eve.
Celebrating Hmong New Year
Joshua Thao, ’14
Dec. 1, 2011
Normally during winter we go to the Hmong New Year, and it’s pretty cool because we get to dress up in our traditional clothing. During the Hmong New Year we usually get a lot of traditional sweets, so I really enjoy the Hmong New Year.
Sometimes if you want to find a date you line up and then you take a golf ball and throw it around while talking about yourself, and you learn about the other person. If they like each other then they will normally exchange phone numbers. I have never done this before, but normally my cousins and dad egg me on to go, but I’m not sure if I will do it this year.
Skiing in Korea
GeeHyun Park, ’12
Dec. 1, 2011
Every winter I go skiing with my family, sometimes my uncle, aunt and cousins join us and it’s really fun skiing and snowboarding. We go to a ski resort in Korea and I’ve been skiing for like 10 years and it’s really fun. Eating hot soup after is like the best thing ever.
‘Duerrville’ creates family tradition
Chloe Duerr, ’14
Dec. 1, 2011
Our family has a glass house collection and we call it ‘Duerrville.’ We put it up in our three car garage and it takes about six tables, there are 150 houses, like 200 people, cars and accessories; it looks like old New York. We have been doing this ever since I was little; it’s a family tradition where all of us work on it together.
For more discussion, read the Nov. 21 article, Thanksgiving memories: Join the discussion, 2011.
