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On The Cover: Holiday Cheers the holiday season approaches, it’s a time to reflect on what memories we want to cherish andy Sally KalosBAThink back to the holiday memories that hold a special place in your heart. Rarely do we remember the spotless condition of a house or a flawlessly planned event. Instead, it’s the unique aroma of a traditional dish, or the sound of laughter during family games, that linger in our minds. Over time, the small imperfections fade, allowing the true essence of joy and togetherness to prevail.The memories we create, howeverimperfect, are the ones we treasure long after the festive season has ended. In these moments, there’s a special kind of magic—a magic that transcends any idealized holiday scene bringing much love and cheer.after kids are grown.• Watch a favorite Christmas movie. Hollywood has never shied away from holiday fare, so there’s no shortage of festive films to enjoy with youngsters on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a classic like the 1947 film “Miracle on 34th Street” starring Natalie Wood as the adorable “Susan Walker” and Edmund Gwenn as “Kris Kringle,” or go with something more recent, such as “The Grinch,”the 2018 adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.• Take a nighttime stroll or drive to see the lights. Lighting displays are another component that makes the holiday season so special. After Christmas Eve dinner, take a stroll through your neighborhood to see the lighting displays or climb into the car to take in a different neighborhood’s offerings if you’re already familiar with those in your own neck of the woods.Christmas Eve is a magical day forthe impressions we hope to leave with our loved ones. The essence of the holidays isn’t found in the pursuit of perfection but in the warmth and joy of shared experiences. It’s about letting go of the seemingly urgent and focusing on what truly matters.Fun Ways To Make Christmas Eve EvenMore Special For KidsPBy Staffarents know that nothing quite matches the excitement young children feel on Christmas Eve.the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight for more than 60 years. Beginning on Christmas Eve, families can track Santa’s movements across the globe at Noradsanta. org. Kids can visit the site to see where Santa is at any given moment on Christmas Eve, growing more excited as the big fella gets closer and closer to their own region.• Create a Christmas Eve craft. Gather children and their cousins and/or friends to create a special Christmas Eve craft or decoration that can be displayed next year. This is a great way to channel youngsters’ nervous Christmas Eve energy into something productive, and it can make for a great tradition families can continue evenOn the day before Christmas, youngsters anxiously anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus that evening, and are perhaps even more excited by the prospects of the following morning, when they’ll race into the living room and discover all that the jolly old elf left behind.Christmas Eve seems to have some built- in magical components, but there are a handful of ways parents can make the day even more special for children.• Track the big guy’s movements online. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor,youngsters and their parents. Some simple ideas can make the day even more meaningful for children and their families.Welcome to the neighborhood,SST SonterraOpening Fall 2025Apply today!SSTschools.org281 & SonterraGrades PK - 6 Tuition-Free STEM Education6www.stoneoakhighlights.comDec. / Jan. 2024-25