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Remember when you were little and your mom would say that the best gift she could get at the holidays was time with her family? And you'd think - or at least, I would - "Sure, Mom. Now hand over my new books. Or jewelry. Or glasses that have windshield wipers on them (actually, my brother gave me those when I was a kid and I just loved them)."

Turns out, like in every other important life topic, Mom was right. I think back to this holiday seaon and what I'm going to remember is wearing silly paper crowns on Christmas Eve, with Nicholas directing us all in singing songs from "The Sound of Music". And laughing all through the annual holiday dinner with friends that I opted out of during a tough time last year after my dad passed away. And watching the girls gamely hold up their little brother during his first try at ice skating (and getting irritated with how good they are at a sport at which they have no more experience than I do). What was under the tree was great, don't get me wrong. I am particularly fond of the sign from my mother-in-law: "Having Visions of Sugar Plums. But Getting Coal."

But it's the memories of time spent with people that I love that I will treasure. Just like Mom said. Right again, dang it.