Note: For today’s Christmas memory, some of the Register staff are sharing their favorite traditions and holiday moments. 
Susan Lynn, editor
When Susan was a little girl, she would travel with her parents and three older brothers to visit her maternal grandparents in Chicago for the holidays.
Back then, a white Christmas was guaranteed in the northern city and her grandparents took full advantage by hiring a driver and horse-drawn sleigh to take the family through the city’s snow-packed streets.
“We were all snuggled down amid a pile of blankets,” Susan recalled. “We’d always go at night to ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the Christmas lights.
“I can still hear the ringing of the bells around the horses’ necks. In fact, I have some sleigh bells, I suppose passed down from my grandmother.”
The magical time was even more special because visits to her grandparents’ home were typically just once a year. Just like Santa. 
Tim and Violeta Stauffer, managing editor and marketing director
Christmas is a time to spend with family.
For Tim and Violeta, the holiday often gives them an opportunity to travel to Violeta’s home country, El Salvador.
They are there now with their children, Lucas and Sofia, visiting relatives. Thursday they visited a botanical garden. Thursday’s temperature there was 80 degrees; in Iola, it was -1.
“Christmas is a time for us to reconnect and celebrate. Christmas Eve is when we celebrate the holiday. It’s a busy day with lots of food, a house full of laughter and hugs, and fireworks throughout the night,” Tim said.
“We wish everyone a wonderful holiday.”
Richard Luken, reporter
“A former colleague came to my house on Christmas Eve and told me I’d be visited by three spirits. It changed my life,” reporter Richard Luken jokes.
Actually, instead of spirits he has three memorable Christmas stories to share.
In 1984, both his parents worked as truck drivers. The family lived with his grandmother at the time. Both his mom and dad were able to be home for Christmas.
“I don’t remember there was anything special about it,” he said. “But it was just extra cheery when they were home that year.”
Then, in 2009, Richard hosted the family’s Christmas Eve celebration during what would become a massive blizzard.
