Christmas with Family & Friends

Volume Measurements 1/4 teaspoon 1 mL
1/2 teaspoon 2 mL
1 teaspoon 5 mL
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons 15 mL
2 tablespoons = 1 fluid ounce 30 mL
1/4 cup 60 mL
1/3 cup 75 mL
1/2 cup = 4 fluid ounces 125 mL
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces 250 mL
2 cups = 1 pint =16 fluid ounces 500 mL
4 cups = 1 quart 1 L Weights 1 ounce 30 g
4 ounces 120 g
8 ounces 225 g
16 ounces = 1 pound 450 g Oven Temperatures 300 F 150 C
325 F 160 C
350 F 180 C
375 F 190 C
400 F 200 C
450 F 230 C Baking Pan Sizes Square
8x8x2 inches 2 L = 20x20x5 cm
9x9x2 inches 2.5 L = 23x23x5 cm Rectangular
13x9x2 inches 3.5 L = 33x23x5 cm Loaf
9x5x3 inches 2 L = 23x13x7 cm Round
8x1-1/2 inches 1.2 L = 20x4 cm
9x1-1/2 inches 1.5 L = 23x4 cm Our Christmas Miracle Hope Davenport
Portland, TX My husband, our three children and I will never forget the Christmas of 2004. We live in South Texas, and the children and I had never seen snow. This particular Christmas Eve, our families were gathered at my parents home when a report of snow flurries was heard on the news. We went outside and were very excited...especially since it hadnt snowed here in 75 years. The kids and I forgot all about the presents and spent most of the night outside taking pictures and video of the snow! We had so much fun, but assumed that the little specks falling from the sky were as much as we could expect in South Texas. We never dreamed we would awake to a snow-covered town on Christmas morning.

It must have snowed all night because when we woke up the town was covered with 3 to 4 inches of snow. It was so beautiful and I finally understood what people mean when they say how quiet it is after a snowfall. Now, around here, we can usually wear shorts on Christmas day, so this was quite a change. We had no mittens and were not at all prepared for this surprise! We had to use socks and oven mitts to keep our hands warm during snowball fights and while making snow angels and snowmen. The snow slowly melted that day, but not before we had hours of fun and made many wonderful memories. What Did Santa Forget? Kate Finch
Torrington, CT After all the Christmas presents have been opened, dinner has been enjoyed and relatives have started their travels home, just as we were ready for bed, something special would happen. What Did Santa Forget? Kate Finch
Torrington, CT After all the Christmas presents have been opened, dinner has been enjoyed and relatives have started their travels home, just as we were ready for bed, something special would happen.

My mother would always come in from outside saying she found a snow-covered bag at the bottom of the chimney that Santa had forgotten. It was so exciting as we all would have one more really special present to open before bedtime...a capper on an already special day. Hunting for the Christmas Tree Melissa Fialer
Palo Alto, CA As a little girl growing up in California, I didnt enjoy the very cold days in the winter that led up to Christmas. However, my parents would create magical moments for my sister and me during those days. About three weeks before Christmas, my whole family would pile into our station wagon and drive up a long winding road into the mountains to a Christmas tree ranch. My dad would be delegated to carry the saw and do the cutting, while my mom and sister and I went searching for just the right tree.

It was like a game of Marco Polo, hearing each others voices around the tree farm trying to find just the right one, then came the big moment...I found it! It would be the perfect tree...bushy and not too tall with a wonderful fragrance. Absolutely perfect! After my dad would cut it down, it was roped to the top of our car, then we spent the drive down the hill making sure the tree wasnt going to slide off. Once we were home, the tree was placed in our family room...that was when the popcorn started popping, the carols started playing and the tree came to life. My sister and I would string popcorn and cranberries on thread, while my mom made fudge, date petit-fours and all manner of goodies that made the house smell like heaven to me. The day stood on its own in my memories and truly has always defined what preparing for Christmas is all about..family and traditions. A Magical Christmas Tree Stand Maryann Brett
Johnstown, PA When I was a small child in the early 1960s, the one thing I can remember the most about every Christmas was our Christmas tree.

Well, not exactly the tree, but rather the stand that the tree was placed in. The stand was very special, and to us kids, it was somewhat magical, for we had a tree stand like no other I had ever seen. Attached to the stand was a small black box with three switches on it. One switch would make the stand revolve in circles, one switch would turn on all the Christmas lights and the last switch would play Christmas music. I can still hear the music in my head! It was always fun to be the first one up on Christmas morning to turn on the tree. That tree stand always had a live Christmas tree in it and you could fill the bottom with water to keep it fresh.

It was decorated with lights that looked like colored popcorn balls, glass balls and other decorations we had made by hand. That tree stand was bought in the early 1950s before I was born and lasted well into the 1990s. As we children grew up, married, and started our own families, we would take turns sharing the tree stand for our own family to enjoy. When the time came that the tree stand could finally turn no more, my sister made a tape of the Christmas music it played so we could continue to enjoy it. Thinking back, ours was the only house I ever knew of with a special Christmas tree stand like that one, and it will always bring back special memories of my childhood! Christmas Eve Santa Radar Beth Williamson
Oak Vale, MS As my children were growing up, we would always gather together on Christmas Eve and exchange Christmas presents. After opening our gifts, we watched the evening news.

As soon as the kids saw Santa on the radar, they were ready to jump into bed hoping that his next stop would be our house...this was such an exciting time! Even as my children have grown, this tradition has never stopped...it has now become a tradition with their friends as well. On Christmas Eve we still had our family time of opening gifts, then, just before the ten oclock news, I hear cars driving up as some of their friends came to see where Santa was on the radar. My children are now 22, 26 and 29 and its just as exciting now to see who will drive up at ten oclock to watch with us. Afterward, everyone rushes home, to get into bed so that Santa will come to their house!