We did not have a white Christmas, but it was a warm Christmas. I hope you all had a good one and were able to spend time with some family.

Happy birthday to all who had birthdays these past few weeks. I do not have the list of birthdays with me, but I will put them in my next column.

I have been off-Island more than I have been on this holiday season. I spent time with my nephew and his wife, Doug and Lori, and their two children Sabrina and Benjamin. My great-niece and nephews Ali, Zac and Naeth flew in from Chicago Christmas night. We were happy to celebrate with everyone. We went to dinner the next night with a count of 22. The ages ranged from one year old to never mind.

Congratulations to Ryan and Michelle Mundt who welcomed their first child, Angelina, on Dec. 26. Lina weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and was two weeks early. Happy grandparents are Steve and Doreen Meoli of Connecticut.

Amy and Trevor Bates are home for Christmas, each having time off from their jobs. Amy is teaching eighth grade language arts in the Chicago Public Schools at the Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy. Trevor has his own lighting, staging and rigging business and has helped set up for the Nutcracker and the Boston Pops. Their parents, Gordon and Ellie, are thrilled everyone can be together.

I know that it has been all over Facebook and articles have been in the paper, but I have to say that I am proud to be a resident of Edgartown and am proud of the Edgartown police department. Not only did they have a color guard at the TD Gardens last Sunday night, but the officers went to New York to honor the officers that were killed in the line of duty. We are a close-knit community and a big family, but it is nice to share that love and support to those who need it.

By the time you read this article it will be 2015, and you might have a chance to sit back and reflect on this year’s holiday season. It seemed to come so quick after Thanksgiving, and everyone was in a rush decorating, buying presents, baking, wrapping the presents and making sure everyone on your list was covered.

After being with the family and two two year olds and a one year old, there is nothing like seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child and watching as they rip open a package and go on to the next one. The best present is the box the present came in.

Then there are the teenagers who you have to bribe to get out of bed. We had four of them with us, and then they opened their gifts to get the newest game or phone or whatever computer is in this year, only to lose them to figuring the thing out. And once again, they are talking German to this person.

Then there is the older generation who sits and enjoys the whole family scene, reminiscing about when they were younger and what they got.

Even though it was hectic, I had one family friend whose tree fell over three times before Christmas got here, and they finally went and bought another tree. Even though there were precious ornaments lost from the tree crashing, this year’s memories will carry on through the eyes of their grandchildren.

So when it all comes down to it, each year brings new memories for all of us. Hopefully they are good ones, but it all comes down to the eyes of the children and the hope that St. Nicholas will come again next year.

I wish you all a very happy New Year and a very healthy one.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.

Send your Edgartown news to: kathleencase@comcast.net.