Asked around Danville
Jennifer Miller, mom/teacher: My kids make nametags for each of the reindeer and attach them to a carrot, which we leave out along with cookies and milk for Santa. On Christmas morning the first thing they do, even before checking out the presents, is go into the kitchen to see if the food has been eaten. Also, every Christmas Eve we go to our friends’ house and, after the kids get into their pj’s, the dads read them Christmas stories.
John Villano, CPA: My wife and I have had a lot of losses these past couple of years, so we decided rather than staying home like we always did and feeling blue we would go away for Christmas. So this year we are going to visit family and friends in Las Vegas.
Leslie Sprinkle, mom/attorney: During the week before Christmas, every night we get the kids into their pajamas and we drive over to see the house in Woodranch with the huge lights display. Another tradition is to make clam chowder each year for Christmas dinner. I’d like to start a new tradition this year. On Christmas Eve I want to give the kids a new pair of pajamas and a new Christmas book.
Beatrice Somoza, creative home design specialist/seamstress: We go to my aunt’s house on Christmas Eve and she makes us her famous tamales. When my kids were little, I would get them into the car and then pretend I had forgotten something and go back into the house. I’d put their presents on their beds. At midnight we would open the gifts from the family and then go to grandma’s house to spend the night. Christmas morning when we returned home, the kids would run into their bedrooms to see the gifts that were left by Santa. I didn’t put nametags on them; they knew the presents on their bed were for them from Santa. We did this even when they were teenagers.
Janice Kanada, office manager: My mother always loved Christmas and would go all out in decorating. She always made it special. When I got my own home, she would come over and help me decorate my tree. We had a lot of fun. I really miss her and those special times we had together. This time of year is kind of sad for me now.
compiled by Judy Steiner
Appeal over redevelopment project at old Chevron HQ coming to San Ramon councilApril 6, 2026 10:32 pm
