For a group of Edgecomb Eddy School second and third graders, what makes Christmas special is spending time with relatives. Whether it’s celebrating Christmas Day at home or traveling out of state, six Edgecomb Eddy students are anxious to spend the holiday with family.

“You see people who you don’t see a lot of,” said third grader Kennedie Murray. “I see my aunts and uncles and they bring over my cousins.”

Second grader Alli Edgecomb has such a big family that she attends four Christmas parties in a day.

The six students all said spending time with family is the best part of Christmas.

Second grader Ross Gaffney is one of the few students who went Christmas shopping with his parents.

“I like all of it,” he said. “We shopped at Target and Shaw’s.”

The Christmas season brings joy and anticipation of reuniting with family members and celebrating the most holy day of Christianity. Christmas Day will also end the anticipation of what’s in those wrapped presents underneath the Christmas tree. 

For second grader Alli Edgecomb, there is one gift that is especially intriguing.

“There’s one with no name and nobody knows who it’s from. That’s the gift I want to open first,” she said.

Other students are hoping Santa answers their requests for certain gifts. These Edgecomb students want jewelry, Legos and pets this Christmas.

Gaffney and third grader Noah Libby want Legos. Gaffney likes building a space police station with Legos, while Libby builds many different things with the interlocking plastic bricks.

Third grader Lydia Currier wants earrings shaped like a horse. Murray wants earrings, too.

“It doesn’t matter what kind. I just want another pair,” she said

Libby and Edgecomb want dogs. Libby is hoping for a German shepherd. Edgecomb wants a husky.

Second grader Madison Lorrain wants a toy dog named Pegasus.

The students also enjoy several Christmas-themed shows during the season. Among the most popular are “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Gaffney and Edgecomb like “The Grinch,”  “Rudolph” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Currier prefers “The Grinch” and “Rudolph.”

But Murray and Lorrain  enjoy other programs. Murray likes the movie “Elf” and Lorrain likes “Santa Paws.”

Christmas Day has another special meaning for Lorrain. It is also her birthday. She had a birthday with 11 guests a few days ago, and now she is waiting to celebrate Christmas Day with her family.