Memories and gifts are just two things that come to mind when contemplating Christmas. How about memorable gifts and memorable Christmases? They come to mind, too.

For Lisa Frymier Hodges, a Washington resident, her most memorable Christmas gift is one made by her parents. She shares that memory in this Facebook post: “My most memorable Christmas gift was a dollhouse, made for me by my parents. It was 3 stories, fashioned by my dad, with actual curtain rods made by dad and curtains by my mother. She made the kitchen with a cigar box, turned on its side and painted white, with doors drawn on, and a metal jelly holder used as a sink. She made a table and chairs using a wicker woven potholder with jar lids and bobbins glued together for chairs. My mom used bobbins to glue together other furniture, painted it brown, and used foam covered with material to make beds, chairs, and couches. She made pillows for the beds and couches. She made dresser drawers with taped together matchboxes. The floors were made out of felt and my dad made a real door with hinges; there were shutters on the house. What a beautiful thing, to work so hard on this gift for me. The imagination and work that went into it was fantastic. Sure, it wasn’t the Victorian kind with the perfect cherry models of furniture, but it was very special. I have no photos of it and it was destroyed by a roof leak, but I have it in my mind forever.”

Alison Paul Klakowicz, a former Daily News reporter, wrote in a Facebook post: “One of the most memorable Christmases I remember was the year we lived in my grandparent’s (the late Julia Mae and Marvin Austin) river cottage at Jarvis Landing (east of Aurora). My dad was building our house in Washington while we lived camp style in the old river house with propane heaters during one of the coldest winters I remember. I was in the third grade at Snowden Elementary School. My dad decided since we were living a bit of a pioneer lifestyle that year, we would find our Christmas tree in the wild. Rather than the normal purchase at the Piggly Wiggly. My dad put us all in the boat one very cold, sunny December day and we took a ride across the river to Indian Island and docked the boat along the beach. We hiked through the marsh and forest on the tiny island until we found a perfect cedar tree that my dad chopped down with an axe. My parents hauled it back to the boat and we took it home to the cottage to decorate. By far one of my most prized Pamlico River Christmas memories. Memories are the best Christmas presents.”

Danielle Midkiff Hunnings, who lives near Whichard’s Beach, sent her story by Messenger: “My most memorable Christmas gift was a full sized trampoline. My Dad traded an in demand baseball card, in order, for me to get the trampoline. I wasn’t quite sure about Santa, but that trampoline revived my belief. There was a note from Santa and I was so excited. There is a video of me searching for it in the garage as Santa left a note for me to find it. I was so excited. As an adult it means the world, to know, my Dad went above and beyond to make me so happy.”

Riley Roark, a Washington resident, shared her story by Messenger. She wrote: “I remember one year I wanted a trampoline sooo bad!! I came downstairs and I just knew I didn’t get a trampoline. I had one present left and opened up all of the rest. I loved everything I got but still no sight of a trampoline. I opened up my last gift and it was a cardboard cut out of a little girl jumping on a trampoline. My parents laughed at me and said that was all I got. Then they told me to check outside … something may be out there! Low and behold, it was my trampoline all set up and ready for me to go jump on!!! I was in love!! Turns out that trampoline gave them a hard time. I don’t know if you’ve ever put one together but it’s a pain. Anyways, they first put it together in the garage because it was below freezing in Tennessee at that time and went to go take it outside — it wouldn’t fit through the garage doors. So they had to take it completely down and redo it outside. They were probably up until 4 in the morning putting that trampoline back together!!! I had it for about 9 years!! I learned all sorts of cool tricks on it!