SANDPOINT — Close your eyes and listen. 

Do you hear it? The soft jingle of bells, a quiet laugh, and a quick tap, tap, tap on the roof.

There is a magic in Christmas, mixed in with mythical sugar plums, stockings on fireplaces (or trees), a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for St. Nick as well as a carrot or two for Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer.

Magic found in the laughter piercing the air in a good old-fashioned, no-holds-barred snowball fight. Wind making your nose red as you race down the Sled Hill on a plastic sled — right before you crash into a pile of snow powdering the sides of the run.

Magic found in a special meal, family and friends gathered around, wandering between the table and the living room, watching Christmas movies, playing games and creating new memories.

Magic found in a plate of fresh-baked cookies and a glass of ice-cold milk, or a steaming cup of cocoa greeting you as you stumble indoors, stomping the snow from your boots.

The magic found in daring your siblings to sneak downstairs, tiptoeing down the stairs in the wee hours of the morning to see if you can surprise Santa during his lightning-fast trek around the world.

Fresh-cut pine trees, twinkling lights interspersed with memory-filled ornaments, and family and loved ones gathered around, Christmas carols playing softly in the background.

Hanging stockings by the fireplace, a fire keeping the winter chill at bay amid the breathless anticipation of a magical and memory-filled season.

Heading off to church for Christmas Eve midnight services, the world silent and quiet as you make your way there, Christmas songs joyfully sung by those packing the pews.

That same sense of magic and wonder fills the Christmas memories of students at Sandpoint Waldorf School.

For students at Sandpoint Waldorf, the list of what they are grateful for is as varied as the students themselves. Some find the spirit of the holiday in their families and friends, others through the love of the family pet.

So, below, the students of Sandpoint Waldorf School share the many things for which they are thankful. We are happy to share them, once again, with you.

First grade

Elijah — "Christmas magic is when I touch water and it turns into ice."

Wendell — "When I was a little kid, I asked my mom if I could see the tree and presents, and she said, 'yes.' My sister and brother came."

Ben — "This year our elves came and they gave us noodles. There were candy wrappers everywhere. Today, they gave us a gingerbread house."

August — "One of my memories, I think from last year, I had Christmas breakfast. It was a pie and it had my favorite foods in it, noodles, cheese, broccoli and peppers."

Sunshine — "I always wake up and go to Mom and ask if I can go down to see the tree. I see Fox there. Then we go to Zuma’s room to pretend to fall asleep. Next we surprise them."

Livia — "I like last year my dad's parents and my cousins and my aunt all celebrated together. And the cousins who live here also came. So did my uncle and moms dad and we all celebrated together and took lots of pictures. We all went outside to see the sunset and when we came back there were presents on the table!"

Liam — "I lost a tooth on Christmas and Chris tried to trap the tooth fairy. Chris is my elf. He always comes."

Xavier — "Once when it was not Christmas we were on a walk and I saw Santa."

Clara — "Once on Christmas Eve, Avery heard Santa’s laugh. She told me about it in the morning."

Tanyon — "Presents, family, and doing a lot of fun stuff with your family. I love hearing the music on Christmas."

Second grade

Afton — "My favorite Christmas memory is playing white elephant."

Ari — "My favorite Christmas memory is when I got kittens for Christmas and they played in the wrapping paper and boxes."

Ashton — "My favorite Christmas memory is putting up the Christmas tree; one year it fell down."

Charlee — "My favorite Christmas memory is when I had two days to knit a pouch for my dad as a gift. This year I am making a present for my Mom and Dad."

Claire — "My favorite Christmas memory is that one year as a gift I received an American Girl doll."

Eva — "My favorite Christmas memory is the feeling of waking up on Christmas morning."

Finnigan — "My favorite Christmas memory is getting a stuffy and snuggling with it all morning."

Liam — "My favorite Christmas memory is giving my mom a dirty hand warmer as a gift. It is also a tradition at our house to find the pickle, and my sister wins every year."

Gogo — "Our family makes mince pies every year for Christmas."

Oceana — "My favorite Christmas memory is opening presents and making my Christmas list."

Reed — "My favorite Christmas memory is opening presents and having fun with my family."

Scarlett — "My favorite Christmas memory is when we got our dog, and when my grandmother had to pick us up because we got stuck at the airport."

Tilly — "My favorite Christmas memory is being with my family."

Wesley — "My Christmas memory is setting up Christmas decorations."

Third grade

Ajah — "Last Christmas I was sick, and I couldn't open any presents. I normally go through my presents really fast, and I do not nap ever. But I went to sleep, after I opened like 10 presents."

Ezra — "On Christmas, me and my brothers always fight up the stairs. Then we dig into our stockings, we take turns opening our presents. It is fun because I like opening presents with my brothers."

Finnian — "When I was 7, my family and I went to Arizona. At my grandparents' house my elf on the shelf was on my grandparents' metal elephant. When I woke up and went downstairs I saw my elf sitting next to a melted snowman. On Christmas Eve I opened a present from Santa and it was a snake nerf gun. It was the best present ever."

Ida — "One of my favorite Christmas memories was last year. On Christmas morning I woke up and went to the Christmas tree. There were so many presents! Then the rest of my family woke  up and opened presents while listening to Christmas songs, like 'O Holy Night', and we drank hot chocolate."

Jack — "My favorite Christmas memory happened when I was 8 years old. My mom and dad and grandparents and my cousins were there. We all went outside and played." 

Jackson — "One of my favorite family traditions is going to my grandma's house. I like opening presents and having Christmas Eve dinner and calling Santa."

Koa — "My favorite Christmas memory happened when I was 7. It took place in Hawaii and my cousins, uncle, aunt, grandma and grandpa were there. I stayed in a huge house and in the morning we went to a whale watching boat, and saw 27 whales. It was amazing!"

Remy — "On Christmas Eve, I stayed up all night. I wanted to tell all my friends I saw Santa! But I fell asleep, I was 7. But when I woke up, I saw all the presents and when my sisters woke up they were so surprised."

Sawyer — "I was one and I got a snowman that said my first Christmas and my mom and dad and my grandma were there and I got my first pair of shoes and got a lot of candy."

Tibor — "Merry Christmas! I once had the best Christmas ever, I got to hang with all of my family. I got the best presents and the best food. I played with my cousins. It was the best Christmas Eve!"

Fourth grade

Luca — "What makes Christmas magical for me is to wake up to find the gifts under the Christmas tree and opening them and spending time with my family."

Elwood — "Christmas isn't about presents. It's about the joy of waking up and finding gifts for you. It is about hanging out with friends and family. What I think Christmas is really all about is celebrating Jesus and remembering God gave us Christmas."

Helen — "My favorite Christmas memory is me and my sister rolling in the wrapping paper." 

Bayla — "Christmas is magical because of the snow."

Whit — "What makes Christmas magical for me is waking up on Christmas morning to find a lot of presents under the Christmas tree."

Sage — "I think one of my favorite Christmas memories is one morning I woke up to the sun. I looked out the window, and it was a white morning. I went upstairs and looked out the big window; it was beautiful."

Garrett — "My favorite Christmas memory is opening presents."

Wesley — "What makes Christmas magical to me is if you wake up in the night and look through your window and all the lights are on."

Layli — "What makes Christmas magical for my family is the love someone puts into a gift they give of the hope that Christmas will be wonderful this year. I guess what I'm trying to say is the part of Christmas that's magical is the love and the hope we give."

Ty — "Christmas is because we believe that Santa is real."

Lincoln — "My favorite Christmas memory was having a snowball fight on Christmas day."

Oliver — "A favorite Christmas memory is, last year I got a watch for Christmas."

Izabel — "I think the most magical thing about Christmas is spending time with family. Yes, the presents are nice but, I do not think that's what Christmas is about."

Luca — "My favorite Christmas memory is spending time with my family."

Fin — "The first Christmas memory is one of my favorites, it is me building a snowman. My second memory is catching a snowflake on my tongue. The last memory is having a snowball fight on Christmas day."

Maeve — "I love Christmas because every year it comes and the house is filled with joy and love. The tree is full of gifts, ornaments and that is what Christmas means to me!"

Charlotte — "What makes Christmas so magical is that we live in the woods, when it snows it blizzards. When I sled I seem to fly, and when I go caroling I sing joyfully."

Jane — "I think Christmas is magical because every year, on Christmas Eve, my two little sisters, Claire and Charlee sleep in my room with me."

Ruby — "What makes Christmas magical to me is the joy on Christmas day."

Kate — "Christmas is magical because giving to your friends and family is magical."

Fifth grade

Abella — "What makes Christmas fun for me is opening presents or if it snows going sledding with my dog. Every Christmas my brother comes and it's a whole family again."

Bennett — "My Christmas memory is getting a dirt bike. I am always sledding on Christmas day."

Aylah — "I love drinking sparkling cider, it is delicious, and I love hanging out with my grandma's kitten."

Ally — "One of my memories from last year is playing in the snow and making snow creatures and opening presents on Christmas morning. I also love to go up to the mountain and ski and snowboard."

Saylor — "One of my Christmas memories is opening presents with my animals and family and playing in the snow with my sisters and my dog. I always wake up at 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. in the morning. I sometimes stay awake until 12 a.m."

Viola — "A Christmas tradition is to make pizzelle, a type of cookie, the smell is unique and whenever I smell it, I think of Christmas. Something else that makes Christmas special is spending time with family and all the excitement of opening presents and seeing what everybody received."

Fox — "My favorite things to do on Christmas are to snowboard, make gingerbread men, and give presents."

Kinsely — "What makes Christmas magical is seeing my family's face when they open a present I gave to them. I also love snow and Christmas memories. I love Christmas and spending time with my family."

Aspen — "What makes Christmas magical for me is spending the holidays with my family. I also enjoy baking cookies and putting way too many sprinkles on the cookie. Another Christmas tradition is building a giant frosty with my dad. I really enjoy this time of year. It is my favorite time of year."

Benji — "This is what makes Christmas magical for me, when I wake up and it's snowing. All the presents are under the tree, but my favorite thing of all is going skiing."

Avery — "I remember that when I lived in Spokane, we would go sledding at a big sledding hill behind our neighborhood. My favorite thing about Christmas is eating dinner with my family."

Xander — "My favorite Christmas memory is spending time with family."

Eliza — "My favorite Christmas memory is when I go to sleep on Christmas Eve, and I get to look forward to something in the morning rather than thinking it's an ordinary day tomorrow. I also love baking cookies on Christmas."

Colin — "My favorite Christmas memory is ripping open presents."

Mark — "My favorite thing to do on Christmas is snowboarding with my friends."

Seventh grade

Antonio — "My favorite Christmas memory is opening presents on Christmas morning."

Aria — "My favorite Christmas memory is decorating the Christmas tree with my family."

Ariya — "My favorite Christmas memory is celebrating together the whole season."

Autumn — "My favorite Christmas memory is being with my family."

Eva — "The excitement of waking up and seeing all the presents under the tree."

Georgia — "I love to wake up early on Christmas morning."

Faye — "Seeing festive decorations everywhere make me so happy!"

Kachemak — "My favorite Christmas memory is opening my Christmas stocking on Christmas morning."

Kyra — "My favorite Christmas memory is playing in the snow."

Liam — "All the Christmas music and special feeling of Christmas."

Jasper — "My favorite Christmas memory is giving presents to all my loved ones."

Miley — "The happiness on Christmas morning with all my family."

Wyatt — "My favorite Christmas memory is hanging out with my cat all vacation."

Zoie — "My favorite Christmas memory is sledding on the sledding hill."

Eighth grade

Blake — "My favorite Christmas memory was two years ago, on Christmas night when the Baltimore Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers."

Elsa — "One of my favorite Christmas traditions is decorating the Christmas tree, while listening to Christmas music."

Evelyn — "Our Christmas tradition is going on the Santa cruise in Coeur d’Alene."

Grey — "My favorite Christmas tradition is eating candy cane pastry, on Christmas morning. My grandfather makes it the night before. It is in the shape of a candy cane and has some sort of red fruit pulp in it. It is very tasty. We always eat it after we open presents, that is my favorite Christmas tradition."

Julian — "Every year, my grandparents on my mom’s side come over for Christmas Eve. We play games, eat dinner, read Christmas books, and then go to bed. In the morning, we see what we got in our stockings and then we open presents. After we are done with breakfast, we pack up and go to Spokane to celebrate with my dad’s parents."

Marin — "My favorite Christmas tradition is that every Christmas Eve I sleep in my sister's room, and when we wake up, we talk to our parents through the floor vent in her room. Then we wait at the top of the stairs until they say we can go, then we run downstairs to open presents."

Theo — "One of my favorite memories is opening up the presents. We also have a tradition where we put the presents under the Christmas tree, also for our Christmas tree we use a pine tree, or a fir tree."

Trennon — "My favorite tradition every year, we go on a sled ride with family and friends."

Winslow — "Sledding down our road, is my favorite Christmas memory."

    Students in Ms. Dailey's second grade class take part in the Santa Lucia procession recently.
  

    Students in Ms. Dailey's second grade class take part in the Santa Lucia procession recently.
  

    Students in Ms. Haley's Berry Blossom pre-kindergarten class play a game.
  

    Katie Cox, far right, poses for a photo with other members of the "cocoa crew" at the recent Sandpoint Waldorf School's Winter Faire.
  

    Mia Savarese gets her face painted at the recent Sandpoint Waldorf School's Winter Faire.
  

    Timothy Ferguson adds the final, glittery touches to a Christmas card at the recent Sandpoint Waldorf School's Winter Faire.
  

    Sandpoint Waldorf student Mark Wofsey waits for customers at his booth at the school's recent Winter Faire.