Christmas wishes

Christmas is a day of magic and fun for children across the country, including those in Eastern New Mexico.

Students at James Elementary School and Valencia Elementary School in Portales expressed a love for all things Christmas, including food, films, songs and perhaps most importantly, presents.

James Elementary first grade student Collin Howard, 7, glowed as he talked about his favorite Christmas gift.

“Once, I got something that was from TV. It was a little Ninja Turtle, where you could stretch it very hard and you can get inside of it, and whatever you do, it moves to it,” he said, adding that this year, he hopes Santa Claus will bring him a computer.

What is your favorite Christmas food?

Howard: Cookies. It’s because they’re for Santa, and Santa’s like me, because I’m fat.

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Howard: “The Polar Express.” I always wanted to go to the North Pole, and it’s because I like Christmas, and they have hot chocolate there.

Bryn Privett, 6, also a first-grader at James, looked back fondly at receiving an American Girl doll for Christmas.

“I always wanted that one, and she has really long hair like me,” she said.

Privett is hoping to receive a house for her Barbie dolls this year, complete with a garage and furniture.

What is your favorite activity on Christmas?

Privett: I like to go to my grandma’s and make cookies, and that’s what I’m gonna do on Saturday. I always get to eat one.

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Privett: “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” (by Wizzard). It’s on a show that my dad always puts on Christmas. I don’t know what it’s called. I like it because there’s a lot of girls, and I like the violin.

After a long period of deliberation, Valencia Elementary third grade student Klayt Hamilton, 9, chose Beyblades (spinning tops) as his favorite Christmas gift.

This year, however, he would like an Xbox video game system.

Who do you like more: Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?

Hamilton: Rudolph, because of his nose.

What do you enjoy most about Christmas?

Hamilton: That we get to be together with our families. We get to spend time with people who live far away from us.

Annika Jones, 10, a fourth grade student at Valencia, once received an iPod for Christmas. She is hoping to receive a more modest gift this year: A pair of onesie pajamas.

What’s your favorite memory of Christmas?

Jones: Getting a bike, because I liked to ride it every day when I got out of school.

If you could ask Santa for anything, what would you ask him?

Jones: 1,000 wishes.

Zia Elementary students in Clovis talked about their fondest Christmas memories, ranging from family traditions to overcoming weather to simple family gestures, such as being saved by siblings from falling down the stairs.

They also shared exciting family trips and the things they most wanted this holiday season.

“(I asked for) a lot of makeup from Sephora and Ulta,” said 11-year-old Molly Harris.

Micah Harris, 8, simply said he most wanted to get a phone for Christmas, while 10-year-old Trey Barberree said he wanted large items, such as “a drone with a camera with a light and live stream” and “a go-cart, like a mini go-cart.”

Rudy Ledezma, 10, said he wished for an X-box One this Christmas.

Christian Wilson and Nicholas Sartain, both 10, said initially they wanted a safe Christmas for all.

“I wish for my family to have a great Christmas,” said Sartain.

“I hope everyone has a great Christmas and everyone gets what they most want,” said Wilson.

What are you looking forward to on Christmas this year?

Nicholas Sartain: I look forward to going to Boston for Christmas. We’re gonna spend our time up there and meet my stepdad’s mom and dad.

Molly Harris: Going to my nana’s house. We’re going to have a big Christmas dinner and spend time with my cousins. And we’re going to golf at my nana’s house.

Christian Wilson: I’m looking forward to going to Albuquerque to hang around with my little brothers, and going to Roswell to golf. I have most of my family in Roswell.

Micah Harris: Opening presents, and also my grandma’s son is going to come. He used to live in China.

Trey Barberree: On the 24th, we might go to Alabama and visit my mom’s dad. We might open Christmas presents before we leave.

Rudy Ledezma: We get to go to Ruidoso. There will be 28 of us in a cabin and we’re going to stay there. We leave Wednesday of next week to spend time with my little and older cousins, uncles and aunts.

What is your favorite part of Christmas?

Nicholas Sartain: I like building gingerbread houses. One time, we played the pie-face game, where you have to push a red button, and it goes to either side (to avoid getting hit).

Molly Harris: We like to go spend time with my family in Plainview (Texas). We do a lot of stuff, but it changes every year. We play kickball, volleyball, we spend time outside.

Christian Wilson: I just like spending time with my family, my grandma and my great grandma.

Micah Harris: Usually on Christmas Eve, we usually open one present, and it’s usually pajamas.

Trey Barberree: Letting Jesus have his birthday and opening presents and spending time with my family.

Rudy Ledezma: Spending time with the family, playing with my family.

What is your fondest Christmas memory?

Nicholas Sartain: One year, I was with my dad and we were driving down a hill and we got stuck. And then finally something helped us get off the snow and we got away safely. One year, me and my mom, we were swimming in the swimming pool and we got in the newspaper in Albuquerque, too.

Molly Harris: We just like to drive on Christmas, and when we’re in the car, we sing Christmas tunes. Sometimes, we’ll go to Tennessee and spend time with family.

Christian Wilson: Last year, we had a bad blizzard. We were gonna visit my dad, but we couldn’t go anywhere. I’m glad we didn’t go, because we would have gotten stuck.

Micah Harris: I remember one year we went to the beach, and Santa was there. He gave out candy and we got pictures.

Trey Barberree: When I was around 2 and 3 in Alaska, I was just learning how to walk. I was walking up the stairs and I fell, and my brother caught me.

Rudy Ledezma: Once the blizzard was happening, we thought our cat was outside. Then we found out it was right next to the fireplace. The next day, we went to my grandma’s. Me and my cousin were jumping over the fence there. I remember once I jumped and the snow was all up to my thighs.

— Compiled by Staff Writers Eamon Scarbrough and Kurt Munz-Raper