The Penn Christmas traditions for EHS head football coach and newly elected city councilman Randy Penn are based around family, eatingand decorating.

We have been doing these same events for the last 37 years, with only some location changes as the families have grown.

Decorating,both inside and out, are a huge eventat the Penn household. 8 trees are set up inside, each with a different theme, and the outside lights arejust as memorable. With the entire Penn family we start with a bake day at sister Nancy's house.

This is an all day event beginning withGrandma Pennat 5 am makingher famous donuts. We eat them as fast as she can fry them, especially the donut holes. Everyone comes prepared to make 4-6 goodies to share. Rule is that everyone mustparticipate, young kids, dads, moms and teenagers, everyonehelps with the goodies.

Weeat all day, of course wetaste everything, watch a little football and make a huge mess but what a great day for each of us! When we are too tired and stuffed to do anymore we start dividingthe goodies for each family and friends.

Christmas Eve continues the festivities and it's no simple event of food and presents. There are 26-30 at Coach Penn's house and the evening starts out with everyone drawing a number that corresponds to an activity forthe evening.

It can be as simpleas making drinks, doing dishes, saying grace, singing Happy Birthday to Jesus or being the lead caroler in the neighborhood.

However, you may be one of the lucky ones that gets a really special activity such as being the human Christmas tree with lights, ornaments and garland, kissing everyone's big toe(don't ask), playing Santa, picking up trash which everyone has so kindly shreddedor calling Great Grandma Penn ( lives in Kansas and she's 98).

One year we had a performance of '12 Days of Christmas" with crazy props and costumes!!! We continue with games, eating, and doing presents, both regular and white elephant, there is a very specialbathing suit with a plastic butterfly on the front that has been passed around for years.

The best gift isjust sharing these wonderful events with this very special and loving family. I have been very blessed to be a part of this family.