Five Valley families share their most cherished holiday traditions and memories.

The Hastings Family Jay; Kimberly; Brody, 4; Colt, 2; and Barkley, English Bulldog

For Kimberly Hastings, public relations manager for Macerich and her family of five (including her pup, Barkley) the holiday is about family, grandma's apple pie and a very special Christmas wish.

What are your favorite family traditions?

We have many Hastings traditions! To celebrate the season, we started buying the boys a holiday ornament that symbolizes the year or a milestone. This year, I'm thinking about a 'Cars 2' ornament for Colt and Sponge Bob for Brody. We write a note and keep it in the ornament box that explains the meaning. It's fun to look back and see the characters and memories we've created through ornaments. We also always head to Texas to celebrate the holidays with food, family and fun! This year is no exception. Jay is an only child and I'm the baby in a family of three girls, so every year the entire family gets together—we catch up on time passed, share presents and, of course, have homemade food. We're all looking forward to my grandma's apple pie. She's 91 and still makes the sweetest apple pie we've ever tasted. And every year we head to Biltmore Fashion Park and enjoy holiday movies on the Center Lawn; this year we might even bring Barkley, the family bulldog. Christmas Day is always complete with amazing food and football.

Are you planning anything special for this year?

This year, I'd like to take the family to Williams and ride the North Pole Express. Both boys would love the 'real' train experience, and it gives me a great excuse to buy the boys matching PJ's since PJ's are recommended for the ride.

Does having have kids enhance the holiday season for you?

Since having children, the holiday season does bring back the magic and allure of the season. I love the excitement the boys get visiting Santa, writing letters to Santa and I secretly love getting the kitchen completely covered in frosting and sprinkles when we make holiday sugar cookies. The holiday season is a great time to bring out the kid in all of us. There is something magical about seeing Christmas through the eyes of children.

How do you prepare for the holidays?

We start very early—in fact half, our Christmas shopping was complete in October. I also live by to-do lists; from planning the grocery list to the gift-giving list, I keep a tablet by my bed and wake up in the middle of the night and jot down ideas. (Yes, Jay thinks I'm crazy.)

If you could have any holiday wish come true, what might that be?

For Colt to say 'mama' and 'dada.' Colt was born with a profound hearing loss and unable to speak or communicate in traditional ways. Our wish would be for Colt to enjoy the sounds of the holiday season and speak his first words with the use of his hearing aid and cochlear implant.

Favorite holiday song?

'The Hanukkah Song" by Adam Sandler or Brody's rendition of 'Jingle Bells.'

Favorite holiday movie?

'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' or 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.'