5 questions with Matt Daniels

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?
My favorite childhood holiday memory is a tough one because my parents
did such a good job making the holidays a big deal around our house.
Whether it was walking out to our living room on Christmas morning to see
all the presents Santa had left or eating the delicious cinnamon rolls my
mom would make. We never went anywhere on Christmas except our house, and
there was no better feeling than putting on a new sweatshirt and curling
up with a new book to start devouring once we had finished opening all the
presents. Two other bonus ones: getting up early to go to the Collinsville
Holiday Tournament with my dad when I was 8 years old, which even further
ingrained in me my love of sports, and having my grandma spend Christmas
with us. We would drive up from our house in Glen Carbon to pick her up in
Peoria, bring her back and have her spend a few days with us. She was the
last grandparent alive and on her last Christmas with us, we walked out of
church on Christmas Eve and it was snowing. Seeing the joy on her face and
the fact the snow matched her curly white hair brings a smile to my face
this day even if it has been three decades since she passed.

2. What is your favorite part of the holidays now?
My favorite part of the holidays now is either driving around St.
Joseph to look at all the Christmas lights with my family or seeing the
joy on my kids’ faces on Christmas morning when they wake up too way early
for my liking because I’m a night owl. But either one brings that warm,
comforting feeling we all come to associate with the holidays. Plus,
through the years, I like to think I’ve become an expert on how to open my
children’s toys in an efficient, timely manner. Which they seem to
appreciate.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?My favorite Christmas song is too many to choose from. I’m a big ’12 Days of Christmas,’ fan even if I struggle to remember what some of the
symbols are after five golden rings. ‘Joy to the World,’ is another one of
my favorites. It’s just a feel-good song. When I was a kid, I learned how
to play ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing!’ during my brief, distinguished
career playing the piano. I was proud of myself for that one, even though
there’s no way I’d remember how to do it now.

4. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

My favorite Christmas movie is ‘Home Alone.’ By far. I can watch this
movie any day of the year, but it just makes it all worthwhile when I’m
able to watch it in December. I lived near Chicago for a few years when I
was younger, so I thought it was cool a movie was based near where I
lived. From the hijinks that ensue to the independence Kevin McAllister
shows to the feel-good message of what’s really important around the
holidays — spending time with your family — ‘Home Alone,’ hits all the
points for me. Plus, much to my wife’s chagrin, I’ve turned all three of
our kids into ‘Home Alone,’ fans. Parenting success.

5. What is your favorite holiday snack?
My favorite holiday snack is the delicious Monster cookies my wife
makes. She’ll probably roll her eyes at this, but they are so, so good.
Even when she spills all the oats over the kitchen. Which I can neither
confirm nor deny that has ever happened.