Happy holidays to all! During Christmastide, we Wenches are celebrating some of our memories of the Christmas season.
I treasure my childhood Christmas memories as days gone by, with some of my family gone, too. I remember hushed and sparkling Christmas mornings when my sisters and I would tiptoe downstairs to see what Santa had left beneath the tree … I found my first Barbie doll there, and a 
pink and white bicycle, and lots of books… we lived in Upstate New York, where the holidays were usually enveloped in snow, draped white from the treetops to the porch steps — we had Dylan Thomas sorts of snows there (though I took this photo last year in Maryland!):
"Our snow was not only shaken from white wash buckets down the sky, it came shawling out of the ground and swam and drifted out of the arms and hands and bodies of the trees; snow grew overnight on the roofs of the houses like a pure and grandfather moss, minutely ivied the walls and settled on the postman, opening the gate, like a dumb, numb thunder-storm of white, torn Christmas cards." (A Child's Christmas in Wales)
Though now when I think on Christmas past, I remember my own kids at Christmas.
We had a big Christmas surprise with the birth of our first son just days before Christmas (he was due in January). That year, we were changing diapers and pulling all-nighters as new parents beside the glowing Christmas tree. With three sons, we had wonderful Christmases — stories on Christmas Eve, cookies and milk for Santa, kids getting up at dawn to find toys and other gifts, laughing and silliness and some exhausting, lovely days.
There were Christmas calamities, too — once our oldest, age two, pulled a Christmas tree over on himself and got stuck under it (see photo taken just an hour before he did that!).
Another Christmas, our youngest, age two, got strep throat and we spent Christmas day in the ER, while our houseguests finished cooking my turkey dinner and watched our other kids until we got back hours later… one Christmas, all three boys had chicken pox and we quaratined ourselves from visitors…another time the snowfall was so deep we couldn't leave the house on Christmas or for days afterward…
Here's a photo that encapsulates those kid-filled holidays for 
me — my sons at ages 8, 4 and 1 year on Christmas Eve, being sweet and goofy. Today, one is a doctor, one is an ICU RN, and the other is studying psychology — but their mom will always remember them this way on Christmas.
Do you find yourself dealing with excited kids on Christmas, or do you have a Christmas calamity to share?
Remember, your December comments will enter you in our Word Wenches giveaway — a Word Wenches Library with a book from each of us for a winner picked at random from among all those who post on the blog in December! Good luck!
May your holiday season be wonderful, and may 2011 be your best year ever!
Susan
We had an unusual Christmas the year I had my son. I wasn’t due until January 21 but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in November. We had an emergency c-section on November 15th and were blessed with our son, Wesley. Because he was so premature, we spent the next few weeks by his bedside in the NICU! We spent our Christmas that year in the hospital, but the day after Christmas we were able to take him home on a breathing monitor.
He turned five this year, and both of us have no lasting affects from his early birth! He was bouncing off the walls and so sweet when we decorated cookies to leave out for Santa this year. We are exceptionally lucky and I am reminded of this each year around this time!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday 🙂
We had an unusual Christmas the year I had my son. I wasn’t due until January 21 but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in November. We had an emergency c-section on November 15th and were blessed with our son, Wesley. Because he was so premature, we spent the next few weeks by his bedside in the NICU! We spent our Christmas that year in the hospital, but the day after Christmas we were able to take him home on a breathing monitor.
He turned five this year, and both of us have no lasting affects from his early birth! He was bouncing off the walls and so sweet when we decorated cookies to leave out for Santa this year. We are exceptionally lucky and I am reminded of this each year around this time!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday 🙂
We had an unusual Christmas the year I had my son. I wasn’t due until January 21 but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in November. We had an emergency c-section on November 15th and were blessed with our son, Wesley. Because he was so premature, we spent the next few weeks by his bedside in the NICU! We spent our Christmas that year in the hospital, but the day after Christmas we were able to take him home on a breathing monitor.
He turned five this year, and both of us have no lasting affects from his early birth! He was bouncing off the walls and so sweet when we decorated cookies to leave out for Santa this year. We are exceptionally lucky and I am reminded of this each year around this time!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday 🙂
We had an unusual Christmas the year I had my son. I wasn’t due until January 21 but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in November. We had an emergency c-section on November 15th and were blessed with our son, Wesley. Because he was so premature, we spent the next few weeks by his bedside in the NICU! We spent our Christmas that year in the hospital, but the day after Christmas we were able to take him home on a breathing monitor.
He turned five this year, and both of us have no lasting affects from his early birth! He was bouncing off the walls and so sweet when we decorated cookies to leave out for Santa this year. We are exceptionally lucky and I am reminded of this each year around this time!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday 🙂
We had an unusual Christmas the year I had my son. I wasn’t due until January 21 but I was diagnosed with preeclampsia in November. We had an emergency c-section on November 15th and were blessed with our son, Wesley. Because he was so premature, we spent the next few weeks by his bedside in the NICU! We spent our Christmas that year in the hospital, but the day after Christmas we were able to take him home on a breathing monitor.
He turned five this year, and both of us have no lasting affects from his early birth! He was bouncing off the walls and so sweet when we decorated cookies to leave out for Santa this year. We are exceptionally lucky and I am reminded of this each year around this time!
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday 🙂
This year, no big calamities happened for us. It was all relatively quiet – until we got hit with a blizzard. Okay, so it’s still pretty calm here. I mean, what trouble can you really get into when you’re snowed in?
Margay
This year, no big calamities happened for us. It was all relatively quiet – until we got hit with a blizzard. Okay, so it’s still pretty calm here. I mean, what trouble can you really get into when you’re snowed in?
Margay
This year, no big calamities happened for us. It was all relatively quiet – until we got hit with a blizzard. Okay, so it’s still pretty calm here. I mean, what trouble can you really get into when you’re snowed in?
Margay
This year, no big calamities happened for us. It was all relatively quiet – until we got hit with a blizzard. Okay, so it’s still pretty calm here. I mean, what trouble can you really get into when you’re snowed in?
Margay
This year, no big calamities happened for us. It was all relatively quiet – until we got hit with a blizzard. Okay, so it’s still pretty calm here. I mean, what trouble can you really get into when you’re snowed in?
Margay
What’s funny is this year it was all about the great-grandchild: Mahala. She’s four; and basically the rest of us are all old enough to know better and we tend not do presents for each other. We just don’t. (Honestly if I want awesome presents instead of WTFs, I exchange with my friends–they know me better.) Anyway, so we’re all keyed up to give gifts to the four year old.
I was particularly excited: I had Dora the Explorer items AND Beauty and the Beast items. I was bound to win points as the Great-Aunt. Her aunt (my niece) had a slew of books and DVDs, hoping to top me. Great-Grandpa won of course: he gave money. She cooed over every present (though I like to think she really liked the doll I got her), but it was the money that made her go “MONEY!” in an excited voice. So once again, my Dad won this game of who can impress the kid most.
What was tragic about the situation was 1) her mother no sooner let her open one gift, that she all but ripped it out of her hands to open another. They were on a schedule with the snow coming down and they couldn’t visit long. So the kid didn’t really get to enjoy opening her gifts or enjoy her gifts; 2) once they were all unwrapped and she got to play with stuff some, she got into some candy, got on a sugar high, bounced on a chair, and then got yelled at by her father. This caused her to burst into tears, which prompted another yelling and public shaming, which in turn prompted more crying. Finally they decided to leave, since she was so ill-behaved, and when they told her to hug and kiss everyone goodbye, the kid said, “NO. Let’s just go.” (Which probably should have broken my heart, but honestly made me want to laugh at her pouty voice.) As you guessed, there was more yelling. I’m not sure this qualifies for “calamity”–but seriously what kind of anti-Santa do you have to be to make a little kid cry like that at Christmas? Cut her a break. She wasn’t breaking the furniture.
What’s funny is this year it was all about the great-grandchild: Mahala. She’s four; and basically the rest of us are all old enough to know better and we tend not do presents for each other. We just don’t. (Honestly if I want awesome presents instead of WTFs, I exchange with my friends–they know me better.) Anyway, so we’re all keyed up to give gifts to the four year old.
I was particularly excited: I had Dora the Explorer items AND Beauty and the Beast items. I was bound to win points as the Great-Aunt. Her aunt (my niece) had a slew of books and DVDs, hoping to top me. Great-Grandpa won of course: he gave money. She cooed over every present (though I like to think she really liked the doll I got her), but it was the money that made her go “MONEY!” in an excited voice. So once again, my Dad won this game of who can impress the kid most.
What was tragic about the situation was 1) her mother no sooner let her open one gift, that she all but ripped it out of her hands to open another. They were on a schedule with the snow coming down and they couldn’t visit long. So the kid didn’t really get to enjoy opening her gifts or enjoy her gifts; 2) once they were all unwrapped and she got to play with stuff some, she got into some candy, got on a sugar high, bounced on a chair, and then got yelled at by her father. This caused her to burst into tears, which prompted another yelling and public shaming, which in turn prompted more crying. Finally they decided to leave, since she was so ill-behaved, and when they told her to hug and kiss everyone goodbye, the kid said, “NO. Let’s just go.” (Which probably should have broken my heart, but honestly made me want to laugh at her pouty voice.) As you guessed, there was more yelling. I’m not sure this qualifies for “calamity”–but seriously what kind of anti-Santa do you have to be to make a little kid cry like that at Christmas? Cut her a break. She wasn’t breaking the furniture.
What’s funny is this year it was all about the great-grandchild: Mahala. She’s four; and basically the rest of us are all old enough to know better and we tend not do presents for each other. We just don’t. (Honestly if I want awesome presents instead of WTFs, I exchange with my friends–they know me better.) Anyway, so we’re all keyed up to give gifts to the four year old.
I was particularly excited: I had Dora the Explorer items AND Beauty and the Beast items. I was bound to win points as the Great-Aunt. Her aunt (my niece) had a slew of books and DVDs, hoping to top me. Great-Grandpa won of course: he gave money. She cooed over every present (though I like to think she really liked the doll I got her), but it was the money that made her go “MONEY!” in an excited voice. So once again, my Dad won this game of who can impress the kid most.
What was tragic about the situation was 1) her mother no sooner let her open one gift, that she all but ripped it out of her hands to open another. They were on a schedule with the snow coming down and they couldn’t visit long. So the kid didn’t really get to enjoy opening her gifts or enjoy her gifts; 2) once they were all unwrapped and she got to play with stuff some, she got into some candy, got on a sugar high, bounced on a chair, and then got yelled at by her father. This caused her to burst into tears, which prompted another yelling and public shaming, which in turn prompted more crying. Finally they decided to leave, since she was so ill-behaved, and when they told her to hug and kiss everyone goodbye, the kid said, “NO. Let’s just go.” (Which probably should have broken my heart, but honestly made me want to laugh at her pouty voice.) As you guessed, there was more yelling. I’m not sure this qualifies for “calamity”–but seriously what kind of anti-Santa do you have to be to make a little kid cry like that at Christmas? Cut her a break. She wasn’t breaking the furniture.
What’s funny is this year it was all about the great-grandchild: Mahala. She’s four; and basically the rest of us are all old enough to know better and we tend not do presents for each other. We just don’t. (Honestly if I want awesome presents instead of WTFs, I exchange with my friends–they know me better.) Anyway, so we’re all keyed up to give gifts to the four year old.
I was particularly excited: I had Dora the Explorer items AND Beauty and the Beast items. I was bound to win points as the Great-Aunt. Her aunt (my niece) had a slew of books and DVDs, hoping to top me. Great-Grandpa won of course: he gave money. She cooed over every present (though I like to think she really liked the doll I got her), but it was the money that made her go “MONEY!” in an excited voice. So once again, my Dad won this game of who can impress the kid most.
What was tragic about the situation was 1) her mother no sooner let her open one gift, that she all but ripped it out of her hands to open another. They were on a schedule with the snow coming down and they couldn’t visit long. So the kid didn’t really get to enjoy opening her gifts or enjoy her gifts; 2) once they were all unwrapped and she got to play with stuff some, she got into some candy, got on a sugar high, bounced on a chair, and then got yelled at by her father. This caused her to burst into tears, which prompted another yelling and public shaming, which in turn prompted more crying. Finally they decided to leave, since she was so ill-behaved, and when they told her to hug and kiss everyone goodbye, the kid said, “NO. Let’s just go.” (Which probably should have broken my heart, but honestly made me want to laugh at her pouty voice.) As you guessed, there was more yelling. I’m not sure this qualifies for “calamity”–but seriously what kind of anti-Santa do you have to be to make a little kid cry like that at Christmas? Cut her a break. She wasn’t breaking the furniture.
What’s funny is this year it was all about the great-grandchild: Mahala. She’s four; and basically the rest of us are all old enough to know better and we tend not do presents for each other. We just don’t. (Honestly if I want awesome presents instead of WTFs, I exchange with my friends–they know me better.) Anyway, so we’re all keyed up to give gifts to the four year old.
I was particularly excited: I had Dora the Explorer items AND Beauty and the Beast items. I was bound to win points as the Great-Aunt. Her aunt (my niece) had a slew of books and DVDs, hoping to top me. Great-Grandpa won of course: he gave money. She cooed over every present (though I like to think she really liked the doll I got her), but it was the money that made her go “MONEY!” in an excited voice. So once again, my Dad won this game of who can impress the kid most.
What was tragic about the situation was 1) her mother no sooner let her open one gift, that she all but ripped it out of her hands to open another. They were on a schedule with the snow coming down and they couldn’t visit long. So the kid didn’t really get to enjoy opening her gifts or enjoy her gifts; 2) once they were all unwrapped and she got to play with stuff some, she got into some candy, got on a sugar high, bounced on a chair, and then got yelled at by her father. This caused her to burst into tears, which prompted another yelling and public shaming, which in turn prompted more crying. Finally they decided to leave, since she was so ill-behaved, and when they told her to hug and kiss everyone goodbye, the kid said, “NO. Let’s just go.” (Which probably should have broken my heart, but honestly made me want to laugh at her pouty voice.) As you guessed, there was more yelling. I’m not sure this qualifies for “calamity”–but seriously what kind of anti-Santa do you have to be to make a little kid cry like that at Christmas? Cut her a break. She wasn’t breaking the furniture.
Merry Christmas Wench Susan, and a Happy New Year!
Being the first of nine, I have brimming bucket loads of Christmas memories in every flavor — excited, sweet, warm, bleak, envious, surprised.
But, what I notice (and recall the most often) is how things have changed and yet remain the same. Our “Family Christmas Eve smorgasbord” was born out of a rather bleak time, but today, as we engage in the same tradition with many of the same foods we remember not the bad, but the good.
Merry Christmas Wench Susan, and a Happy New Year!
Being the first of nine, I have brimming bucket loads of Christmas memories in every flavor — excited, sweet, warm, bleak, envious, surprised.
But, what I notice (and recall the most often) is how things have changed and yet remain the same. Our “Family Christmas Eve smorgasbord” was born out of a rather bleak time, but today, as we engage in the same tradition with many of the same foods we remember not the bad, but the good.
Merry Christmas Wench Susan, and a Happy New Year!
Being the first of nine, I have brimming bucket loads of Christmas memories in every flavor — excited, sweet, warm, bleak, envious, surprised.
But, what I notice (and recall the most often) is how things have changed and yet remain the same. Our “Family Christmas Eve smorgasbord” was born out of a rather bleak time, but today, as we engage in the same tradition with many of the same foods we remember not the bad, but the good.
Merry Christmas Wench Susan, and a Happy New Year!
Being the first of nine, I have brimming bucket loads of Christmas memories in every flavor — excited, sweet, warm, bleak, envious, surprised.
But, what I notice (and recall the most often) is how things have changed and yet remain the same. Our “Family Christmas Eve smorgasbord” was born out of a rather bleak time, but today, as we engage in the same tradition with many of the same foods we remember not the bad, but the good.
Merry Christmas Wench Susan, and a Happy New Year!
Being the first of nine, I have brimming bucket loads of Christmas memories in every flavor — excited, sweet, warm, bleak, envious, surprised.
But, what I notice (and recall the most often) is how things have changed and yet remain the same. Our “Family Christmas Eve smorgasbord” was born out of a rather bleak time, but today, as we engage in the same tradition with many of the same foods we remember not the bad, but the good.
Great post no calamities for me either just a fantastic Christmas my children are grown up now but I have 5 beautful grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 9 months and they had the best time opening presents playing together and non stop eating all day loved every minute of the day
Have Fun
Helen
Great post no calamities for me either just a fantastic Christmas my children are grown up now but I have 5 beautful grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 9 months and they had the best time opening presents playing together and non stop eating all day loved every minute of the day
Have Fun
Helen
Great post no calamities for me either just a fantastic Christmas my children are grown up now but I have 5 beautful grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 9 months and they had the best time opening presents playing together and non stop eating all day loved every minute of the day
Have Fun
Helen
Great post no calamities for me either just a fantastic Christmas my children are grown up now but I have 5 beautful grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 9 months and they had the best time opening presents playing together and non stop eating all day loved every minute of the day
Have Fun
Helen
Great post no calamities for me either just a fantastic Christmas my children are grown up now but I have 5 beautful grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 9 months and they had the best time opening presents playing together and non stop eating all day loved every minute of the day
Have Fun
Helen
My worst calamity happened 23 years ago. I don’t think there’s much that could top it. And I don’t have grandkids yet (thank goodness!) so I just have fun watching everyone else open their stuff. That’s as satisfying for me as opening my gifts.
My worst calamity happened 23 years ago. I don’t think there’s much that could top it. And I don’t have grandkids yet (thank goodness!) so I just have fun watching everyone else open their stuff. That’s as satisfying for me as opening my gifts.
My worst calamity happened 23 years ago. I don’t think there’s much that could top it. And I don’t have grandkids yet (thank goodness!) so I just have fun watching everyone else open their stuff. That’s as satisfying for me as opening my gifts.
My worst calamity happened 23 years ago. I don’t think there’s much that could top it. And I don’t have grandkids yet (thank goodness!) so I just have fun watching everyone else open their stuff. That’s as satisfying for me as opening my gifts.
My worst calamity happened 23 years ago. I don’t think there’s much that could top it. And I don’t have grandkids yet (thank goodness!) so I just have fun watching everyone else open their stuff. That’s as satisfying for me as opening my gifts.
quiet Christmas for me. got to see the great-nephew (19 mos) Christmas eve and watch him open a bunch of presents from the family gift exchange — he was adorable of course 🙂
quiet Christmas for me. got to see the great-nephew (19 mos) Christmas eve and watch him open a bunch of presents from the family gift exchange — he was adorable of course 🙂
quiet Christmas for me. got to see the great-nephew (19 mos) Christmas eve and watch him open a bunch of presents from the family gift exchange — he was adorable of course 🙂
quiet Christmas for me. got to see the great-nephew (19 mos) Christmas eve and watch him open a bunch of presents from the family gift exchange — he was adorable of course 🙂
quiet Christmas for me. got to see the great-nephew (19 mos) Christmas eve and watch him open a bunch of presents from the family gift exchange — he was adorable of course 🙂
We have a ten-year-old daughter and she drove me nuts asking the entire month of December if we got her such and such for Christmas. She still believes in Santa, and she was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get big gifts from him, but little ones instead. I think she suspects anyway about Santa, but I’m not sure. It was just as much fun to watch the kids as it was to watch my dad open his gifts. 🙂
We have a ten-year-old daughter and she drove me nuts asking the entire month of December if we got her such and such for Christmas. She still believes in Santa, and she was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get big gifts from him, but little ones instead. I think she suspects anyway about Santa, but I’m not sure. It was just as much fun to watch the kids as it was to watch my dad open his gifts. 🙂
We have a ten-year-old daughter and she drove me nuts asking the entire month of December if we got her such and such for Christmas. She still believes in Santa, and she was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get big gifts from him, but little ones instead. I think she suspects anyway about Santa, but I’m not sure. It was just as much fun to watch the kids as it was to watch my dad open his gifts. 🙂
We have a ten-year-old daughter and she drove me nuts asking the entire month of December if we got her such and such for Christmas. She still believes in Santa, and she was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get big gifts from him, but little ones instead. I think she suspects anyway about Santa, but I’m not sure. It was just as much fun to watch the kids as it was to watch my dad open his gifts. 🙂
We have a ten-year-old daughter and she drove me nuts asking the entire month of December if we got her such and such for Christmas. She still believes in Santa, and she was slightly disappointed when she didn’t get big gifts from him, but little ones instead. I think she suspects anyway about Santa, but I’m not sure. It was just as much fun to watch the kids as it was to watch my dad open his gifts. 🙂
Christmas Past was probably not as great as I remember it. But my parents were alive then, my brother and his wife and 2 children lived close by, my sister and her family of 4 would drive north to be with us, and we would gather for Christmas Eve (gift exchange) and Christmas Day (turkey dinner.) Things are different now: kids are all grown and have their own families, and we siblings live 700 to 1400 miles from each other, we in the northwest and the others in southern California and Arizona.
But our oldest boy came north to spend two weeks with us this year, so we were not without family. We had a nice time with him; but tomorrow he returns home. We have been having snow showers all day, and we have some concern he can make it over the mountain passes (the highest is the Siskiyou at 4310 ft.) We’ll be watching the pass cameras tomorrow making sure the roads are clear as he drives south (not that we can do anything about it if they are not!) Our youngest son came at Thanksgiving, and we are grateful they each care enough about us to make the effort. But I do think about the times we were all together and wonder if we ever will be again. My husband is in his early 80’s and I in my mid-70’s, so from now on every Christmas will really count!
Happy new year to all.
Diane
Christmas Past was probably not as great as I remember it. But my parents were alive then, my brother and his wife and 2 children lived close by, my sister and her family of 4 would drive north to be with us, and we would gather for Christmas Eve (gift exchange) and Christmas Day (turkey dinner.) Things are different now: kids are all grown and have their own families, and we siblings live 700 to 1400 miles from each other, we in the northwest and the others in southern California and Arizona.
But our oldest boy came north to spend two weeks with us this year, so we were not without family. We had a nice time with him; but tomorrow he returns home. We have been having snow showers all day, and we have some concern he can make it over the mountain passes (the highest is the Siskiyou at 4310 ft.) We’ll be watching the pass cameras tomorrow making sure the roads are clear as he drives south (not that we can do anything about it if they are not!) Our youngest son came at Thanksgiving, and we are grateful they each care enough about us to make the effort. But I do think about the times we were all together and wonder if we ever will be again. My husband is in his early 80’s and I in my mid-70’s, so from now on every Christmas will really count!
Happy new year to all.
Diane
Christmas Past was probably not as great as I remember it. But my parents were alive then, my brother and his wife and 2 children lived close by, my sister and her family of 4 would drive north to be with us, and we would gather for Christmas Eve (gift exchange) and Christmas Day (turkey dinner.) Things are different now: kids are all grown and have their own families, and we siblings live 700 to 1400 miles from each other, we in the northwest and the others in southern California and Arizona.
But our oldest boy came north to spend two weeks with us this year, so we were not without family. We had a nice time with him; but tomorrow he returns home. We have been having snow showers all day, and we have some concern he can make it over the mountain passes (the highest is the Siskiyou at 4310 ft.) We’ll be watching the pass cameras tomorrow making sure the roads are clear as he drives south (not that we can do anything about it if they are not!) Our youngest son came at Thanksgiving, and we are grateful they each care enough about us to make the effort. But I do think about the times we were all together and wonder if we ever will be again. My husband is in his early 80’s and I in my mid-70’s, so from now on every Christmas will really count!
Happy new year to all.
Diane
Christmas Past was probably not as great as I remember it. But my parents were alive then, my brother and his wife and 2 children lived close by, my sister and her family of 4 would drive north to be with us, and we would gather for Christmas Eve (gift exchange) and Christmas Day (turkey dinner.) Things are different now: kids are all grown and have their own families, and we siblings live 700 to 1400 miles from each other, we in the northwest and the others in southern California and Arizona.
But our oldest boy came north to spend two weeks with us this year, so we were not without family. We had a nice time with him; but tomorrow he returns home. We have been having snow showers all day, and we have some concern he can make it over the mountain passes (the highest is the Siskiyou at 4310 ft.) We’ll be watching the pass cameras tomorrow making sure the roads are clear as he drives south (not that we can do anything about it if they are not!) Our youngest son came at Thanksgiving, and we are grateful they each care enough about us to make the effort. But I do think about the times we were all together and wonder if we ever will be again. My husband is in his early 80’s and I in my mid-70’s, so from now on every Christmas will really count!
Happy new year to all.
Diane
Christmas Past was probably not as great as I remember it. But my parents were alive then, my brother and his wife and 2 children lived close by, my sister and her family of 4 would drive north to be with us, and we would gather for Christmas Eve (gift exchange) and Christmas Day (turkey dinner.) Things are different now: kids are all grown and have their own families, and we siblings live 700 to 1400 miles from each other, we in the northwest and the others in southern California and Arizona.
But our oldest boy came north to spend two weeks with us this year, so we were not without family. We had a nice time with him; but tomorrow he returns home. We have been having snow showers all day, and we have some concern he can make it over the mountain passes (the highest is the Siskiyou at 4310 ft.) We’ll be watching the pass cameras tomorrow making sure the roads are clear as he drives south (not that we can do anything about it if they are not!) Our youngest son came at Thanksgiving, and we are grateful they each care enough about us to make the effort. But I do think about the times we were all together and wonder if we ever will be again. My husband is in his early 80’s and I in my mid-70’s, so from now on every Christmas will really count!
Happy new year to all.
Diane
The only Christmas calamity I recall was when I was very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and we were camping at the beach for the Christmas holidays in a big tent (Christmas comes in summer here) and it poured and poured and we were washed out. I remember it as exciting more than calamitous, wading ankle deep in water inside the tent, but we ended up staying with my grandparents who lived close by. I’m certain all the presents were there anyway, as we would have had Christmas day with them, so nothing important was lost. 😉
After that my parents bought a caravan.
The only Christmas calamity I recall was when I was very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and we were camping at the beach for the Christmas holidays in a big tent (Christmas comes in summer here) and it poured and poured and we were washed out. I remember it as exciting more than calamitous, wading ankle deep in water inside the tent, but we ended up staying with my grandparents who lived close by. I’m certain all the presents were there anyway, as we would have had Christmas day with them, so nothing important was lost. 😉
After that my parents bought a caravan.
The only Christmas calamity I recall was when I was very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and we were camping at the beach for the Christmas holidays in a big tent (Christmas comes in summer here) and it poured and poured and we were washed out. I remember it as exciting more than calamitous, wading ankle deep in water inside the tent, but we ended up staying with my grandparents who lived close by. I’m certain all the presents were there anyway, as we would have had Christmas day with them, so nothing important was lost. 😉
After that my parents bought a caravan.
The only Christmas calamity I recall was when I was very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and we were camping at the beach for the Christmas holidays in a big tent (Christmas comes in summer here) and it poured and poured and we were washed out. I remember it as exciting more than calamitous, wading ankle deep in water inside the tent, but we ended up staying with my grandparents who lived close by. I’m certain all the presents were there anyway, as we would have had Christmas day with them, so nothing important was lost. 😉
After that my parents bought a caravan.
The only Christmas calamity I recall was when I was very small, maybe 3 or 4 years old, and we were camping at the beach for the Christmas holidays in a big tent (Christmas comes in summer here) and it poured and poured and we were washed out. I remember it as exciting more than calamitous, wading ankle deep in water inside the tent, but we ended up staying with my grandparents who lived close by. I’m certain all the presents were there anyway, as we would have had Christmas day with them, so nothing important was lost. 😉
After that my parents bought a caravan.
I was an only child, but we were all kids during the holdays at my house ; )
“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A PIE”
I have always loved to cook, and I began preparing the meals for my family when my grandmother was no longer able to grocery shop and cook our meals. She had taught me how to cook, and we managed pretty well. My mom and grandfather worked full-time and I went to school. We each did what we could to keep it all together. My grandfather’s favorite pie was mincemeat, and I decided to make him a pie one Christmas. It was a beautiful mincemeat pie with a golden, fluted-edge crust. I wanted to be just like my grandmother, so I sat my pie on a chair on the back porch so that it would cool more quickly. My grandfather could hardly wait for a taste of that pie. It was a wonderfully clear and cold December day with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. A great day for birds! When I went back to get my prize-worthy pie, birds had completely pecked away the carefully fluted edge of the pie crust. They left a perfect ring of crumbs around the pie pan. I was devastated! My grandfather loved to tease me, and he told me that since there were no dead birds in sight, the pie was probably safe to eat! I cried, but he gave me a hug and took over that pie. He brushed off the top and cut away a narrow ring around the edge. Over the next few days, he managed to consume the whole pie. No one else would touch it! He told me many times that it was the best mincemeat pie he ever ate. It was the only one I ever made : (
I was an only child, but we were all kids during the holdays at my house ; )
“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A PIE”
I have always loved to cook, and I began preparing the meals for my family when my grandmother was no longer able to grocery shop and cook our meals. She had taught me how to cook, and we managed pretty well. My mom and grandfather worked full-time and I went to school. We each did what we could to keep it all together. My grandfather’s favorite pie was mincemeat, and I decided to make him a pie one Christmas. It was a beautiful mincemeat pie with a golden, fluted-edge crust. I wanted to be just like my grandmother, so I sat my pie on a chair on the back porch so that it would cool more quickly. My grandfather could hardly wait for a taste of that pie. It was a wonderfully clear and cold December day with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. A great day for birds! When I went back to get my prize-worthy pie, birds had completely pecked away the carefully fluted edge of the pie crust. They left a perfect ring of crumbs around the pie pan. I was devastated! My grandfather loved to tease me, and he told me that since there were no dead birds in sight, the pie was probably safe to eat! I cried, but he gave me a hug and took over that pie. He brushed off the top and cut away a narrow ring around the edge. Over the next few days, he managed to consume the whole pie. No one else would touch it! He told me many times that it was the best mincemeat pie he ever ate. It was the only one I ever made : (
I was an only child, but we were all kids during the holdays at my house ; )
“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A PIE”
I have always loved to cook, and I began preparing the meals for my family when my grandmother was no longer able to grocery shop and cook our meals. She had taught me how to cook, and we managed pretty well. My mom and grandfather worked full-time and I went to school. We each did what we could to keep it all together. My grandfather’s favorite pie was mincemeat, and I decided to make him a pie one Christmas. It was a beautiful mincemeat pie with a golden, fluted-edge crust. I wanted to be just like my grandmother, so I sat my pie on a chair on the back porch so that it would cool more quickly. My grandfather could hardly wait for a taste of that pie. It was a wonderfully clear and cold December day with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. A great day for birds! When I went back to get my prize-worthy pie, birds had completely pecked away the carefully fluted edge of the pie crust. They left a perfect ring of crumbs around the pie pan. I was devastated! My grandfather loved to tease me, and he told me that since there were no dead birds in sight, the pie was probably safe to eat! I cried, but he gave me a hug and took over that pie. He brushed off the top and cut away a narrow ring around the edge. Over the next few days, he managed to consume the whole pie. No one else would touch it! He told me many times that it was the best mincemeat pie he ever ate. It was the only one I ever made : (
I was an only child, but we were all kids during the holdays at my house ; )
“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A PIE”
I have always loved to cook, and I began preparing the meals for my family when my grandmother was no longer able to grocery shop and cook our meals. She had taught me how to cook, and we managed pretty well. My mom and grandfather worked full-time and I went to school. We each did what we could to keep it all together. My grandfather’s favorite pie was mincemeat, and I decided to make him a pie one Christmas. It was a beautiful mincemeat pie with a golden, fluted-edge crust. I wanted to be just like my grandmother, so I sat my pie on a chair on the back porch so that it would cool more quickly. My grandfather could hardly wait for a taste of that pie. It was a wonderfully clear and cold December day with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. A great day for birds! When I went back to get my prize-worthy pie, birds had completely pecked away the carefully fluted edge of the pie crust. They left a perfect ring of crumbs around the pie pan. I was devastated! My grandfather loved to tease me, and he told me that since there were no dead birds in sight, the pie was probably safe to eat! I cried, but he gave me a hug and took over that pie. He brushed off the top and cut away a narrow ring around the edge. Over the next few days, he managed to consume the whole pie. No one else would touch it! He told me many times that it was the best mincemeat pie he ever ate. It was the only one I ever made : (
I was an only child, but we were all kids during the holdays at my house ; )
“PRIDE GOETH BEFORE A PIE”
I have always loved to cook, and I began preparing the meals for my family when my grandmother was no longer able to grocery shop and cook our meals. She had taught me how to cook, and we managed pretty well. My mom and grandfather worked full-time and I went to school. We each did what we could to keep it all together. My grandfather’s favorite pie was mincemeat, and I decided to make him a pie one Christmas. It was a beautiful mincemeat pie with a golden, fluted-edge crust. I wanted to be just like my grandmother, so I sat my pie on a chair on the back porch so that it would cool more quickly. My grandfather could hardly wait for a taste of that pie. It was a wonderfully clear and cold December day with a bright blue sky. Not a cloud in sight. A great day for birds! When I went back to get my prize-worthy pie, birds had completely pecked away the carefully fluted edge of the pie crust. They left a perfect ring of crumbs around the pie pan. I was devastated! My grandfather loved to tease me, and he told me that since there were no dead birds in sight, the pie was probably safe to eat! I cried, but he gave me a hug and took over that pie. He brushed off the top and cut away a narrow ring around the edge. Over the next few days, he managed to consume the whole pie. No one else would touch it! He told me many times that it was the best mincemeat pie he ever ate. It was the only one I ever made : (
When I was a child it seemed like I had every childhood illness (measles, chicken pox, mumps, and several years with tonsilitis) right at Christmas time. Since my birthday is on December 23rd, not only did this ruin Christmas but my birthday as well. Last Christmas was one of my best in recent times as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (aged almost 3) were here for about 3 weeks. We all went to our Children’s Museum and Christmas at the Zoo and had lots of fun sledding and playing and laughing and loving.
When I was a child it seemed like I had every childhood illness (measles, chicken pox, mumps, and several years with tonsilitis) right at Christmas time. Since my birthday is on December 23rd, not only did this ruin Christmas but my birthday as well. Last Christmas was one of my best in recent times as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (aged almost 3) were here for about 3 weeks. We all went to our Children’s Museum and Christmas at the Zoo and had lots of fun sledding and playing and laughing and loving.
When I was a child it seemed like I had every childhood illness (measles, chicken pox, mumps, and several years with tonsilitis) right at Christmas time. Since my birthday is on December 23rd, not only did this ruin Christmas but my birthday as well. Last Christmas was one of my best in recent times as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (aged almost 3) were here for about 3 weeks. We all went to our Children’s Museum and Christmas at the Zoo and had lots of fun sledding and playing and laughing and loving.
When I was a child it seemed like I had every childhood illness (measles, chicken pox, mumps, and several years with tonsilitis) right at Christmas time. Since my birthday is on December 23rd, not only did this ruin Christmas but my birthday as well. Last Christmas was one of my best in recent times as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (aged almost 3) were here for about 3 weeks. We all went to our Children’s Museum and Christmas at the Zoo and had lots of fun sledding and playing and laughing and loving.
When I was a child it seemed like I had every childhood illness (measles, chicken pox, mumps, and several years with tonsilitis) right at Christmas time. Since my birthday is on December 23rd, not only did this ruin Christmas but my birthday as well. Last Christmas was one of my best in recent times as my daughter, son-in-law and grandson (aged almost 3) were here for about 3 weeks. We all went to our Children’s Museum and Christmas at the Zoo and had lots of fun sledding and playing and laughing and loving.
It was about two days before Christmas, when my son was about 6 or 7. We were home alone that evening, and he was playing with clay and toothpicks, and somehow managed to step on one of the toothpicks, which broke off and stuck in his foot. I could not pull it out by myself, so I had to take him to the local clinic, where I was very impressed by the doctor explaining the options, not to me, but to me son. I held him still, and the doctor pulled out the broken toothpick. I wonder if either of them remembers this now? It was over 20 years ago!
It was about two days before Christmas, when my son was about 6 or 7. We were home alone that evening, and he was playing with clay and toothpicks, and somehow managed to step on one of the toothpicks, which broke off and stuck in his foot. I could not pull it out by myself, so I had to take him to the local clinic, where I was very impressed by the doctor explaining the options, not to me, but to me son. I held him still, and the doctor pulled out the broken toothpick. I wonder if either of them remembers this now? It was over 20 years ago!
It was about two days before Christmas, when my son was about 6 or 7. We were home alone that evening, and he was playing with clay and toothpicks, and somehow managed to step on one of the toothpicks, which broke off and stuck in his foot. I could not pull it out by myself, so I had to take him to the local clinic, where I was very impressed by the doctor explaining the options, not to me, but to me son. I held him still, and the doctor pulled out the broken toothpick. I wonder if either of them remembers this now? It was over 20 years ago!
It was about two days before Christmas, when my son was about 6 or 7. We were home alone that evening, and he was playing with clay and toothpicks, and somehow managed to step on one of the toothpicks, which broke off and stuck in his foot. I could not pull it out by myself, so I had to take him to the local clinic, where I was very impressed by the doctor explaining the options, not to me, but to me son. I held him still, and the doctor pulled out the broken toothpick. I wonder if either of them remembers this now? It was over 20 years ago!
It was about two days before Christmas, when my son was about 6 or 7. We were home alone that evening, and he was playing with clay and toothpicks, and somehow managed to step on one of the toothpicks, which broke off and stuck in his foot. I could not pull it out by myself, so I had to take him to the local clinic, where I was very impressed by the doctor explaining the options, not to me, but to me son. I held him still, and the doctor pulled out the broken toothpick. I wonder if either of them remembers this now? It was over 20 years ago!