One of our traditions was the yearly picture with Santa. Here is one of me in 1955 (age 9) sitting on his lap. I think this was the last year I did that. The neck scarf I am wearing was very popular. We had them in all colors and patterns and wore them almost every day. I remember this scarf!! It was two shades of green.
As a child, I remember going downtown window shopping with my mother. Many large department stores along F Street, DC, had huge displays, many of them animated. We would go downtown by bus and streetcar, and walk and look at the fascinating displays. We often would go with grandmommy, mom's mother.
I remember going into Reeve's pie shop, sitting on a bar stool, and eating a piece of pie. Sometimes I would go with my father. I helped him pick out things for mom's Christmas. We always went to the ten-cent store and got tons of things for Santa to put in the stockings. Each item had to be wrapped individually, even if was only a pencil!
My dad always insisted that the stores put out the best bargains the afternoon of Christmas Eve, so even when I returned home from BYU for the holiday, I would meet him at his office downtown at 15th & H Streets in the Shoreham Building, and go to a little dress shop on the other side of the building to buy her some new outfits.
I also remember walking to Woodies at Wisconsin and Western Avenues with my friend, Marilyn Crosby. Many times it had snowed so was very cold, but we saved our babysitting money for this yearly trek. I usually got my shopping for my family and friends done in one afternoon. Then we had to trudge back home with our treasures. It was a lot of fun.
We usually put our Christmas tree up just a few days before Christmas. Dad always got a Scotch pine, and mom took the bottom branches off it to make a swag for the front door. Dad always put lights around the front door.
Dad always read the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, and then we would have cocoa and cookies before going to bed, waiting for Santa to come!
Mom always had an open house for the neighbors and made dozens of different kinds of cookies weeks ahead. She put them in glass jars above the kitchen cupboards, but ... often some went missing before the open house! I wonder who ate them??!!
Here is a picture I just love of our family. It was taken at Christmastime in 1993, the first time we had been together in over three years. David and Michael's missions overlapped by 18 months, so this was a happy time when we were all together!
It was the best present we had -- everyone together.
7 comments:
I like your blog mom!!! YOu did a great job : ) Glad you like blogging too.
You figured out the music!! You are so SMART! Not a senile moment for you! lol
Hey Pest, didn't I take that picture? I remember being there with Jodi. Mike kept pinching Becky; that's why she's smiling so much & laughing.
I have a memory about that Christmas that includes you.....that was right after mom had died. I was working at Deseret Book. Jodi wanted a CTR ring, so she came in and picked one out that I would give to her. Even though she knew I was going to give it to her, I insisted on wrapping it up and putting it under the tree. On Christmas morning, she opened it up and said "oh big surprise, a ring!" My Dad looked at us and said "Did Ann tell you what I got you!?!?" We look at him thinking "What are you talking about old man?" And then we realized that he had bought us rings and he thought Jodi had just opened the one from him.....he wasn't paying attention to the fact that the present was from me. He felt so stupid. So we found the boxes you had wrapped with our rings inside. They were cute. I still have mine. Good times in Beaverton!
Great job on your blog, Mom! I remember taking that family picture! I think that's the same night that Rachel and I played the duet and I couldn't figure out the correct orientation of the music. We have it on video.
Well, I have forgotten about helping Galen that Christmas. I sure did miss, and still miss, Berb.
Becky, I think you are right about the music! That was THE funniest thing I have ever seen! Maybe you could put that video on your blog for all to see!
I love reading your Christmas memories, the picture of the whole family together at Christmas is so fun! I enjoyed listening to Josh Groban while I read your entry, I like your music selections!
That was really fun to read about your Christmas memories from your childhood. I like your new background too. You should try to convince my mom to start her own!
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