Growing up, we lived in the same area as the majority of our family. All our aunts and uncles and cousins got together every Christmas Eve (Mom’s side of the family) and Christmas Day (Dad’s side of the family). I miss those family gatherings and the chaos of so many people in one house during a Wisconsin winter.
The adults would catch up with each other on the important goings-on of their lives, and us cousins would play games and anxiously await for dinner to be finished and the dishes to be cleaned. At any one time a cousin would be asking a parent in an exasperated breath, “Can we open the presents NOW??”
These days the family gatherings are missing some people and they don’t happen on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day anymore. Everyone has so much going on that planning all the get togethers is a mission in compromise. There is only so many times that we will make the trips back to our hometowns in the winter. Last year we had a harrowing drive home, and I don’t want a repeat this year.
Our children…what will they remember of the Christmas season? The gatherings may be smaller, but they are still full of love. The grownups still wait until the dishes are cleared and cleaned before the unwrapping furor begins. The anticipation of the Christmas chaos is still there.
We make our memories every year, and each year I want to make sure those memories are full of love, laughter, family and friends. I want to make sure they understand why we are celebrating, and that giving is as wonderful as receiving. I think we are starting down that path.
Here is a scan of a scrapbook page that my mom did for me. If you click on it you can see it bigger. That second picture? That is an expression I see on my own little 3 year old. The past is present. 🙂
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What memories do you have to share today? 🙂
Oh my gosh, I can remember a picture almost exactly like the very bottom one in my parents album. Look at how cute you were.
I remember not being able to sleep on Christmas Eve, the excitment of Santa coming made it impossible to sleep.
Oh, do I EVER see Anya in those photos!
I wonder, sometimes, if the memories I’m creating for my children will be a good as the ones I hold dear. But when they asked me, right after Thanksgiving, if it was time yet to go to the Christmas store and pick out their ornament, I saw that they would be. I didn’t even realize that they were old enough to remember, but they were so excited to go and talked for days about what they would choose and what they got last year, etc… While we don’t manage the same huge family gatherings that I had as a child, I think we are still making great memories for out kids…and hopefully they’ll do the same as adults.
Those are great pictures. What wonderful memories. I love that page too. Very cute.
http://nelsongaggle.blogspot.com/2008/12/theme-thursday-holiday-memories.html
Loved the post Stacy. Was like a stroll down memory lane, and I can relate to some of your thoughts on what it will be like for the next generations. Makes me wonder if things will change so much that, they as adults will have the same thoughts and concerns?
O yea, Rach made this Mexican golash (S.P.) kinda thing last night. It was very good although she thinks I’m just saying that> LOL <to make her feel good. But anyway we finished the wine *grin* and she drank all of hers (good girl) and even had a little extra to finish off the bottle:o) ROFL..
Tell Brian that it really wasn’t that bad:o) I think I would of liked it a little sweeter? but maybe it is not supposed to be like a pop or cool aid? Guess we will have to polish some more? *I know* Rednecks what are you gonna do with them?????? Eay!!!!!!
how cute are those? i can definitely see your kids in you in these pics.
http://mentalinventory.blogspot.com/
Oh! Those old pictures are priceless! You mom is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Here is my Theme Thursday addition!
The tinsel is what I remember on my parents tree as kids.
That is neat that your mom shared this memory with in a scrap book.
WOW! That first picture could BE Anya! So the kids get their towheadedness from you? 🙂
I know what you mean… the family gatherings seem to get a bit smaller, but you can feel the same warmth and see the same excitement on the faces of the next generation.
(thanks for the advice on using presents to keep the kiddo from stealing the Christmas tree skirt… that unfortunately didn’t work as said kiddo decided to UNWRAP them early… *sigh* and thanks for the input on the camera and pictures! I’m still messing with the editing too!)
Oh my goodness. I did not realize how much Anya resembles you. I definitely think about what my kids will remember about Christmas and the traditions we’re creating. That scrapbook page is great!!!
Here’s mine. It’s Christmas present not past though:
http://newgreenmama.blogspot.com/2008/12/how-grinch-stole-christmas-ice-exhibit.html
I have very fond memories about Christmas as a child as well…we had a small family but were always together (Aunt, G and G and some cousins). I know our kids are looking forward to some traditions this year and that really makes me happy~
Thanks for sharing yours!
🙂
The felt advent calendar our pastor’s wife made for us. Nothing made me get out of bed more quickly during December. I LOVED hanging the felt magenets up on the felt advent tree, anticipating when we would get to put the baby Jesus and star magnet on top (December 24th and 25th).
So we definitely know where Anya gets her amazing looks from! 🙂 That scrapbook page is awesome, and such fun memories.
I didn’t have a photo to share today, but a special memory in words…
http://barelycontrolledchaos.wordpress.com/2008/12/18/favorite-holiday-memory-theme-thursday/
I can definatley see your daughter in that 1st one! This makes me think of when I first started scrapbooking, before it got huge with all the different papers and embellishments that they have now.
Thanks everyone! I totally laughed when I saw this page since she bears and ever so slight resemblance to her momma. 😉 I’ll be around tonight to visit everyone…busy day at work!
Wow, Anya really does resemble you in these pictures. I love the scrapbook page. Its funny how they didnt have all the tools we use these days to do scrapbooking, you know?!
Here’s my TT post!
Oh now that is just classic. I love those vintage (is it wrong to call the 70’s vintage, okay, yeah thought so) shots, you were so cute Stacy!
I think that first picture looks just like Anya.
Here is my little Holiday Memory of Francesco’s first Christmas,
http://miaduebambini.blogspot.com/2008/12/theme-thursday-favorite-holiday.html
These pictures so precious and bring back a lot of memories–Remember that tinsel!
Don’t you just love the pics of when we were kids. I think you and I are around the same age. I think I have pics almost identical to yours of myself! 🙂
Here is a link to my little guy’s 1st Christmas last year.
http://apertureofmyeye.blogspot.com/
You had to wait until after dinner for presents?! wow. Love it that you have the scrapbook pages. Anya is a mini you!
I can’t believe that after asking for this theme, I totally forgot to publish this post! So much going on this time of year.
http://www.cancio.org/blog/?p=2129
I’m loving that adorable scrapbook page your mom did for you. Very cute!
Hi Stacy…sorry it’s taken me so long to catch up with you!
Thanks for sharing that scrapbook page of you as a little girl…Anya does look an awful lot like you did!!