Christmases Past

Recently my coworkers and I were discussing the little things that we remembered of Christmases when we were a child. Things like stockings with a real orange stuffed in the toe; getting a new color book and the biggest box of Crayola crayons (the 164 pack with the sharpener in the back); or being able to open one gift on Christmas Eve – it was always pajamas. This got me reminiscing about some of my childhood Christmases.

1969 – We were living in Orem and there were only three of us kids then, David, Tom and me. We all had red felt stockings that mom made us. Mine had an angel, David’s a soldier, and Tom’s an elf or a snowman, after 40 years I don’t remember that detail. I do remember we had colored lights on the tree, (yes we actually had colored lights at one time) and on Christmas Eve mom bundled the three of us into the car to visit my Aunt Madeline (my mom’s aunt). My dad was flying and wouldn’t be home until very late. Aunt Madeline had this Christmas decoration that I liked. It was kind of like a merry-go-round but it had angels and candles. At the top were windmill type pieces. As the candles burned, the heat would make it turn.

1970 – We were living in Kennewick, Washington and I got a bike for Christmas. Mom and dad had to point it out because I didn’t’ see it. I also got my very first Barbie doll. It was actually Francis (she was not as developed as Barbie). I also got a Spirograph. I remember taking it next door and my friend Mark and his brother and I played for hours with it.

1974 – We were living in Erda and my brother Paul was just a baby. We(probably me) decided that we would perform a nativity for our parents. I was Mary (dressed in my mother’s negligee), Paul was the baby Jesus, David, Tom & Brian were the wise men. We made paper crowns and painted on beards. Lots of pillows placed on the dining room chairs made great camels. Somewhere at my parents house is a copy of a picture, but since I couldn’t find it, I couldn’t post it.

1977 – We were living in Erda and there were six of us then. Our good friends were the Egelunds, who lived near by. Our families got together on Christmas Eve for a special family home evening. After dinner we went into the family room and gathered around the fireplace listening to the Christmas story as it was read from the bible and singing Christmas songs.