Christmas #3 - December 29
Christmas at my parent’s house is a BIG DEAL My Mom really gets into Christmas. She works year round for this event. Most of our gifts are gag gifts (things from her attic, flea market, or free convention give-aways), although there are many very nice gifts thrown in. Our gifts are identified by picture, not names. She has free reign of whatever pictures she can get her hands on - from baby pictures to recent ones. We hide many of the gifts, and the hiding is brutal - even in ceiling tiles. When the kids were younger, we acted out the Christmas story rather than just read it. Last year my sister quoted it (she memorizes it every year) and we took breaks for appropriate songs. This year our three girls took turns reading parts of it - even Ruby read some - and Ruby sang a song. We were low in number this year - my nephew Andy and his wife Susan are in India for a year. Austin (another nephew) just took a new job in Chicago). Joy and her family didn’t make it from California. It was SO QUIET. My mom took advantage of the extra room to invite her brother Earl, and his daughter Carol to join us. Earl is suffering from Alzheimers and Mom thinks this may be the last Christmas he even recognizes any of us. He hung in there for our ALL DAY affair - as we go around the circle and take one gift at a time. The girls can’t wait for Mozart Christmas every year - and it was fun even without our missing family.
Ruby with gifts for Grandma and Grandpa
Joanna received a doll she played with as a tot
Joanna with her toilet seat frame
Joanna is the fourth person to receive the famed toilet seat frame!
Phil with a miniature Big Boy
For those who need an explanation - my grandparents were in the grocery store and restaurant business - and owned a Big Boy Restaurant. We spent a considerable part of our childhood at the store and eating at Big Boy. Phil is an avid Big Boy fan - and really wants a full sized one from the front of somebody’s restaurant!! Mom found this miniature in an antique shop.
Opening gifts
Grace received this HUGE gift with an equally HUGE picture on the front
The gift was a beautiful picture of a horse that Grace has wanted for a long time
Phil playing with the blow up guitar that Ruby received
Mom with her brother Earl
Grandma teaching the girls to direct music
During Mike’s time off, he’s been transferring our old videos over to his computer. We’ve had a blast watching our girls grow up again! One video was of a Parkside Christmas musical from 1993 - with Mom directing. She had so much fun watching it - and was at the same time trying to teach Ruby how to properly direct music.
Skyping with Andy and Susan
Dinner at Five Guys before going our separate ways
Being silly at Five Guys