I'm Dreaming of a Black & White Christmas
I was recently at someone's 50th birthday party and as is tradition in some people's homes there were black balloons, etc, signaling that that the birthday boy was officially, well, not as young as he once was. I personally don't really like this tradition because i feel like age is not a number but a way of life. But I won't go all Chopra on y'all right now.
Anywho....
One of the gifts was a white box with black ribbon and it suddenly became clear that this year's Christmas present theme would be a "Black & White Christmas". Admittedly I was a bit concerned that it might be difficult to find wrapping paper but I hit the jackpot at Target last weekend.
First put up a tree, this gets the cats all eager and ready to start chomping on the future presents creating an atmosphere of anticipation by everyone:
Then gather your supplies:
Try to find various types of black and white wrapping paper. You'll want to have a variety of prints that vary in size. This will make the look under the tree much more interesting. My paper goes from a loose Christmas ornament print all the way to solid black. You'll also need black and white curling ribbon, some white ornaments, black and white tissue paper and some black and white blank note cards for tags.
Then start wrapping! (photos clickable)
Here are some of the past themes that I've done. It's hard to choose a favorite but I think the paint cans really are fun! (photos clickable)
2008 Blue Christmas - 2007 Green & Purple - 2006 Snowballs - 2005 Paint Cans - 2004 Red & Green Velvet
(one of these days I'll find the photos of the gold, raffia, snowmen, & silver years)
And that's it. My advice is to just keep a tight color palette and that's all you really have to do to have an impressive Christmas. And here is what a Black & White Christmas looks like:
No purchase necessary. To enter leave me a comment and tell me your favorite holiday memory. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, whatever holiday means the most to you. I love hearing happy holiday stories!!
Random drawing will be next week. Items will arrive most likely at the beginning of the new year.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE FORM BELOW - OTHERWISE IT'S VERY HARD TO LOCATE YOU WHEN YOU WIN.
Anywho....
One of the gifts was a white box with black ribbon and it suddenly became clear that this year's Christmas present theme would be a "Black & White Christmas". Admittedly I was a bit concerned that it might be difficult to find wrapping paper but I hit the jackpot at Target last weekend.
First put up a tree, this gets the cats all eager and ready to start chomping on the future presents creating an atmosphere of anticipation by everyone:
Then gather your supplies:
Try to find various types of black and white wrapping paper. You'll want to have a variety of prints that vary in size. This will make the look under the tree much more interesting. My paper goes from a loose Christmas ornament print all the way to solid black. You'll also need black and white curling ribbon, some white ornaments, black and white tissue paper and some black and white blank note cards for tags.
Then start wrapping! (photos clickable)
Here are some of the past themes that I've done. It's hard to choose a favorite but I think the paint cans really are fun! (photos clickable)
2008 Blue Christmas - 2007 Green & Purple - 2006 Snowballs - 2005 Paint Cans - 2004 Red & Green Velvet
(one of these days I'll find the photos of the gold, raffia, snowmen, & silver years)
And that's it. My advice is to just keep a tight color palette and that's all you really have to do to have an impressive Christmas. And here is what a Black & White Christmas looks like:
Holiday Giveaway
NOW FINISHED, THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT ENTERED AND CONGRATS TO DONNA FOR WINNING!
I thought it would be fun to have a little holiday giveaway this week, so I have put together a bundle of stuff that I thought you might like. Included will be:Studios magazine Winter 2009 featuring my studio - autographed
All four books in my line of patterns - autographed
Boye Hair Pin Lace Kit (loom & hook & instructions)
Boye Crochet-Master set (24 hooks and carrying case)
No purchase necessary. To enter leave me a comment and tell me your favorite holiday memory. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Eve, whatever holiday means the most to you. I love hearing happy holiday stories!!
Random drawing will be next week. Items will arrive most likely at the beginning of the new year.
PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ENTER YOUR EMAIL IN THE FORM BELOW - OTHERWISE IT'S VERY HARD TO LOCATE YOU WHEN YOU WIN.
I love the black and white theme!
I can't say this is my FAVORITE christmas memory, but perhaps the most vivid. I was about 8 years old and was lying on the living room floor under the Christmas tree when my dad walked in the door from work. When he shut the door, the tree -a very jaggy live one (this was the early '60's) - came crashing down on top of me. I laugh about it NOW, but at the time it took me a while to get over the bumps and scratches! LOL
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My gave holiday memory is of my grandma. She was a step grandmother and never knew what to get me. When I was 11 and picking up a crochet hook for the first time, she gave me this bag of yarn that she got at a thrift store. I worked for 9 mos and got a granny square afghan out of it. Which I still have mind you. I miss my Mama Peggy. Thanks for the memory Drew.
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Drew, that color scheme is awesome! Very classy.
My favorite holiday memory: When I was a kid I was really bad about peeking into gifts. Okay, I still am, but that's not important right now. Anyway, I was really good at opening the edges of gifts and rewrapping without my parents finding out. One year I found out that I had a Barbie townhouse. I was so excited. Well, Christmas morning, that was the last gift I opened. I was so excited I didn't notice that the box was lighter than it was a couple of days earlier. When I got it open I ripped open the box to start putting it together (my favorite part of anything). The box was empty. I sat there in shock for a few minutes and didn't notice my dad had slipped into his workshop. He came out with the house put together. I was happy I still got the townhouse, but sad I didn't get to put it together. He told me I didn't get to put it together because I peeked.
It didn't stop me from peeking, but I did get a bit better at how I did it.
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My favorite Christmas memory......I must have been 4 or 5. My aunt and uncle gave me a bride doll (as big as I was)all white lace, drop pearl earrings. I thought she was so BEAUTIFUL! I remember walking home Christmas Eve, carrying her, just glowing with happiness.
I named her Rita.
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the presents = WOW!!!! i also love the paint cans!!
my most favorite christmas memory is putting up the christmas tree with my grandparents and parents every year...going to pick ornaments is my most favorite!! that tradition now continues with my kids...they get to hang all the ornaments with their grandparents and keep those memories in their hearts! we added a new tradition this year which is --make our own ornaments!!
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I looooove your wrapping job!
My favorite Christmas memory is eating Christmas dinner at my paternal grandmother's house. All the adults ate at the "Big People" table in the dining room but my sister, my cousins and I all got to eat at the table in the kitchen. We had the best time there, goofing off and joking with no adults to tell us to calm down. I think being close to the food was the best part- my grandmother's rolls were to die for!! I'd love to go back to that for just one Christmas dinner.
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We were moving out of state. This is the reason it was my last Christmas with daddy. It was our tradition for the family to gather at our house on Christmas Eve for the yearly gathering and exchanging of gifts. Our gift exchange was a name drawing, which took place the first year at Thanksgiving, after that it was done at the Christmas Eve Bash. One year Santa actually paid us a visit and passed out the gifts. That was such a nice year and an unexpected surprise that was enjoyed by everyone. I would prepare for this bash many months in advance by making hand made ornaments to hang on the tree. Each year they would be different. Sometimes it was cross-stitch Christmas designs in a small gold plastic frame or a triangular Santa made of plastic grid. One year it was Oreo Cookies, another it was reindeer made of either spoons or clothespins. It was different each year and when the guess would arrive they would look over this years selections and take one of their choice to place on their tree. Soon it became a tradition and they would be asking me in advance what their ornaments would be this year. I would giggle and tell them part of the fun is the surprise. It was always a thrill to go visiting and see that they had hung them on their trees. Even today I can visit and see them hanging there, gives me such a nice feeling and brings back good memories. Soon others were bringing ornaments to replace the ones they took, this was always a nice surprise. The cooking took at least two days preparation after the shopping was done. We had such a spread and there were such a wide variety of things to select from. Every one had a favorite and it had to be included in the menu each year. And I always tried to find new dishes I thought they would like. Some became favorites and some did not. Those that did not were long forgotten. But we had two tables full of food delights and one coffee table filled with cookies, nuts, candies (many of which were homemade), and fruit. One of my hubbyís favorites was bread pudding. I did not make this dish, I did not really care for it myself but he loved it. One of our family members made this each year and brought it for him special. It was a special dish for Jim and Dale made it with his own special ingredients. There was never any left after the evening was over. We provided all the rest of the food it was our gift to everyone. And from the looks of the remains they loved their gifts. Hubby was the big decorating man and he sure went all out for that too. There was not a corner of that house that was not lit up to the hilt. So, much sparkle and glitter everywhere.
Love your festive Christmas
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My favorite holiday memories are being home from college, hanging out with my friends and visiting each others houses and parents at midnight on Christmas Eve. Lots of love and laughter back then.
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My memory is a vivid one but not necessarily a good one. Picture Christmas dinner on the stove, potatoes boiling, gravy thickening, etc. Bang! Down comes the stove hood, dangling by the cord! My sister and I hold it up out of the food while brothers race to the basement to shut off the power and find tools so they can reattach it. We still talk about that delayed dinner and my sister and I laugh about the workout we got in before we ate.
Love the black and white theme!
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Drew, for starters I love your tree. I too love to look at the ornaments and remember the event the ornament represents or the place that I have traveled. My favorites are the two I put up when two sons were in Desert Storm and then the ornament for one son who was also in Iraq the recent war. I'm thankful to say that they both made it back home alive. But there are others, such as the one that my second son made in first grade with his picture on it. The ornament was cut from posterboard and then had dried flowers glued on around his picture. He's 38 now and the flowers have almost all fallen off but I still hang that ornament every year. The cutest memory of Christmas I have was the first year that my granddaughters helped me decorate my tree. The twins were 3yrs and their "older" sister was 7yrs. Of course they could only decorate just so high on the tree and my tree had a lot of ornaments on the lower branches that year!! They just wouldn't hear of me moving any of them either. (Not that I would anyway)But the oldest twin Abby broke several ornaments as she was trying to hang them up and each time she would stand there looking down and say "Uh Oh I broke anober jingle ball". They were all jingle balls to her not ornaments. lol After the tree decorating they helped me bake cookies and I don't think there was an inch of my kitchen that wasn't covered in flour (we knocked the canister off the counter). They broke eggs in the bowl with assistance and on the floor because they were holding them and dropped them, but all in all I wouldn't trade those memories from that first Christmas they helped Mimi decorate and bake for anything. That started a Christmas tradition!
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My favorite Christmas memory is from when I was a small child, we would get together with my mothers family: she had 6 brothers and sisters, so there were about 30 cousins. My Uncle Milton would dress as Santa and make an apperance. It was wonderful! To be surrounded by so much family and love.
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My fav holiday memory is the first year we moved into our new house. We closed just DAYS before Christmas and moved in on December 31st. Best Christmas present ever!
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Love the paper! My favorite memory isn't really a memory. I just love the hunt for the perfect paper to go with the perfect gift!
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A Thanksgiving holiday jumps out to show off:
It must have been 1982 or 3; mother had a heart attack Wednesday before Thanksgiving. But back at the beginning...
In the years we had been married, I had always invited my husband's family to join us. This was the first year his grandmother deigned to attend. Let's just say the "Grande Dame" is one of the people who inspire those mother-in-law adages.
I had most of the preparations done for the following day except the turkey.
On getting the news of my mother, I prepared the turkey (stuffing, seasoning, pan, etc.) and explained to my longsuffering spouse when and at what temperature, how to baste and how long. He agreed to make the gravy.
Mother was fine - Denny's Thanksgiving meal leaves MUCH to be desired - and I headed home later that weekend.
On my arrival, I heard the "Gravy Fiasco" story. AND was castigated by the grandmother for being a bad hostess, but I digress.
My husband was a good baker and creator of breads of various types. Cooking was not particularly his forte - at least not holiday meals.
He had made the gravy and served the meal. However, the gravy took every pan in the house. Seems the turkey overfloweth with juices; resulting gravy was not lumpy but was interesting in its creation.
Our older son (younger went with me) talked about it for years - how he helped dad with the gravy!
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My best memories go back to when I was a little kid. As soon as my eyes even dared to flutter open I began running through the house yelling that it was Christmas morning to the dismay of my Mom and sisters. I'd jump on their beds to wake them up and start the day. As I grew older, my sister's moved out and it was just me and Mom. Even in my 20's I'd crawl into her bed and whisper in her ear to wake up..she'd always laugh and tell me to go away. But after much nudging by me she'd open her eyes and we'd share a holiday hug. She would then send me to the Christmas tree to look among the branches to find a gift she had hidden for me. She said it was to keep me quiet until later in the day when the family would get together to celebrate. I'll never forget the year I moved out into my own apartment, I was 27. Mom called me up as soon as her eyes opened..she said that it just wasn't Christmas because her youngest hadn't climbed in her bed that morning to wake her up. I made sure that every year going forward I'd get up extra early to call and wake her with my excited Christmas morning banter.
Mom's 79 now, living in an assisted living facility..it will be her first Christmas there. I will try to sneak in early to see if I can wake her up...maybe I'll snuggle under the covers with her for old time's sake.
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I love seeing your wrapping theme every year, Drew! The black and white is very sharp!
It's hard to pick just one holiday memory. The first Christmas my husband and I spent together, when we told our parents we were going to get married, was very special. Putting up decorations and baking goodies every year has its own memories! And the time my in-laws' cat knocked over their tree (then ran and hid the rest of the day!) makes me laugh every time I think about it. But I do have a fun and cute story from when I was a kid that I like sharing.
It was tradition in our family to open presents on Christmas Eve. This made Santa's arrival a little bit tricky - our stockings on Christmas morning were always from Santa, but he had a hard time getting the presents to us in time. I vividly remember one year when I was quite little, we went into town for the Christmas Eve program at my grandma's church. When we came home, the number of presents under the tree had doubled! Santa had been there while we were gone! I don't think I'd ever been so excited, and I was super impressed with Santa for knowing when to stop by.
It was years before I put it together that Dad had bundled me up and taken me out to the car, and that Mom hadn't come out of the house until a few minutes later!
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One year, about 20 years ago, I saved up the weekend coloured comics from the newspaper all year, and used the comics to wrap my Christmas presents. The look of the presents under the tree was unique and colourful. It was also fun giving the presents, because the recipients would read to comics before opening their presents! Thinking back, who knew I was so eco-conscience back then too!
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My memories of Christmas are fond although Christmas was always rushed in the mornings because my parents worked in the restaurant business and had to work Christmas day. But I still am glad they woke us up at 4am to share with us. I also remember my little brother and I trying to do our own "Operation Ho Ho HO" in which we were trying to catch Santa in the act lol. That was fun. I think my best Christmas has the past few years been with my little boy. Just watching his face when he opens his gifts just fills me with a feeling.. a love and a joy that you can't get from anything else. I now know why my parents would wake up extra extra early before working a long hard day to watch us open our gifts- because we were all together and celebrating.
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Love the tree and the wrapping! It is so pretty. You did a great job!!!
I always look forward to Christmas. I like getting out all of the stuff and putting it up. I all ways think about when I got or who gave it to me. I like have all my friends and family over too. Good food and laughs and just being together. That is the best part!!!
Have a great Christmas!!!!!!!
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My favorite holiday memory is the first time my spouse left her family and flew up to join my family celebration (we where only engaged then). Picking her up at 6:30 a.m. at the airport made getting up early VERY worth it!
I love reading everyone's memories. Thanks for providing the forum to do this!
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Wow, Drew, what lovelyness, and a contest! Thanks.
I think my fave Christmas was when my children were little and I did a gingerbread theme. I made stockings out of some lovely Laura Ashley cottons in red and greens with eyelet trims!
http://larkspur-studio@blogspot.com
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My Best Christmas Memory is my Mom singing & dancing to the Spanish music while she cooked. She would grab Dad as he walked in the kitchen and dance with him. She loved to cook. Miss them both but What great memories they gave me. I love the tree & gifts! Merry Christmas.
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One of my favorite Christmas memories is when I faked being sick to stay home from school so I could help my Mom and Grandmother make fruitcakes. Every year they would make them as gifts and bake them in round coffee cans. I thought it was so neat but always missed out.
The day I was "sick" I finally got to see the whole process and even got to crack the dozen eggs.
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Not Christmas but our Indian festivals a while ago when all us cousins were children and we would have days of fun together, playing cards and eating good food. Never get those days back :-/
The link to your line of books was broken when I clicked...
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My favorite Christmas memories are times spent with my kids--decorating, baking, doing crafts--when they were small. I miss those days!!
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Love all the wonderful ideas for decorating. I really don't do a lot of decorating myself anymore, but my daughter does and I'll pass them on to her.
I don't know that I really have a favorite Christmas memory, but I was so happy last year to have my son home from Army. He missed Thanksgiving but was home for Christmas. Though he was sick almost the entire time, it was a joy to see him after so many months.
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I remember the kids at school telling me there was no Santa Claus and I was quite upset and Christmas Eve my mom told me to get in bed or Santa wouldn't come. I told her there was no Santa and went to bed very upset. A little while later I heard a noise and peeked out my room to see Santa putting presents under the tree! Years later I found out that my mom had my uncle come over dressed as Santa and made sure to make enough noise so I'd be sure to look. I was the youngest and she wasn't about to let me lose the Christmas Magic so early. I always think back on this story fondly and the things our parents did for us that didn't require money. These are the things we remember!
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I have several wonderful memories of Christmas.
One, from my childhood, was asking for a guitar. I had been taking vocal lessons and I wanted to learn to play guitar. My parents had a very lean year that year and I told them that it was okay if they couldn't afford it, but oh how I wanted that guitar in the window. I was working part-time and was trying to save all my money from work.
One day I walked by the store window to dream about that guitar and it was gone! There was another in the window but it was twice as much as the one that I wanted. I went home and Mom knew something was wrong, she asked and I said the guitar was gone.
I only had to earn another weeks paycheck and I could have bought it. Christmas was in two weeks. Well I got up that Christmas morning and got the shock of my life...there was a black guitar case by the tree! WE opened all our gifts, including the gift I got Dad (a pink elephant) and then dad handed me that black guitar case. Now my parents were notorious for wrapping gifts in other boxes as a way to throw us off. I bursted into tears when I realized that was the guitar that I had wanted. That was an amazing Christmas!
My most favorite Christmas as an adult was 3 years ago. I share custody of my youngest child with my birth mother and adoptive mom-confusing I know. Well Chris did come out until December 25th (Christmas Day) that year. Bruce (my husband-now) had made a decision as we had been living together for over a year. So he went and got permission from his kids to ask me to marry him, he was just waiting for Chris to arrive so he could talk with him.
So we opened gifts on the 26th, when Chris goes you forgot something on the tree, Mom. I was passing out the gifts to everyone-my favorite job in the world. I looked over and there was a small bag hanging form one of the branches. It was a jewelry store. The tag said to Cora from Bruce. So I opened it up and there was a blue satin ring box inside the bag. I opened the box-Bruce was just as notorious as my parents for wrapping gifts in bizarre boxes-well inside was the most beautiful engagement and wedding band in that little box. I looked at him and he said well?!?! I said isn't here a question and in front of all the children he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes. We got married June 30th on 2007. We have bben married for almost 2 1/2 yrs now.
Cora
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My son Connor's first Christmas was so fun last year. My oldest son Jared(who is 8) helped Connor open his presents and it was so precious! Connor was only 3 months old and it was so cute his big brother held him and helped him! Connor was only 3lbs 7oz when he was born Sept 23rd last year so Jared looked like a big giant helping him! Makes me teary eyed just thinking about it! This year will probably be the last Christmas that my 8 year old will believe in Santa(I don't know if he truly believes this year--I can't really tell--he's in 3rd grade and you know how some kids know and then blab). Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to those who celebrate Kwanzaa or Hanukkah!
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I used to be a snooper. One Christmas morning I was up before everyone else and snuck into the room where the gifts and tree were. There was something large hidden behind the sofa, wrapped in foam sheeting. I picked up the edge and saw the edge of a beautiful wooden "something", and I was so excited that my mother was getting something so nice. Later that morning, the pile of gifts was dwindling and I was about to burst, waiting for Daddy to give Mom her special gift. Turns out the joke was on me - the item hiding under the foam sheet was a cedar chest - for me!
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Hi Drew - I just wanted to tell you how much I love your theme this year. Very sophisticated, very beautiful. Hope you have a great holiday!
Vicki
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Drew -there must be something in the air- you have created exactly what has been going on in my house this year...a black & white Christmas. I wanted to do something different and that is what came to mind. Well, I guess it true what they say..great minds think alike! LoL
My favorite Christmas memory is from last year. I had been out of work..actually still am.
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My favorite Christmas memory is helping my late mother make Christmas cookies - not just the traditional sugar cookies but also all the Italian cookies as well. Once I turned 18, she also let me help make her deadly bourbon balls. I always thought that was funny - my mom didn't drink at all! We didn't get along very well much of the time, but when we were making cookies, we had fun in the kitchen and the helper always got the first tastes. Wish she were still here.
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One of my favourite memories is going out with my dad and 5 siblings to get the Christmas tree. He would bundle us all up and we'd hike out to the back 40 and find the biggest (that would fit in our house) and best tree and drag it back to the house. And then we'd decorate the tree. It was always a great day.
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My favorite memory was the year I was 10. My mother had cancer and had been in the hospital for 2 weeks. We had not decorated for Christmas and had not really thought about Christmas at all. Without warning the doctor called on Christmas Eve in the early morning to say that my mother could come home for Christmas. Wanting to surprise us, my father left for the hospital while us 7 children slept. He saw a neighbor on his way and told him the good news. Soon there was banging on our door, and several neighbors woke us with donuts and decorations. Within an hour our neighbors helped us transform our house for Christmas, and as we were finishing up my father pulled into our driveway with my mother. Being the youngest and too young to visit her in the hospital, it was the first I had seen her since she had left 2 weeks earlier. Thanks to some very loving and selfless neighbors we had a wonderful Christmas that year, including decorations. The next day they also provided dinner and gifts. I still do not know how they did it, but I will always remember and treasure that Christmas.
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My dad was a pastor so Christmas for us was going to both the 7 pm and 11 pm candlelight services. We had family Christmas [opening presents] between them and Dad always used "A Charlie Brown Christmas" for the illustrations for the sermon. Sometimes there were less than a dozen people at the late service but it was still my favorite.
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Too many great holiday memories. Dad always got up first and made breakfast. Best Christmases were those where you went to bed with bare ground outside and woke to falling snow on Christmas morning. Best gift ever was a shiny new bike with a big red bow. This year, the best will be when friends and I surprise a fellow knit-sib's family with a tree and presents for the kids. They've had a rough year and money is tight. It's not a handout, just a hand up. Can't wait to surprise them!
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One of my best Christmas memories is of my stepdad waking us all up to him saying ho, ho, ho very loudly. This was a good memory as he was a very very quiet man and did not show much excitement any other time. LOL~ He must of had a hard time containing it all Christmas morning!
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I love your themed Christmas wrapping each year, and always look forward to seeing what you'll come up with. The black and white looks fabulous! My family has a rather odd tradition regarding Christmas wrapping. Each year, someone will get a gift packaged in a (wrapped) saltine cracker box. The person who opens it must yell "Crackers???" and throw the box across the room. Obviously the gift in the box must be unbreakable. Many years ago, one of us kids (nobody remembers now which one) did the whole ungrateful box-throwing thing, so we repeat it each year for laughs. The best years were when we were adding new spouses to the family and got to see their reactions to the box throwing.
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My high school had a Christmas ball and my very first boyfriend took me to the ball, where we "liberated" an ornament (red ball with white snowflakes).
Every year since then (over 20 years now!) I have collected new snowflakes.
Not as creative as your different themes each year, but my snowflake collection is HUGE now (three trees!), very beautiful, and always makes me think of that sweet guy.
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Some of my best memories is seeing Christmas through my son's eyes. The excitement, wonder, joy, surprise, love, etc. It helps me to find the real meaning of Christmas and catching it from him.
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My favorite Christmas memory is from decades ago. My father passed away when I was a teenager. It was just my Mom and me for Christmas four short months later. But, we lived in a small town with many relatives close by, and they closed around us like a big comforting hug. On Christmas Eve, we all went in a group from house party to house party, gathering relatives as we went. Everyone had a story to tell about my Dad, and many a glass was raised in his memory. It was a comfort to me to know that he lived on in so many memories, and it was, thanks to a loving extended family, a happy Christmas after all.
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My favorite holiday memory is Christmas at my grandparents' house when I was a child. All of their children came home for Christmas and brought thier children. We all sat in a circle in the living room and unwrapped presents and talked together near the huge tree.
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My husband proposed on Christmas Eve four years ago. His present to me was a box filled with his belongings; toys from childhood, family pictures, etc. He said that his present to me was himself, past, present, and future. It was raining and he still got down on one knee! Definitely my favorite Christmas memory!
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I think my favorite memory of Christmas was when I was 9. We had just moved home from New Mexico and we were staying with my grandma. She hated my cat because he always sat above her head on the couch sleeping. Well on Christmas Eve we had just gotten back from church and we started preparing the house. Usually all my cousins would come over to visit my grandma, so she started taking her best plants down from her stand and putting them around the living room. Well when she got to her Christmas plant(she got it from my uncle like 10 years ago) it was dead, and she got really mad(she was saying "that damn cat" in blackfeet lol). We didn't know what happened because only a month ago it was really thriving. Well she soon realized that the whole time my cat was sitting behind her on the couch he was eating her plant. Needless to say my gram never really liked my cat after that. I soon bought her another plant just like it(she put it on a hanging plant pedestal) but after we moved out I noticed that she always put it back in the same spot as the other plant when I came to visit. My mom soon told me that my gram later admitted that she really liked my cat. About a year later my cat came up missing and I felt horrible. I realized that I wasn't the only one who missed him because when I went to visit my gram after that she never really put the plant down like usual, I think it was because I didn't have my cat to bring with me anymore. I always tell this story every christmas and my family gets in on it to, we enjoy telling it because my cat touched everyone in a certain way. Merry x-mas!
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Each night of Channukah when I was little was a guessing game. After lighting the candles, my father would bring out a gift for each of us. He would not, however, reveal the owners. We each guessed and whoever got it right was first to open. It was a lot of fun even if the anticipation just about killed us!
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The best memory of Christmas for me was the first year my parents separated. I know it sounds odd to say that, but it's true. It is the year that I remember believing in Santa Clause with all my heart.
Because our parents both wanted to spend Christmas with us, my father had us on Christmas Eve and we returned home to mom on Christmas day. Arriving at dad's was nothing spectacular. He really wasn't one much for the holidays (any of them really)so I really didn't expect much (yes, even then I was grown-up for the tender age of 10). There were no lights or decorations like at mom's. Nor were there presents of any sort. We went to a movie and had dinner somewhere else. (I've never known my dad to be able to cook - though I could be wrong)
When we arrived back at dad's we found the house blazing with lights from a very tall (8-9 ft) tree that filled the corner of the living-room by the tv that was completely decorated. And the presents spread across so far across the floor we could barely move. Neither my sister nor I had ever seen so many presents in one place. In that one moment while I stared at the Christmas Tree, I believed with all my heart that there was indeed a Santa Clause.
He brought cabbage patch dolls, portable record players and records. Doll clothes, and a plethora of other things. I remember listening to Alvin and the Chipmunk's Christmas and Strawberry Shortcake & Purple Pie Maker from Porcupine Peak.
Looking back I realize that my dad must have had the entire thing planned and there had to have been several people helping him. (I never asked mom if she helped.) It was the last Christmas I ever spent with him. The following year he moved Stateside and remarried.
The only other Christmas memory that can compete with it is the first year I was living on my own and my mother and sister put up a small tree and decorated it in my apt while I was at work because I didn't have anything to decorate with....
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New Years Day...a new year, new opportunities, new yarns and pattersn being released...and looking forward to dinner of fried chicken, black eyed peas and corn bread.
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I think my most memorable Xmas memory was that when I was a child I thought that the star the Wise men followed reappeared every December. I would always look for the brightest star in the sky and when I found it I was always sure that was the one. Alas I came to know that that was not true but I still remember how I felt when I searched the sky for that star.
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As a child my favorite Christmas memory was when my dad came home for the holidays. Being an Army brat that was the highlight of the season. Better then Santa Claus anyday. But my all time favorite memory/gift is the day my sis called me to have lunch with her. She said she had a gift for me. So, after a wonderful lunch at La Madelaine's in Carrillion West, we trotted to her car to retrieve my gift. I got you some yarn, she told me and popped the trunk to show me the 2 huge bags of yarn that filled her trunk! I was shocked! And giddy! After wrestling the bags from her car to mine, I sped home to begin the yarn count. She explained she had run into a resale shop that was going out of business. She got all the yarn they had for a whole $30. I wrestled the bag from my car and realized I can't carry it by myself. Thankfully, a nice young man helped me trudge it into my small apartment. And there I was staring at 2 bags of yarn in my small living room. The count was 67 skeins of yard in various colors and textures. But hidden inside was a long box filled with knitting needles and afghan hooks. What a great gift! I am just now using up the last bit of the yarn. Thanks sis!!!
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When I was about 6 years old, my dad woke me up early on Christmas morning. He said he had heard jingle bells outside when he was trying to sleep. He had me look out of the window and lo and behold there were sled tracks in the snow!
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LOVE the black and white, really wishing my presents were not all wrapped! I also thought the paint cans were brilliant and original.
As for a favorite holiday memory, when I was 12 my Dad had been out of work for a year and still no job. I was old enough to realize this meant no Christmas and I was trying to be brave and act like it wasn't a big deal. But I was wrong, hardly a night in December went by without a knock at the door and presents and food would be waiting for us on the porch. It was the best Christmas because we all felt so loved as a family, we had plenty to eat and plenty of presents because of the wonderful supportive community we lived in. I am 35 and I still have the doll I received that year from an unknown generous soul. It reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas and to never underestimate the goodness in people.
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Love the theme! I think my favorite Christmas memory has to be last year. The couple of years before that we weren't able to provide a real Christmas for our 3 kids. Our youngest has a medical condition that requires thousands of dollars a month. Although we have insurance it doesn't cover everything. We were a single income family so it was very tight. Last year my husband got a new job and was doing very well though we let the kids kind of think Christmas still wouldn't be very good. So. Christmas
orning the kids got up thinking they weren't going to really get anything but the tree was full of presents under it. The kids were completely speechless. My oldest didn't believe that they were actually his. It was the best Christmas ever. We were able to give them the Christmas they never really had and it just gave me such joy to see how excited they were.
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Every Christmas was special. I was lucky enough to grow up with both sets of my grandparents. We had Christmas with both them. My cousins would come and we all played together. My dad, grandpa and uncles played cards. My mom, grandma and aunts did all the cooking. Now that some of them are gone it makes the memories all that much more special to me.
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One of my favorite memories/family tales revolves around my sister. My dad had sent our gifts early and they sat under the tree until Christmas morning. Only later, did we find out that my sister had carefully unwrapped her gifts, peeked, and re-taped the packages closed.
Except for one.
The wrapping tore as she was putting the gift back in. But, nobody noticed that one of her present's was wrapped in my mom's wrapping paper! She's a clever one, that sister of mine
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my favorite Christmas was when I was about 20 living with my mom and step dad. My father was to come up for Christmas from about 4 hours away. He had called earlier in the week saying he wasn't going to make it. My sister and I were so disappointed. Well I was in the den ironing yes I do iron. This truck pulled in the drive way. As I looked out the window I realized it was my d ad. I passed my sister on the way out the door to greet him. It was a great Christmas had by all.
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My favorite holiday memory is my first Christmas with my husband. It was before we got married. He spoiled me like crazy. I just remember I was the last person in my family opening gifts because my husband (fiance at the time) just gave me so much stuff. I remember feeling so special and loved.
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My favorite Christmas memories are my family driving from California to Colorado to have Christmas with my grandparents and my cousins. It was so much fun driving through Arizona and Utah, such beautiful country. Then to have snow for Christmas was just the best. We would go for walks in the irrigation ditches that had been drained for the winter. I miss those trips.
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Every year we would spend Christmas day with my cousins and it would be a loud, raucous affair with lots of presents, food and card games. But my favorite day was Christmas Eve. My parents, sister and I would go to church, then come home and eat a fancy dinner using the wedding china, silver and crystal. We'd eat by candlelight and the menu never changed: prime rib, garlic butter shrimp, steamed broccoli, homemade rolls, a Caesar salad, and cheesecake. Then we'd open all the presents from family while listening to Christmas music on the radio. We continue the tradition to this day (complete with the yearly argument on the best temperature for cooking prime rib).
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Christmas Eve at my grandparents always included lots of tasty enchiladas and a rowdy game of pitch! After lunch on Christmas day, all the grandkids would load up and head to Wal-Mart in hopes of avoiding dish duty!
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When I was a little almost-four year old girl, there was nothing I wanted more than a toy cash register. I would admire the little one in Woolworth's at every trip.
My mother told me that it was called a "cash register". All I knew was that I wanted it, and gazed upon it in silent admiration.
Well, on Christmas Day, I opened a present, and there it was. My fondest wish had come true.
I screamed in delight, "A castrator, a castrator!"
I never told that story to any of my boyfriends, as I'm sure they'd say that it was an appropriate gift.
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I can remember one Christmas Eve when my mother got up with my little sister to take her to the bathroom. When I next opened my eyes, I saw "Santa" in the doorway! Well, actually all I saw was a tall man standing there and I quickly shut my eyes so he wouldn't see I was awake
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My favorite memory is the year my brother and I found all the Christmas presents and peeked to see what we were getting. Some how my mother figured out we had picked and returned every gift she had already purchased and replaced them with different gifts. boy were we surprised Christmas morning when we recieved different gifts
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Drew,
I see what you mean about hearing everyone's memories. Some bring a tear and others a giggle.
Oh funny story! My room mate this year was setting up one of the pre lit trees... Let's just say it was a SHOCKING situation thanks to a cat and a love of fake tree branches. I'm still not quite sure how that happened! Have a happy holidays and hug your beautiful feline friends.
April
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I loved hearing about your studio in CPS Studios! My favorite Christmas memory...there are so many! I think it was the way our Aunt would try to bribe my brother and me to sleep later in the morning. It would never work and our parents and grandparents were on OUR side! She never succeeded! Have a great Christmas--love the black and white!
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I love the idea. In fact this is my second year using black,white and silver for the tree decorations. This year I crocheted stockings and a tree skirt to match. Your packages look awesome!!
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My most favourite memory consists of Christmas Eve's spent in London...my Uncle used to wrap us up, pack all 3 of us into the back of his convertible take the top down and and drive up Regents's Street and past Hamleys to see the lights, down Oxford Street and then onto the Houses of Parliment where we would wave at the men in their bowler hats as they came out of work !
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Love the black and white! Never would have come up with that. My favorite memory is our silver Christmas tree with the rotating light show underneath. It changed the colors of the tree! I think we only used it for a couple of years when I was little!
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I've always enjoyed the fussing with the oil and wicks for Hannukah candles.
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Well - this is not so much a single memory as much as it is a tradition - which has produced some great memories. Each Christmas Eve for the last 14 years my sister and I have waited patiently for our parents to go to bed….and sort of fall asleep…..then we tiptoe downstairs and sneak into their bedroom (sometimes in costume) and dance and twirl around their bed like demented ballerinas singing Carol of the Bells at the top of our lungs. Each year my parents make the mistake in believing that we have “out grown” our little performance…..they’ll find out again this year that they were wrong.
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Love, love, love Christmas. I am already feeling worried about how soon it will all be over!
I love your books - the dog sweater is on my list to make. I check in with you and Crazy Aunt Purl - love both the blogs.
Thanks! Rhonda
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Christmas Eve is my best memory, because when I was younger, we would have to visit EVERYONE. My parents are divorced, and my mother's parents are divorced (but it's ok because everyone gets along). So on Christmas Eve, we'd start out at my mom's house, opening presents. Then go to my grandma's house and open more presents, then to my grandpa's house and open presents. Finally, we went to my dad's parents' house and opened gifts. We also had to eat at each of these places, so I rolled home each night with a load of presents and thinking I'd never eat again. But I basically got to see almost my whole family in one day, and that was pretty unusual and always LOTS of fun.
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Best memory by far is when I was 5 or 6. My sister and I were asleep in bed awaiting Santa. A buzzing/whirring noise woke me up. Then I hear my mom exclaim, "Tony, if you don't stop playing with that toy blender you're going to wake the girls!"
This will the be the fifteenth year without my dad, but the first without my mom.
I love the black and white color theme, and the different patterns in the paper really make it stand out more.
Merry Christmas Drew!
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I can't say as this is my "favorite" Christmas memory, but it is unforgettable. We were all on the king sized bed on Christmas morning-opening gifts and ooooing and aaawing and the dog ooowed and aaaawed all over the bed and everyone ran screaming! My daughter always refers to it as the year Pina ruined Christmas.
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The theme wrapping is amazing. I've never gone that route, but I may rethink it.
I'm not sure I have a single favorite Christmas memory. I have random memories that always make me think of Christmas.
... Rev Rooker singing "I Wonder As I Wander"
... Candlelight Christmas Eve services
... "The Christmas Song" sung by Nat King Cole
... Watching "White Christmas" and "It's A Wonderful Life"
... The whole family together for dinner
... Choosing a new ornament each year with my kids
Merry Christmas!
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Every year we went to my Grandparents house for Christmas, and as small kids we liked to wake up early. The rule was we couldn't go downstairs until we heard Grampa was awake. We found out years later, he would lay in bed just to torture us a little longer. Every year Great Grandma (Grampa's mom) gave all 20+ of her Great Grandchildren hand knit slippers, each year we just got one size larger. By the time I was 12 I had enough for a lifetime, she's been gone for 28 years now but my sister and I still have "great gramma slippers" to wear on Christmas day.
I think I'm most looking forward to this Christmas. My nephew asked for a violin. He doesn't know that I have played for 20ish years and am looking forward to spending time with him teaching a skill I have loved for years.
Your themes are always wonderful Drew. Thanks so much for sharing.
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My fondest memories are of making ornaments for the tree every year when we were kids--each year we'd do something new. Sadly, all those ornaments disappeared during a move, but I still remember the fun we had making them.
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I have soooo many fave memories of Christmas, it is hard to pick just one! What stands out for me, though, is the last Christmas we had with Mum (though we didn't know it at the time). We didn't have much money as Mum had cancer and, even though we had private health insurance, the treatments cost a packet and we were living with just one income (Dad's) and whatever money my parents could get from the government for us kids. However, Mum would scrimp and save over the year to make a happy Christmas for us. I was 15 at the time (my brother 13) and Mum had long ago decided that we were too hard to buy for, so we got to choose which pressies we would like to get. I chose an electronic typewriter that year, my brother a telescope. I loved that typewriter! I would write letters to my friends, poems that I composed myself and, of course, my assignments from school.
P.S. I am from Australia, so if I do not qualify in your draw, Drew, I quite understand! Just wanted to share my story, since I had read all the others.
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When my sons were 8 & 5 they made big wallsized wishlists for chanukah, all reasonable & cool stuff. The 8 year old wanted overalls, a big sketchpad & new colored pencils, then spent 10 days straight in the same overalls making art. (Thanks for making me remember that, it was a decade ago)
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One year Mom knew I'd found and peeked at the presents before Christmas, so on Christmas morning they weren't under the tree, but hidden in new places. I couldn't have them until I'd found them again. The next Christmas I finally got the last two that I hadn't found.
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Drew, I love the black and white Christmas! Looking to see your theme each year is fun!
My favorite Christmas thing is finding the right gift for that hard to shop for person--it always feels like such a triumph!
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I had to think on this.. usually most of my memories involved my mom taping me opening presents and then stopping the tape, backing it up and taping over my reaction if I didn't do it right the first time -- in case my grandparents ever watched which they never did.
Then I remembered...
I was probably 7, but my parents didn't have a clue that I stopped believing in santa forever ago. So that year, I saved up all my allowance and bought presents. On christmas eve, I waited 'til my mom went to bed and then *I* snuck out and put the presents under the tree.
The next morning, my mom saw the new stuff under the tree and about had a fit. I think at some point, I did tell her or she found out or something, but for a moment you know she was seriously wondering what was going on.
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Awesome wrapping Drew! My happy holiday memory was when I was 6, my one & only sib was my brother who is 14 yrs older than I. My brother was away at school some where, and he became very ill, my Mom went to be with him & take care of him, so I was left at home with my Dad, who was a fabulous Dad, but still not "Mom". It took much longer than expected for my brother to get well, and I'm sure many details were not told to me, being I was only 6, but Thanksgiving was blah, we went to my Grandma's but my brother being so sick sort of made everyone less festive, and since he was of course my HERO, I was missing him & my Mom so very much. Christmas rolled around,and I was very depressed, going to see Santa & strolling down the streets of my small town with my Dad didnt do much to lift my spirits. Christmas morning arrived, and my Dad & I were sitting on the couch, watching something on TV, drinking hot coco, and in walked my Mom & brother!!! I almost turned myself inside out getting to them!! I was so excited, but what I really remember is how beautiful my Mom was, I didnt remember her being so gorgeous, & how easily she made Christmas so wonderful, she cooked, she made everyone who came over that day feel comfortable, happy, and really welcomed them to our home, I watched very closely all day long, and I went to bed that night so happy and even tho I was only 6, seeing my Mom in a whole new way, its still the best Christmas ever!!
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I really like the black and white as a theme for Christmas. The extra tag as an ornament idea is always a hit.
My favorite Christmas memory is a few years ago, My Grandmother gave the Ultimate gift which I don't believe will ever be topped. She is in her 90's and is from the Depression era, so she hordes everything she can get her hands on. She gave my brother a tube with what looked like a miniature rag mop inside but the label said "Toe Floss". It was such a hoot!
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When I was 8, it was the "perfect" Christmas: I received ice skates, a Cinderella watch (with pink band) and a Burl Ives album ALL AT THE SAME TIME! We went skating Christmas day!
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OMG! You are amazing! I love the black & white theme... it's more christmasy than imagined!
As for my favorite Christmas memory, I would have to say it was the Christmas that my dad woke my siblings and me up at 6 am. He let us open our stockings and then told us to get dressed and hop in the car, much to our dismay at the time. (We all just wanted to open the stacks of presents under the tree!) After driving for what seemed like forever, my dad parked the car and we all jumped out of the car to see snow everywhere! He had driven us up to Lake Tahoe so we could have our first "White Christmas". My siblings and I forgot all about the presents back home and dived in for some winter wonderland fun. It was by far the most amazing Christmas I've ever had.
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First time to your site - LOVE IT. Gonna read the whole thing!
My favorite Christmas memory is the year I got a bicycle. Rode the silly thing in the snow.
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The most memorable Christmas for me will be the one coming up. My husband has been away for military training and is due home on the 23rd. He will be here for a short while before deploying overseas.
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My grandparents moved to a house down the block from us when I was in highschool. Naturally, they would spend Christmas with us. Every Christmas Eve, we'd have our supper and the dishes would be done and then we'd all go to the living room and open gifts. My mom would always--every year--get gramma and gramps one of those huge tub/tins of various popcorns. And every year, we'd all get quiet and wait with bated breath while mom would present this tub of popcorn to grandpa. She would get down on her knees bracing the tub between them and begin to pry off the cover. So much concentration and grunting and fussing about 'why they put this on so tight' until the lid would suddenly pop off and there would be popcorn flying around the living room. We'd all burst out shouting and laughing while mom says--every year without fail--'I never expected THAT to happen' I have several pictures of mom kneeling on the livngroom floor with popcorn spread all around. Sadly, grams and gramps have both passed on and there hasn't been a tub of popcorn for a few years. Maybe it's time to resurrect this tradition?
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I think one of the freshest memories that is also my favorite was last year's Christmas. Last year was a really rough year and we were losing our home. We never really had a problem like we did last year and we needed to move. My daughter was older, but my son who is now 15 is autistic, and some things he just doesn't "get" first time around. Well after we sat the kids down and told them we were skipping the holiday, my son cheerfully told us we would just change it. He decided we should do things for one another and create or craft what we could. My heart never felt bigger, he meant every word he said. Of course the best yet was my son pointing out that I crochet and knit and anything I make is always cool with him! Everyone enjoyed the handmade items so much last year, handmade items made it to the top of the Christmas list this year!
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My favorite Christmas was the year we got a horse. Santa brought it to our front door and surprised us all, on our first year at the farm. We had begged and pleaded but never thought we would actually GET the horse and when she arrived, she had an "S" shaped series of spots on her rump - for Smith!! That was my family's name. I could spend an hour telling you the entire story, which is funny, exciting and interesting. But in this short area, suffice it to say.....it was the year we got our Horse!!
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I love everything about Christmas. My memories always involve decorating the tree. I love taking out the ornaments and remembering the stories that go with each one.
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My favorite Christmas memory is when my son was about six years old. My mother- and sister-in-law were both staying with us on Christmas Eve. My son asked when we would open presents and we told him that we would do that after Santa came. He asked when Santa would come and we said Santa couldn't come until my son was asleep. He said, Really? I can make that happen! Off to his room (this is about 6 p.m.)and he was asleep within five minutes! He was a night owl and this is the only time I can remember him ever going to sleep 'on cue.'
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One of my favorite Christmas memories is getting up SO early (like 4 am early) with my brothers and running to see the tree and all the presents on Christmas morning. I don't know that it's one of my parents favorite memories, but it's one of mine!
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What a gorgeous tree and I Love how the presents are all wrapped in a color theme.
My absolutely favorite Christmas memory comes from when my family was living in Germany. The whole family - my mom, dad, and my two little sisters (one was a newborn) went to midnight mass together. As we walked out of the chapel on base (dad was in the Air Force), the snow flakes were starting to fall. We had the first white Christmas of my life.
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I love the black & white! My favorite Christmas memory is the year when my first daughter was just over a year old and we were very poor and far away from family. I got a package delivery from UPS - a large box that mystified me at first. Upon opening it, to my delight and profuse tears, was a small pine tree cut from my parents' property, along with decorations and lights. I was ecstatic and heartbroken at the same time.
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Every year of my childhood, Christmas was spent at my Mom's in the mountains of North Carolina. My sister and I would always hope for snow, and sometimes it actually worked! I have a lot of good memories of those Christmases, from being the choir director for my stuffed animal caroling chorus, to the year I got a new ballet outfit and a real Nutcracker doll (I was an avid dancer and performed 4 different times in the Nutcracker). Of course, there was the year I got a new Darci doll and lost one of her shoes within minutes. Oh the tragedy of it all.
Last year, after going through a painful divorce, my immediate family had Christmas with my brother-in-law's family in Atlanta. They made me feel so welcome, even though it was potentially an uncomfortable situation. It was what the holidays should be - fun, tons of food(!), socializing, and relaxing. We even went to see King Tut's exhibit. Nothing like some thousand year old dead people to put you in the holiday spirit!
This year, however, will be even more different. For the first time ever, I won't be spending Christmas with my mom and sister. I'm traveling in an RV on the road with my beau, and we've decided to spend this Christmas in Texas with our 2 cats. I'm excited to experience a Christmas without the stress of traveling and trying to visit a million relatives. It'll be fun to see how Texans celebrate as well. I'm expecting steak.
Oh, and Drew, love your wrapping paper choices this year! We actually have a black Christmas tree (yes, in the RV!) with Elvis ornaments I bought in Tupelo last year. Aw yeah!
Happy Holidays!
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My favourite holiday was Christmas 2007. I lived in London then and was invited to a friend's friend's Christmas party. These were British Asian Hindus whose parents had moved there before they were born, they all attended posh public schools and not all their parents were happy with the fact that they were gay. One of them had just come out and his sister, her husband, another friend and I were the only straight people there. The sister's husband thought the other friend (a girl) and I were a couple. . . By the time we got to the roast, everybody was surfing along to the Christmas spirit on a heady wave of wine, nobody knew how to carve and the roaqst was finally hacked down with a simple knife. We then proceeded to do tequila shots from champagne flutes (as SOMEONE forgot shot glasses), the floor was carpeted with salt (our official salter was more than generous) and then someone brought out a bright red skirt and performed a mujra (a highly seductive/funny Indian dance style) - which is clearly a typical Christmas occurance. The evening was topped off with a visit to an Asian tranny bar and we lost a friend on the way home - he was still asleep on the bus. Pretty memorable.
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I *love* the black and white theme! As long as there's lots of color all around it, like in your house
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One of my favorite memories is catching my dog, TinyMonsters, trying to steal a present out from under the tree. We had to put a puppy fence around our tree every year to keep him honest, and to keep the tree intact. Xmas 2005, I walked into the room, and he was sticking his head over the fence (he was taller than the fence, but usually respected the barrier) and had his drooly teeth on a fabric bag. (I make fabric gift bags for presents. Cheaper than buying paper every year, and Xmas fabric goes on sale cheap after Xmas)
I said "Tiny!!" and he dropped the bag and backed up a little bit...looking up at me with a "What? I was just looking!" expression. I happened to have a digital camera with me, and it was turned on. (was about to take a picture of the tree) so I took a picture of his "What?!" expression. Glad I did...he died not quite 3 months later. It's one of my favorite pictures of him. He was nine years old, but acted like a puppy till a few days before he died...I always did think it was kind of cute to catch him in the act of some sort of mischief.
In the picture, you can see the bag hanging half over the fence. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v163/ErinLindsey/TinyMonsters/?action=view¤t=PC242438.jpg
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my favorite holiday memory is that feeling after it's all done, meal and gifts, candles are burning, all is quiet and relaxed and you just sit back and enjoy the peaceful moment.
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My most recent favorite was 2007 old fashion family christmas, my cousin and her daughter from Kty, came and all of us Smiths, together to just enjoy each other. one of us made reindeer ornaments for all with our names and on the back the date, and family christmas . we are a small family, but try to make each year different from the last.
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I remember going to a magic show when I was about 5 at the local Lion's Club. Santa came after the show and gave all the kids a big bag full of candy. It was so much fun!
Happy Holidays everyone!
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While I love baking Christmas cookies based on old family recipes and remembering the bakers and others no longer here to share in the holiday, I suspect that this year will probably be my favoriate Christmas memory. This year my son is three and can now fully appreciate the "magic" of Christmas... I hope to instill some simple traditions in him like decorating sugar cookies, setting out cookies, milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer, and watching favoriate holiday movies & cartoons. Like putting on a favorite sweater, the sights & smells of the season bring back many many memories.
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My favorite memory is traveling 8 hours with my dad by car to make it to Grandma's house by 6 AM in order to surprise her Christmas morning. She didn't think we were going to come so she was blown away.
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My favorite memory is taking pictures on the stairs before coming down to open presents. I have so many of my brother and I. And now I've carried on the tradition with my kids. Those are my favorite pictures of the season!!
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My favorite memories are made every year at my Mom's Hannuka blowout party. Over 20 people, and she makes more that 60 latkes, by hand, every time. Watching all the neices and nephew grow up, year by year. That's the good stuff...
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What an original,adorable idea! I have never tried a theme Christmas , may try next year!
My favorite Christmas memory is making cookies, fruitcake with my sister and Mom. We had so much fun "together". Sadly they are both gone now. But , now my husband and I make the Christmas goodies while thinking of the past Christmas' we shared.
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My favoite memories are from when my children were young. We always made time to take them for a drive to see all the Christmas lights. We might drive around for 2 or 3 hrs. then home for cookies and hot chocolate. My youngest is now 27, and we continue with the grandchildren. It gives there parents a break to shop, decorate, or build the toys, lol.
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My favorite holiday story is the Christmas vacation for my three nieces. I always had my three nieces stay at my house several days during their Christmas vacation. One of these times we had a lot of snow for TN and only had one car and hubby had that at work. The girls decided they wanted some hot chocolate and I didn't have any. So we all got dressed and we couldn't figure out how to use the stroller for my daughter. Well, we used the little red wagon and put her in it. It worked like a sled, sort of. We had a blast walking to the store and back to the house. I loved spending time with my nieces and they loved being at our house.
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I always like the time before Christmas - the getting ready, decorating, making cookies, wrapping and delivering presents, writing out Christmas cards. The day itself is one big happy explosion of wrapping paper and too much to eat and too many people to see and a whirlwind of activity.
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My favourite Christmas Memory is when I went to a christmas party where I only knew the host. But it was the same with almost everybody there (altogether 5 women of different ages), just a randomly mixed group of people not wanting or being able to be with family that year! And it was just wonderful! We had a little gift swap, everybody had wrapped three little gifts and we were taking turns in picking them. And we shared our favourite poems and stories (christmas related, of course, sang songs together, had a nice festive meal together in a living room, on cushions, with a beautiful little christmas tree and great atmospere. Afterwards we decided to go to Christmas Eve Midnight Mass together...
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One of my favorite Christmas memories is when my kids were of an age to really think about the holidays with others in mind. At first I subsidized them but they soon did this on their own. We picked a "theme" for the giving. It was simple at first like "animals" or "children". They couldn't keep the money or spend it on each other. Through the years they have come up with some incredible ideas from buying a root beer for everyone in an eatery to hiding the money in the sock drawer of a friend in need. It makes me cry every year and I can't wait to hear what they've done this year!
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My favorite Christmas memory was watching my beautiful dog open her gifts on her first Christmas. Too hysterical!!
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I sit here pondering.. hmmmm???.. favorite Christmas memory... I can honestly say that I don't have one. Each and every holiday is special and memorable in it's own way. Whether it be a memory of when the kids were younger, or a memory of last Christmas's spent with loved ones. As long as I have my family (pets included!) by my side each Holiday season is precious and memorable.
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Every Christmas is special. I have spent a lot of holidays alone but have always found something to enjoy.
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my favorite memory is all the Christmas Eve's at my grandma's with all the cousins
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My favorite Christmas memory had to be when I was very little. My bed was next to the window, and I being very short, could not see out the window unless I jumped up on my bed. I remember hearing something out my window and I jumped and jumped just knowing that Santa was out there...but alas no Santa...only stars shinning back at me. My Mama caught me and wanted to know "exactly what I thought I was doing" to which I replied...just making sure Santa knew where I was...she tried really hard not to laugh and told me to go to bed, that he would only come if I was a sleep. I remember it all now...since my dear Mama has passed away...so it's a mixed memory for me...but favorite because it always showed me how patient she was with me. She always showed me what love was, just by being who she was...and really, isn't that what Christmas is all about anyway. Loving others for who they are.
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drew - what a great contest! would love to win your goodies. my fave xmas was the one i received a keychain and key to drive the family car. i had just turned 16! my folks bought a 4 leaf clover key chain and dangled it on the tree branch for me to find it! i was so excited. of course, i'm much older now and kids expect CARS for xmas rather than a key to the family car! i especially enjoy our xmas morning brunches now. we started about 25 yrs ago inviting 'orphans' over for brunch - people we knew with no family in town or who weren't christian. what to do on xmas morning when you don't celebrate? it can be hard, especially for children. so, we continue - and the orphans change from yr to yr. but, we have fun - we usually give each person a small ornament just for fun. and the food is good but the company is better!
jd in st louis
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A few years ago I temporarily had guardianship of my 3 younger cousins while my aunt, their mom, worked through some issues.
On Christmas Eve the 4 of us made cookies to leave on the hearth for Santa with hot cocoa and carrots for the reindeer. It was only then that I realized I'd forgotten to get stockings. The girls noticed and the oldest one started worrying and the youngest one started crying. While I'm trying to figure out what to do I hear the middle one whisper to the others "Its okay. Nessie can fix it - Nessie can fix anything."
I thought I'd handled everything smoothly and stress free, but in that moment, the pressure was on!
Once I had them put to bed I dug out some fleece material I had for another project and made 3 very crude stockings for them, each personalized. They were ragtag and misshapen, but I got them done, stuffed, and hung before the girls woke up.
It was wonderful to get the opportunity to be a mom type for a year - especially for Christmas, and to see their little faces on Christmas morning after Santa had visited.
It was also VERY rewarding to know that I'd done a good enough job at being a mom type that those three girls knew they could count on me for anything.
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Drew,
How nice of you to offer and give away like this. I'd give my eye teeth for a copy of your books! That said, my favorite Christmas memory was from the Christmas back in 1979. We had gone back home to have Christmas with my Dad. He was a wonderful jovial guy that could have easily played Santa himself. The treasured memory was my 11 year old daughter got a stripped terry one piece pj from her Grandpa and she loved them so much she put them right on. I took her picture with her Grandpa. She said it was just what she wanted. We lost Dad a few weeks later in an auto accident and I lost my child last year to a massive stroke. This is a treasured Christmas that will always be in my heart. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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One of my favorite childhood memories is the aluminum tree with blue and silver lights and old fashioned ornaments. The dichotomy struck me even as a little kid. We went back to real trees after one year w/ silver...
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My favorite holiday memory is last year at Christmas. We bought our kids a Wii. My in-laws we're over and decided to play the Wii with the kids. My mother-in-law is very competitive (which i didn't realize) and she would taunt my father-in-law! It was SO SO funny. SHe won and we ALL knew it!!! (But she was never mean just teasing)
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I think each year that I am lucky enough to have friends and family to share a holiday with is the best! I covertly decorated a friends boat last weekend and it was so fun I think next year I will do some more "drive by decorating" http://craftside.typepad.com/craftside/2009/12/steampunk-christmas-cam-chain-necklace-in-festive-green-and-some-silly-sly-decorating.html
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The back and white looks beautiful! I'm super impressed that you ventured into Target this close to Christmas. That had to be crazy.
I guess my best Christmas memory would be 1994 when Jim asked me to marry him. Boring, I know, but true
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I thought the contest was over until I read your tweet today about adding Crazy Aunt Purl's book. That was too much! I HAVE to enter!
My best Christmas present EVER is my daughter. I was afraid that she'd arrive on Christmas eve and ruin Christmas for me, but the polite, lovable baby that she was waited until the 28th to make an appearance, and she was so lovable and wonderful!
Easily the best Christmas present EVER!
It's been so much fun reading the other entries in the contest! You picked a good one!
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I always enjoy seeing what your Christmas theme will be each year--I love what you've done. A few years ago I discovered Fannie Flagg's book--"A Red Bird Christmas" and fell in love with the book--I've read it many times and given it to many friends. Since them I have made it my personal mission to have a redbird Christmas--my small tree is loaded with redbirds I have redbirds and Christmas birdhouses all over my small home.
My oldest daughter, Malisa, was born on Dec 10, 39 years ago--that was a wonderful Christmas. Last year my grandson Ash was born on Dec. 19--second son of my middle daughter. Just this past Dec 10 my youngest daughter gave birth to little Norah--born on her aunt's birthday! Best Christmas presents ever.
I've enjoyed reading the other Christmas stories--Merry Christmas!
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Drew,
First, Merry Christmas! Second, I came here tonight just hoping to see what clever scheme you did for your gifts this year, and you didn't let me down. I LOVE the black and white, which is something I never would've thought of. How clever and stunning. You always amaze me with your themed gift giving. My most cherished Christmas was the year we got to stay home on Christmas Eve (my daughter had a stomache bug, poor thing) and enjoy being home, and reading the night before Christmas and then getting to bed early and up and having a whole day together, just us. Most years we go to my inlaws on Christmas Eve and prior to this year we had a lot of crazy late nights which was making me cranky. After this, I decided from here out, we leave by 4:30. It's a long ride home and we deserve to have a quiet evening together.
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One of my favorite holiday memories is of a Christmas I spent away from home. After growing up in the Midwest where winters are snowy & windswept, I could not quite imagine what the holiday must be like in a warmer climate. One year, in my early-20’s, I got my chance to find out. I spent Christmas with a roommate at her family’s home in southern Louisiana. The live oaks and swaying Spanish moss were beautiful. There were twinkling lights and decorations everywhere, but no frigid temperatures or snowplows. In fact there was so much rain that week, a guy rowed down the street, past the house in a flat-bottomed boat! And instead of turkey and ham for dinner, we had Cajun food. But the spirit was the same. We laughed, sang carols and had a great time. I was enchanted. Happy Holidays!
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My best Christmas memories are when my grandmother made me something or decorated my packages. One year she got me a sleeping bag for camping with the girl scouts, the box was pretty big so she made it look like a Gingerbread House with all the trimmings. Another year she make me a big rag doll and a matching nightgown for both the doll and me. She also made the best Christmas cookie trays ever.
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My favorite Christmas memory:
My Favorite Christmas memories are of my Family. Our get together. Our Christmas plays. The drunken fights.
We all would get together, eat, drink, have fun. The Christmas plays are something that our youngest members put on. When I was younger we made up our own version of the 12 days of Christmas… though ours had 13… Yesterday our little singers did the true version of the 12 days, grandma got ran over by a reindeer, and a few others… we are hoping to get them to do our version next year.
The drunken fights are always funny. While it is not funny that they drink that much, it is funny that the smallest one always tries to take on the tallest or biggest one there. Glade everyone has a sober driver.
I’m the shutter bug of the family. I usually have photos of everything.
As for remembering our lost one, we put up a small tree for my grandparents and reefs for my aunts. All decorated to suit their taste. It reminds us to while they may not be here anymore, they are with us no matter the time of year, were we are at, or were we go.
Merry Christmas to all
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We were in Germany and decided to cut down our tree. Some German friends took us to a wooded area and I found the tree at the bottom of a hill. My husband said no, we haven't even started looking yet, so we went up the hill, it got colder and started snowing, heavy, by the time we got down the hill(a few hours later) we already had several inches of snow. I had marked the original tree I wanted at the bottom but no one could tell I did. My husband said this is the one, I love it. I said OK and never told him it was the original one I wanted to begin with. We went sledding and built a fire and heated hot chocolate and wine (while it continued to snow) and had a wonderful time in the snow. It turned out to be a beautiful tree.
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My favorite holiday memory was probably last Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with my family (parents, brother, uncle, cousin and her family). Early the next morning we opened gifts in our home before catching a flight up to Seattle to stay with our closest friends. The Pacific Northwest had been blanketed with a HUGE snowstorm in the days prior and my daughter experienced her very first white Christmas. So much fun was had during our week in Seattle visiting my husband's family and staying with our dear friends.
Hope you are having a wonderful holiday.
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My favorite holiday memory involves one of my younger brothers. When he was 2 or 3 years old my parents bought him a tricycle and we kept it at the next door neighbors until he fell asleep on Christmas Eve. That night we brought it, and some other gifts, home to put under the tree to show that Santa came. Well, my brother woke up in the middle of the night and crept out of bed to check the tree, and low and behold, there were presents there that had not been there when he fell asleep so that proved Santa had come. So he started running through the house screaming "Santa's been here! Santa's been here!" and it woke everyone up and we had to "do" Christmas at 3 AM that year. I can still picture the joy on his face 40 years later. It was magical!!
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CONTEST NOW OVER - COMMENTS AFTER THIS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN DRAWING.
Please continue to leave your favorite holiday memories if you'd like. I'm loving reading them all!
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The pictures look amazing!
Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year!
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Christmas is a magical time of year, I love the picture of your cat under the tree
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This pictures look great every Christmas. Thank you.
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