It was the day after Christmas

...and mom used to get up early to get those cards and ornaments and wrapping paper 1/2 price.

I thought she was crazy to get up so early and face the cold and the crowds.

I remember her getting Gwen a teddy one year on her first Christmas, all pale brown with a big red bow.

I appreciate the fact now that I have inherited some of those ornaments.

Michael got plastic ones and stored everything in a grocery sack...blue elipses and some just all jumbled together...but he was a buzy fellow with two little one's; ..even the zorro ornament or was that Bob's?

The rest were carefully individually wrapped and unwrapped every year in the Dillards box from FL.

I put up lights around the door and went out running. I has a tan then.

We had candles in each window.

I bought a baby's first Christmas ornament and took it out to show outside and it shattered in my hand from the cold. :-(

I remember her taking the tree down her last Christmas...why is it everyone wants to help it go up but no one wants to help take it down?

On New Years, Joe and I had a party and made lazagna and had her boss Casey over and my friend Cathy and her husband and Dad.

I made Christmas cookies and tried to tempt her appetite and a ham for Christmas. We went to get her from the hospital and then went to get a tree. Both mom and I fell asleep in the car.

I remember Coni coming for Easter, pregnant with Emily, in her 1st trimester; and having to escape the smell of the ham baking. I didn't understand morning or afternoon sickness.

Memories.....

One year they came to Hawaii to see me. We spent Christmas on the beach.

One year, I left HI to come hope to the chagrin of Connie, and Bob. Since all the beds were taken, Connie asked me where I was going to sleep.
Emily had a fancy white penoir.

On our first Christmas in FL Joe and I arrived the 23rd and got an apt. and then went to get a tree. They were all free in Orlando by the 24th so we brought one home decided it was too sparse and went to get another. We went to the beach the next day for a picnic.

We had Christmas dinner on the floor with our new table cloth, napkins, placemats, crystal et al and even invited another officer as a dinner guest without a chair to be seen.

We didn't get a table and chairs till CT the next move. A couch and love seat and bed and lammps came in CA 2 years later.

In HI a TV, microwave and cabinets then when we moved back to CA a dining room table.


It's 70 and sunny here

still I can't wait for my 400 threat count flannel Christmas Sheets to arrive.

Well...I had to get myself a present right?

off to the post office then to see Happy Feet and Charlotte's Web.

Got some great Christmas pictures from Mickey of Michelle's aka Mikie take on Christmas at Gwen's.

Blue's clues, musical instruments, puzzles, books and a train rule!

My paper whites are starting to sprout. Picked my first one today. Thank you Bob and Pat for the gift that comes back every year!

Enjoy your cruise!