tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post232517635674740418..comments2024-03-18T12:04:27.789-05:00Comments on A Home Grown Journal: Childhood Christmas EveMama Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-54810902440870007922021-12-27T06:58:59.907-06:002021-12-27T06:58:59.907-06:00Susan - As they say, bigger is not always better! ...Susan - As they say, bigger is not always better! A small family gathering can be wonderful, too. Bless your mom who, as have so many women, have made Christmas and all holidays into traditions that have created lots and lots of good memories. Hugs to you!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-10970323426244398462021-12-25T07:07:31.990-06:002021-12-25T07:07:31.990-06:00It sounds so wonderful. Our family was a small on...It sounds so wonderful. Our family was a small one, but we had traditions (thanks to my very regimented mother) that kept us secure and happy through our childhood. Lovely memories. xoSusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12573143203599624833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-14717746096722877772021-12-25T03:19:29.358-06:002021-12-25T03:19:29.358-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Rajani Rehanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17439571117569471650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-64894069663969107662021-12-25T03:19:11.939-06:002021-12-25T03:19:11.939-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Rajani Rehanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17439571117569471650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-58635992419648921862021-12-24T14:02:59.003-06:002021-12-24T14:02:59.003-06:00Michelle - There's nothing we can do about tim...Michelle - There's nothing we can do about times changing, so I guess we just have to learn to flow with it. Or start new traditions. In most cases, the size of families has gotten smaller these days, and our mobile society has scattered members all over the place. Add the blasted virus epidemic into the mix and many traditions have gone by the wayside lately. The answer may be to make the holidays relaxed, peaceful and be as appreciative as we can be just now. Sending Merry Christmas wishes to you across the country!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-83082948648312392412021-12-24T12:03:22.683-06:002021-12-24T12:03:22.683-06:00Big family get-togethers were infrequent during my...Big family get-togethers were infrequent during my childhood, since our relatives were widely scattered. But I have very fond memories of Christmas, just the four of us (mom, step-dad, step-brother and me), and when there WAS a big family get-together it was magical! My husband grew up with much more predictable celebrations, always going to his maternal grandparents' for Thanksgiving and his paternal grandparents' for Christmas, so he mourns the lack of such predictable traditions in our home.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550786937196525098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-42868976201718030702021-12-24T11:48:57.376-06:002021-12-24T11:48:57.376-06:00Goatldi - That they are and I'm glad I origina...Goatldi - That they are and I'm glad I originally took the time to get it all down in writing!<br /><br />Leigh - It was fun to write and brought back a lot of memories. Happy Holidays to you and yours!<br /><br />Retired Knitter - Bless your wonderful mother for engineering Christmas so it was as good for you kids as it could be. As for putting up the tree on Christmas Eve, I've know of several families where the parents put up the tree (Santa was given credit for it) after the kids were asleep on Christmas Eve. I suppose it added to a child's excitement on Christmas morning when waking to find the sight of the decorated tree with the presents underneath. Yes, I did have a very fortunate childhood to a very large degree because of the large, extended family that all lived within a few miles of each other. That just doesn't happen these days, it seems. Happy Holidays to you!<br /><br />Anonymous (Brother J) - Do you know several years passed before I realized that some Christmas Eve drives home Dad was happily tipsy!? (Guess I was too focused on spying Santa in the sky.) I always wondered why Mom, being a very capable and intelligent woman, never got her driver's license. She told me it was because Dad, who was happy staying at home, would never have gone anywhere with her if she didn't need him to drive. :o\ Love you!<br /><br />Rajani Rehana - Thank you!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-88461168058640898642021-12-24T09:34:56.406-06:002021-12-24T09:34:56.406-06:00Beautiful blogBeautiful blogRajani Rehanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17439571117569471650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-60268841337059149302021-12-24T08:19:45.777-06:002021-12-24T08:19:45.777-06:00Yes, dear sister, adults and kids all stayed in th...Yes, dear sister, adults and kids all stayed in the basement except when some of the older kids went to the upstairs family room just to get away for awhile.<br />As you know, Mom didn't drive and I remember some very "worrisome" drives home over the High street bridge. We loved all our aunts, uncles, and cousins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-7999991534807937452021-12-24T06:45:35.535-06:002021-12-24T06:45:35.535-06:00aww. Every human being should have had the benefi...aww. Every human being should have had the benefit of such a wonderful memory in their past. Ours were never totally ok. I remember we ate a seafood chowder that was traditional to my dad’s family - which I hated but ate so I could get past it for the holiday ahead. Then we trimmed the Christmas tree - yes - on Christmas Eve - that seems so strange now and that was fun. Then mom packed my sister and I in the car to ride around to see the Christmas lights on peoples houses - and now thinking back on it I believe she did that because my dad began drinking then and he was ugly when he drank and when we returned home he was asleep - usually. He was an alcoholic so getting drunk was not the result on a party where you had just one too many. Christmas memories were made very carefully and deliberately as mom could make them under the circumstances. Your memories sound perfect. How wonderful to have a big family all around - year round. Merry Christmas.Retired Knitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13662288640032813770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-78933551060647689192021-12-24T04:18:29.906-06:002021-12-24T04:18:29.906-06:00Thank you, Mama Pea! What a wonderful memory, and ...Thank you, Mama Pea! What a wonderful memory, and delightfully written. Merry Christmas!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-43026044873291320022021-12-23T21:20:28.597-06:002021-12-23T21:20:28.597-06:00Sweet memories ❤️Sweet memories ❤️Goatldihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07222031369656684797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-49186594606685917352021-12-23T21:01:20.097-06:002021-12-23T21:01:20.097-06:00DFW - Omigosh, just trying to imagine all of you s...DFW - Omigosh, just trying to imagine all of you spread out on the floor! What a sight that must have been. And, yes, the task your parents had to navigate between all of you. Today with families spread out all over the country (world?!), a family gathering like yours isn't likely to occur. (Mine, either!) There is a special quality to memories of long ago and I'm so glad you shared yours. And thank you so much for your kind words. Happy Holidays!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-69583673197148627142021-12-23T19:44:52.700-06:002021-12-23T19:44:52.700-06:00No, it wasn't me but myself & each of my t...No, it wasn't me but myself & each of my then 5 - 8 year old cousins would wake up when he started 'walking'. It drove his parents crazy that he might walk out on the country road some night (besides holidays, every other weekend was 'get together' weekend at my Grandmother's house). Christmas was extra special since we couldn't sleep anyway & we all watched out for Dan. Somehow we all fell aslseep before Santa arrived & we each knew what corner/side of the wall/etc. where each of our Santa presents were. Imagine a 25' wall opposite the fireplace w/sleeping bags/blow up mattreseses(sp?), etc., all up & down & in the middle. How our parents managed that feat is beyond me - too bad we didn't have video of them maneurving the piles. Also, my Dad would always bring paper bags of FL citrus fruit & nuts for all the kids (30+) to be given on Christmas morning (miss him more than I would have ever thought I would). Each bag was inspected & 'played with' more than the gifts they received from Santa. Ahh memory lane ... thanks for taking me down it. Hope you guys have a very Merry Chirstmas & enjoy the rest of the holiday season. Thank you for being you & for being around so I can enjoy your stories.DFWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345712839702427280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-344442358530826672021-12-23T19:01:49.065-06:002021-12-23T19:01:49.065-06:00DFW - Oh, do tell! (And do I guess correctly that...DFW - Oh, do tell! (And do I guess correctly that you were the sleep walker?)<br /><br />Jenn - I probably didn't make it clear but we ALL stayed in the basement rec room for the night's celebration and get-together. Funny, as a child, it never seemed too crowded. And that was only half of the basement. The other half contained the utility area, washer and dryer and such. I should check with my brother to see if I'm remembering it all correctly!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-17723944469541130952021-12-23T18:49:45.631-06:002021-12-23T18:49:45.631-06:00I loved this post. I tried leaving you a comment f...I loved this post. I tried leaving you a comment from my phone, but now I realize it didn't go through. I can imagine that finished basement and the kids playing board games and the parents laughing loudly upstairs. You were very fortunate to have such a tight knit family! -Jenncoffeeontheporchwithmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-91800452744991144752021-12-23T18:37:13.517-06:002021-12-23T18:37:13.517-06:00Great memories Mama Pea. I'll have to tell you...Great memories Mama Pea. I'll have to tell you about mine sometime - How did Santa know which corner of the large farmhouse living room to leave for each child (especially one who sleep walks)?DFWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18345712839702427280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-70712138747154179362021-12-23T16:46:51.174-06:002021-12-23T16:46:51.174-06:00Nancy - We who had comfy-cozy grandparents were ve...Nancy - We who had comfy-cozy grandparents were very fortunate, weren't we? The food we got there was just different enough from what we got at home to be special. Happy Holidays!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-67688205092298438042021-12-23T16:42:21.446-06:002021-12-23T16:42:21.446-06:00Nice! I love going to my grandparents house during...Nice! I love going to my grandparents house during the holidays all kinds of fun things to do low-key and lots of great homemade food!Nancy In Boisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03749272217529362089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-69108431624205071212021-12-23T12:20:44.144-06:002021-12-23T12:20:44.144-06:00Suzanne - Happy Holidays to you, too, Suzanne!Suzanne - Happy Holidays to you, too, Suzanne!Mama Peahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649357184167949247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1423140573667417407.post-86519859247253665692021-12-23T11:34:58.260-06:002021-12-23T11:34:58.260-06:00Awe such great memories. My were ok. Merry Christm...Awe such great memories. My were ok. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.suzanne dorriesnoreply@blogger.com