Christmas past
From the top...
ChristmasLand The now-closed Santa's Village in Dundee, IL, ca. 1967. We went there with my dad, my dad's boss and one or two of his kids... no moms. I don't think I'd remember it if it wasn't for the pictures and, even then, the memory is vague. How cool is that tree-ride-thingy, though, huh?
At top right, I'm doing an imitation of my mother -- pregnant with Michael at the time. My notes say Toronto, but logic tells me St. Louis. We moved so much in those days, though... who knows?
We definitely had a good time on Christmas morning, no matter where we lived.
In that last picture, I was in second grade. It was Annie's first Christmas, so our first Christmas with our family as complete as it would ever be. We were living in a rented house and moved into the first home my parents bought a short time later, a much larger "Colonial." At the time, though, for a short while, I shared a bedroom in the rented three-bedroom with Michael. The trap door to the attic, where the Christmas presents were stashed, was in the hallway right outside our bedroom door. I remember waking up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, as Mom and Dad pulled the presents down, and spying the guitar in the attic -- I knew that it was for me. I don't remember that it was something I really wanted or asked for, was hoping for or expected, but I knew that it was mine. I was dreamy in bed, happy and excited at the discovery, and then, a moment later, disappointed that the surprise was ruined. I ruined plenty of Christmas surprises in years to come -- on purpose -- 4 a.m. adventures to the living room, usually with Karen, to see what was under the tree.
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Merry Days!
A very merry Christmas to you and yours, Vicki! Hope you have a great time.
Posted by: lynne s of Oz | 25 December 2006 at 06:01 AM
I love these old photos, Vicki! They look like Christmases from my child and Dale's, too.
Have a wonderful Christmas. Love to you all!
Posted by: Carole | 25 December 2006 at 07:12 AM
Merry Christmas Vicki!!! Have a FANTASTIC day!
Posted by: Cara | 25 December 2006 at 08:54 AM
A very Merry Christmas to you and yours! Naughty girl you, peeking and all. LOL
Posted by: Carol | 25 December 2006 at 09:09 AM
Merry Christmas Vicki, I bet I have a few photos like that too.
Posted by: Gillian | 25 December 2006 at 10:06 AM
Old photos are such a hoot -- and such a treasure. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Posted by: kmkat | 25 December 2006 at 10:13 AM
I think the first photo might be Santa's Village in Dundee, IL. We used to go there when I was a little girl.
Great pics and Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Holly | 25 December 2006 at 01:42 PM
Merry Christmas :)
Posted by: Stacie | 25 December 2006 at 03:28 PM
Merry Christmas to you! Hope you are having a relaxing and happy holiday with your family. Thanks for sharing the great photos.
Posted by: Birdsong | 25 December 2006 at 10:34 PM
I'm with Holly. Definitely Santa's Village.
Here's hoping your Christmas was fabulous and filled with joy.
Posted by: beadslut | 26 December 2006 at 08:46 AM
I love the old photos. I ruined a present surprise only once and learned my lesson! I think/hope I scared my own kids off sneek peaking with the sordid tale.
Hope you are having a great holiday!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 26 December 2006 at 01:53 PM
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas, Vicki! I love that pregnant pose. Hatched in a little girl's innocent imagination. Too funny. What did your dad do that you moved so much?
Posted by: Norma | 26 December 2006 at 07:22 PM
Very fun photos. It was such a magical time for me and my brother, too.
Posted by: Angie | 26 December 2006 at 09:50 PM