Everyone has cherished memories of holidays past and we would like to share a few of our favorites with you!

Janice’s memory:

“I have nothing but fond memories of Christmas growing up. We would usually open some Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve with Aunts & Uncles. But Santa came on Christmas Eve – so the big gifts were received Christmas Morning. We had to stay in our bedrooms until Mom & Dad were ready to start the chaos. We usually were in our room screaming to Mom & Dad that it was time for them to get up. When they finally got up – we would run to the front room to see what Santa had delivered.  Mom always liked to make matching pajamas for all of us to wear for Christmas Morning. Life was simple and sweet – thanks to Mom & Dad.”

Carmen’s memory:

“One of my favorite things about the holidays as a child was decorating the Christmas tree with my family.  I just loved hearing the history behind each of the colorful, intricately designed ornaments from my mother.  One of my favorites was a chirping black bird inside the cage that excited and scared me and drove my poor mother nuts.  All this, with the Chipmunk’s Christmas record playing in the background to get us in the holiday spirit!”

Angela’s memory:

“As a child I loved our decorating our Christmas tree.  My mom and I would tromp through the trees at Christmas Tree Farm to choose and cut down our tree every year.  The decorations were always the same:  white lights, big red bows atop pine cones, white birds, red cloth balls and silver glass balls.  Simplicity at is best!  As we decorated the tree and the house, we would always listen to the Barbara Streisand Christmas Album and drink eggnog.  Her version of Jingle Bells is glorious in its fast, frenetic-ness and is still my favorite Christmas song.  The tree, the people and locations may have changed throughout the years, but each Christmas season doesn’t truly start until I hear that song!”

Jill’s memory:

“My favorite holiday memories as a kid always included my little brother, “Mark-os Bailey-os.” (You can see him sitting there next to me in our treasured candy cane pajamas.  Mark’s is looking a liiiittle tight!)  He and I always used to play a special game every year for hours at a time… We cleverly called it the “Guess the Ornament-ment” game.  How did we play this amazing game?  We would sit around the tree, until the appointed kid would announce, “I see an ornament that is green!”

“Is it this one?”

“Nooooo…”

“How about this one?”

“NO!”

On and on it would go until we found the one the other was thinking of.  I thought I was so clever following my brother’s eyes to narrow my search…  Ha!

Our tree was always full of family, homemade and kid constructed ornaments, so each was so unique and special.  When I had my own tree, I decided to shake up history and make it color-coordinated.  As beautiful as it was, it just never radiated the same way our crazy, fun tree did while growing up.  After my grandparents passed, I inherited many of their very special holiday ornaments, and got hold of the one’s from my childhood and now I also have all of the ornaments my kids have made. I even put the pet stockings of my past cats and dogs on the tree.  I just love, love my crazy tree, as it is a bright, shiny and colorful reminder of all of those I love and have loved so very dearly.”

TO YOU AND YOURS…WE WISH YOU THE HAPPIEST OF HOLIDAYS!