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Well hello there! Welcome to the party. Come on in!
I've got a nice cup of apple cider for you, doesn't it smell wonderful?
And the holiday music is playing, (click the "play" button near the top of this post) can you hear it? It's my favorite Jewel Christmas CD. She has the voice of an angel.
Kick off your shoes and make yourself comfy. While we wait for the other guests to arrive, please tell me a story. What do you remember about the holidays when you were young? Do you have a special tradition you share with your family now?
I see you brought some photos to show me.
I brought some photos out to show you too.
Some of my best memories I have as a child are of Christmastime. I already shared with you how fun our Halloween celebrations were, but there's just something so special and dear about the Christmas season. I don't just mean within your own family, but there's a joyful spirit in the air where ever you go. The shopping malls, the grocery stores, etc. Even the postal workers with their merry little Santa hats have smiles on their faces as they help the customers with their hundreds of packages. The magic of sparkly Christmas lights lining the houses. Christmas music playing.
Family traditions are so important to us. Time spent. Laughter. Bonding.
Meet my family. Hubby and I are so blessed to have 4 great kids.
But let's go back for a minute. For me, it all started with these two.
Mama and Dad. Ripe old ages of 16/17. Starting a family. Celebrating Christmas was a tradition in their families too. Gramma always sprayed her sliding door with white Christmas fairy dust. Big ham dinner with all the fixin's. Grampa played the banjo and we all sang songs together.
The annual flocked tree.
Me and Mama on Christmas morning enjoying my new record player. My only request that year from Santa. Complete with the Breman Town Musicians record. I can still hear it. Happy, fun times.
Even though Dad left us when we were little, if I reach way back into my memory bank I think of times Lyssie and I playing and laughing with him. Here, on Gramma's porch Christmas morning.
No Christmas would be complete without a special pantsuit. I'm not sure that the extra large bow helped. Judging by the look on my face, I think not.
Or what about the floor-length holiday dresses? It's a good thing I liked green.
Did you all have dresses from Gunne Sax Outlet? Yes, I'm serious, that was the name of the store. I begged Santa for a new Jessica McClintock dress. And apparently it was popular to wear a yarn bow in your hair. I seem to have blocked that style trend out. Here, the three of us are enjoying Christmas morning together.
Lyssie and I making our favorite holiday candy, chocolate peanut butter balls. Oh my. And didn't everyone have a "kitchen witch" hanging from their cabinet?
I have to introduce you to Gramma Carrie. She's the one who I have written about before. Such an example of Jesus' love. I have memories of her sitting up in her bed reading her Bible late at night. Doesn't she look pretty in her Christmas dress and fabulous knee-high boots?
Here she is hosting my Dad's birthday party. Look how cute she is with her hair up, her pretty floral dress, and those darling saddle shoes! I'm so thankful that family gatherings and parties were important to my Grammas & Grampas and now passed down to Lyssie and me.
Memories of the early days of Walter family traditions.
Brandon's first Christmas when it was just the three of us. Simple table decor. Gramma Carries handmade table cloth.
Our first Christmas tree cutting tradition. Living here in San Diego you either buy your tree from Home Depot or the local corner tree lot. Well, we happened upon a sweet little Christmas tree farm where you can cut your own tree! Complete with a hay ride and hot apple cider. Circa 1992 when teased bangs were still popular. Although, I don't know who's hair is higher me or hubby's! {belly laugh}
This year, we are celebrating Christmas with our families in Orange County. We stay there for the holidays every-other-year. Looking forward to turkey dinner Christmas Eve. Sharing the story of Jesus around the fireplace. Waking up to laughter and squeals as the kids open their much-anticipated gifts. Memories in the making.
Please join us for the party! Link up your post below. We'd love to hear your favorite holiday memories, see your family photos, and share your decorating/recipe ideas. Take your time visiting the participants. Mr. Linky will be up through Sunday night! Oh, and don't forget to leave a comment in honor of my 100th post. A chance to win a cute "Laugh" sign!
October 15th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
[...] Celebrating the Holidays at Emma Calls Me Mama [...]
October 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Hi Marie! Love your holiday photos. Such cute dresses. It's always fun to look back. The photo of you and your family is gorgeous
I went back too for my post, but to Halloween...I do plan to share some yummy Christmas recipes in the next few months. Thanks for giving me some blog inspiration
October 15th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hi Marie! Thanks for the invitation to the party. I love the "Laugh" sign! I would put it in my school room to remind me!
October 15th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Thanks for inviting me to the party; You are such a great hostess. LOL about the yarn bows. I have tons of pictures of me as a kid wearing them. I must have had one in each color to coordinate with my outfits.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
what sweet memories....love those old photos!
have a wonderful weekend~
chasity
October 15th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Marie,
What a lovely post, thank you for sharing with us! I loved Jessica McClintock as well!!!!
October 15th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
love the big bow, big hair and big traditions
will linky up tomorrow a.m.
great party
October 15th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Marie, I loved seeing your precious holiday photos. What sweet little girls. Your grandmother was very "hip" in her boots. Holiday memories are just the best. laurie
October 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Marie, what a great idea! I loved seeing all your pictures. I think we're distant cousins! lol
I shared my post last Christmas on Lynn Haney Collection Santas. I've been collecting them for over 20 years.
Again, thanks for sharing you photos.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I love your blog. Memories are the most important ingredient to helping us through troubled times in our lives. I love to share my memories and I love to read about other peoples memories. Thank you for sharing yours. Also, thank you for inviting me to join your Sharing Holiday Memories.
October 15th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Marie,
This is incredible! I love it! Thanks for sharing all your traditions... we are just starting ours and I have lots of ideas now!
Thanks for being a great hostess... yummmm... the apple cider is delicious!
SMiles!
Michelle
October 15th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
What a trip down memory lane! Did all men look like your dad that year? I swear I have a photo of my dad and 2 uncles that looked just like that! And gramma in the sadle shoes is classic! I will have to put some thought into a holiday post. How inspiring!
October 15th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Oh Marie...what a wonderful post! Sharing all your sweet memories with you was wonderful! The pictures were all just treasures.
Aren't such memories some of our most priceless possesions?
LOVE the saddle shoes and the pin curls!
Love,
Sue
October 15th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Oh, Marie, that was precious! I love the music, and those photos of you growing up brought back memories of my own childhood. I love the photo of you and your husband cutting down the Christmas tree at the tree farm. We used to do that, too, when the kids were little...probably around the same time in the early 90's. I had big hair, too.
Thank you for sharing your holiday memories and for hosting the holiday traditions party.
Jane
October 15th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
I love your family pics. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas:)
October 15th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Hi! Thanks for the invite! What a lovely party! Congratulations on this wonderful milestone!
Jeanne
ps: LOVE the cider!! Mmmmmmmmmmm!
October 15th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
So fun to see old photos of happy families
) You have a beautiful family, and I think we wore all the same clothes growing up!
Thanks for inviting me and hosting such a fun party.
peace.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Marie,
I loved the trip down memory lane. And do I ever remember Gunne Sax outlet. It was my favorite place to shop. In fact, I think I had the same dress. And yes, we had a kitchen witch too. And I too grew up in San Diego (El Cajon). I remember 1 year we went & chopped down our Christmas tree. The rest of the time we had a fake tree. I can hardly wait to read everyone's post. This is great fun seeing what traditions we all have in common & find out about some new ones as well.
Kim
October 15th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
It looks like you had some wonderful traditions growing up. I think through all, the love of family is what matters the most. I have complete sympathy with some of the outfits of the day, I have pictures like that too-from the 80's! Love the high hair of 92', that was the year I graduated high school. Thank s so much for having these special parties Marie. They have been a tremendous amount of fun and I have enjoyed every minute of it!
October 15th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Hi Marie,
I stumbled across your blog and it is precious!!! I love you Holiday traditions section its awesome.
Have a blessed weekend
Kate
October 16th, 2009 at 4:24 am
[...] check out The Holiday Party over at Emma Calls Me Mama! This is an ongoing blog-party from now until 2010!!! Such [...]
October 16th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Hi Marie,
What a wonderful trip down memory lane! Enjoyed your pictures and the story to go along with them. I intended to participate in this party, and in fact had it all written up, but I don't have any photos to share; they are all at my mother's. So I'll have to pass this year. I will enjoy perusing everyone else's. Have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings,
Sandi
October 16th, 2009 at 6:15 am
What a beautiful post! I love looking at old photos. Isn't it great to go back and see what the trends were? Your family photos are so nice, loving the pantsuit!
~Michelle
October 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Hi Marie,
I'm back! I have decided to share in spite of not having pictures. Hope that is ok! Thank you for hosting.
Blessings,
Sandi
October 16th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hello Marie,
Thanks for your lovely invitation to your party.
I have enjoyed the sharing of your Christmas Traditions.I wish you the best for upcoming Holiday season.
~Myrna Lee
October 16th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
You and I share similar memories - so funny to see your pictures compared to mine. XOXOXOXO
Sissy
October 16th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Thanks for inviting me to participate in this party. I would love to, but I have not even started on the holidays, yet...any of them. I have set a few pumpkins around my house that I found at a yard sale and that's it. I'm too busy working on things for other people right now!
I love your blog and wish I had a link to share.
October 16th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Marie,
Thank you again for inviting me to the party. I loved reading about your traditions and family memories. You have such a beautiful and warm blog, it's always a pleasure to read
)
Wishing you and yours many blessings this upcoming holiday season,
Kelly
October 16th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Marie! This is a wonderful post
) Thank you also for inviting me to the party! You are a wonderful host complete with yummy cider and music!
)
I love your family photos of when you were little, your parents, sister, gramma, and of you with your own family. It's fun to see the style of clothing and hairstyles too
Ah! Yes, the Jessica McClintock designs were tres chic!
Oh! Once again, I will have to miss being a part of your fabulous parties! (wah! I had hoped to gather some photos and stories before now, but have been working on drawing orders, every free moment when I am not working at the dental office.) But I absolutely wanted to be sure to stop by and read and see your Traditions Party post! And I am so glad I did!
Blessings & Aloha!
October 16th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Thank you for hosting and for inviting me to share my Christmas memories. I love your little story and all the photos.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Helloooo Marie!
Thanks for the memories!
The story and photos are wonderful dahling! Thank you for the yummy cider! I just can't wait until Thanksgiving is here!
October 18th, 2009 at 9:20 am
This is just precious!!! Sorry, I didn't join in...not feeling so hot and time just got away from me!
m ^..^
October 18th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
You have some great memories. This was a fun party to be a part of. Thank you for hosting the party!
October 18th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Thanks for sharing your holiday memories. I remember those long holiday dresses, the Gunne Sax outlet (I grew up in the SF Bay Area--everyone went to the Jessica M./Gunne Sax outlet to buy their prom dresses), and we definitely had a kitchen witch. Wonder what ever happened to her?
October 18th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Hi Marie!!
Thanks so much for sharing your holidays with us- I love the Christmas attire!! I'm sorry I'm not able to post pictures of my own, but I have been under the weather for a few days now.
Thanks again for my invite-as always, I'm loving the blog!!
October 18th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Hi Marie! Thanks for filling me in with your email! I'm so glad I am able to pop in and share some of your Christmas memories. I've been away at a scrapbooking retreat the last four days and off the net the last two weeks (BBBBusy!!! :>). What a wonderful way to jump back online. Looks like you had a wonderful Traditions Party! And while we never did Gunne Sax, I do know what you are talking about. And now that I think about it....what a name! :> Hope you have a fantastic week ahead of you!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:00 am
Well, I missed the party-something popped in my back on Friday morning and I spent the weekend recuperating. Please come visit my blog if you have time, I'm doing a giveaway! Hugs, Leslie
October 20th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Love the pictures and the trip down your memory lane!
Jolanthe