A couple of different years, I made striped flannel p.j.'s for all three of the kids. Here is one of those sets...and they each got hand-knit slippers to match! (Notice the crepe-paper flowers in the corner behind Dave...I made those too... Always had some kind of craft going...)
The candles in the advent wreath are lit, and it's time to hear the Christmas story... (I still have that green 'antiqued' chest of drawers. I think it was once flat black with gold decals on it, and Aunt Rachel had a couple like that at their cabin - but I could be mistaken...in any case, I am still using that chest, and it is still antiqued green!)
Oh my gosh! So darned cute! I should have my photographer daughter-in-law get this one blown up and put on a stretched canvas to hang at Christmas time as a decoration on the wall! Perfect and darling kids!
More Christmas stories... looks like they got a few presents!
We all had to wait our turn to open a gift, and watch to see what was being opened by someone else so we could exclaim about it and get that little thrill that happens when a wrapped present is revealed!
Take a look at Doug's face...he's making 'car' noises! (Some things just didn't change...) Also, look at the pile of boxes and paper...these kids got a lot of gifts! Notice the 'antiqued' green desk in the background. That was my folks' mahogany desk, and if I remember correctly, it was solid wood... Doug and Gail had that for awhile...not sure if they still have it or not. It would be about 65 years old now, or older...
This was a year without matching pajamas. But, the toys were getting bigger... I think that doll Diane is holding is 'Chrissy' - she was one who had hair that could 'grow!' You turned a key in her back, and very long red hair came out of the top of her head...so much fun! And, Doug was getting into the Hot Wheels cars, while Dave liked the Fisher Price 'little people' sets... (also notice the antique wooden 'kiddy car' behind Dave. I still have that and it is very old. I got it at an estate auction here in Cedar Falls years and years ago. The man who it belonged to and for whom it was made had died - he was 75 years old, and that had to be at least 40 years ago...so the little wooden trike is at least 110 or 115 years old.) Wonder what 'Antiques Roadshow' would tell me that is worth - probably not a lot, since it is not made by anyone famous, but at least with this piece, I didn't do anything to the finish!
We didn't have a real fireplace, and when the stockings were really full, the cardboard one we once had just wasn't strong enough (although by the time of this picture, maybe we didn't have that piece anymore). The Hansen family had a tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve, and I figured out some tricks to get 'Santa' to visit the house while we were at Christmas Eve church service... (I would get everything put out while Vern got the kids loaded into the car, and 'Santa' toys would all be out when we got home later. (If I'm remembering this wrongly, I'm sure I will find out about it!)
I must have received a set of pans...'cause there they are. I don't remember those pans, but they sure were late 60's avocado! (Already, there's a nearly nude doll on the couch! Doug looks pretty happy with his football helmet!) We really got a lot of things back then...maybe too much??
Here's Doug in the helmet, but he's got on a different shirt...maybe short sleeves were just too chilly in December?
Reading Christmas books is always fun... Notice the fabric rose Christmas tree I made for the table...I was in to blue and green back then...even the shag carpeting we put in the family room was blue and green... The table was one that I refinished, and the chairs were also varnished and new seats were upholstered for them. I can't remember where those chairs came from, but they were pretty nice. I don't think the table matched them, and I don't remember where I got the table either... so many details to store in my old brain!
Here's Diane with the three angels I had made... and the 'Noel' table runner I made... boy! it's good to have all of these old photos...I sort of forgot all the things I made over the years. I see in the background that the door to the back yard has a decoration on the knob, and I'm pretty sure I made that too...plus the chairs have blue seat covers that year....
Here's the cardboard fireplace! With the stocking all hung 'by the chimney with care...' (and you can see the Christmas tree wall hanging I had made that year. The idea was that anyone who visited us could have a candy cane off of that tree...)
More Fisher Price 'little people' toys! I think we had most of those... And, this is the other set of red and white striped flannel pajamas I made for the kids... different from before, but more appropriate to their older ages!
Diane's outfit includes a red-and-white striped yarn bow for her hair! Here she and Dave are examining some of the new toys...
And, on this side is Doug, with his 'jammies' and his G.I. Joe...along with a lot of other goodies... Notice the old school desk - I had refinished that too, and painted Pennsylvania Dutch designs on the front. I've always been fond of folk art, especially Pennsylvania Dutch since members of my family lived in Pennsylvania when they first came to America... My mother told me that my Grandma Barrett was a 'Dunkard.' Not sure what all that meant, but I know they washed each other's feet in worship, like Jesus washed his disciples feet in the Bible... Now, I've got myself curious...and will have to 'Google' Dunkards...to see what their beliefs involved...
Diane has a lot of loot! And, Rufus, our beautiful Persian cat, likes baskets! I see a Snow Cone Machine, some candy, a new Smokey, the Bear, a plastic sled, some bean bag toys, a new toddler doll and a Chinese doll of some kind....and that's just the beginning!
So, now that I've rushed the season a whole lot...there are 108 more days until Christmas!... just keep on coming back, and (as Diane said recently)... get 'photo-bombed!'
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