If you don’t tell ‘em, they won’t know! Shhhhhh….

The first bike I ever got for Christmas — a fire-orange 5-speed with a cool shifter and hand brakes.

The G.I. Joe one-man submarine. I would stay in the bathtub until the water was ice cold.

The Planet of the Apes Treehouse.

Now, it is anything I get from my kiddos — especially the stuff they make at school.

Jeff

Somehow, it was not the same as the one my Granddad built out of plywood and painted the holes to hold the marbles with 4 different colors.

Lite Brite,
Anything Barbie,
Waterbaby,
Lego’s.. although my bro ALWAYS stole them and could ALWAYS make cooler stuff..
My very first CD, before I had a CD player… Boys II Men!

I am still laughin’ out loud over the cracks in the sidewalk and the snakes in the toilet! How long did it take your little brother to wise up?

I just got through an hour-long conversation with a close friend who lost his wife less than two months ago. This past weekend has been particularly hard on him and his family as they put up decorations. It brings to mind that the things you remember do surround relationships, like you said. Enjoy those you have while you have them!

But you have to start early, earlier than with puppies, even, because if they get the slightest indication that you are not, in fact, the mighty authority figure they perceive you to be, you will no longer be allowed to cheat at Monopoly and buy Boardwalk at a discounted rate, “because it has cracks in the sidewalk and snakes in the toilets.”

Just sayin’.

Mr. Microphone (old school Karaoke)

And my brother got a Dukes of Hazard, plastic, General Lee bank - so cool - and a Dukes watch.

Gotta love the 80’s!!!!

During WW2, while still a very young girl, there was one memorable Christmas due to my parent’s expressed joy of having been able to save enough rationing stamps AND money in order to have presents heaped under the tree, a turkey on the table and chocolate, lemon and apple pies, as well as a big cake (I have NO memory of the flavor, but knowing my mom, it was probably covered with white icing and shredded coconut. It was my parent’s joy that is a memorable gift to me even today, decades later.

My children’s first Christmas. Since both were born in September, they really didn’t know what all the fuss was about. But when the tree was lit, the wonder seen in their big blue eyes, that looked like Volkswagon headlights, I’ll never forget.
The Christmas we all had together the year my brother returned from his third and last deployment to Viet Nam, as well as my uncle’s return from his second and final tour in VN. There’s just no way to express the relief, joy we all felt. We savored those moments together, each giving a special thanks for God’s gift of my brother’s and my uncle’s safe return home.

My first Christmas in Guadalajara, Mexico. What a marathon. Gifts really take second chair in Mexico’s celebration. The family begins arriving about 7pm Christmas Eve. Lots of talking, joking, laughing, cooking - but no one seems to be left out while preparing for the dinner, which will be served at approximately 2AM Christmas morning. [Yes! 2:00 AM!!] At midnight, the doll representing the baby Jesus is placed in a pure silk scarf, everyone takes a bit of its edge, the babe is rocked and a lullaby is sung by all, welcoming our Savior into the world. The babe doll is then placed in the manger’s crib.
Many families attend midnight church services, after which the kids break a pinata and are allowed to open their gifts, they eat dinner, then go off to play or to bed.
The adults then sit down for dinner and about 3:00AM, cousins, friends, boy/girlfriends et al, begin to arrive and the younger adults leave together to visit other homes. Somewhere around 5:00-7:00 AM everyone either goes home or goes to bed at the host home. It is a joyful family-oriented marathon.

So many special gifts of love that I’m so thankful for. As far as toys, etc. My family was so nomadic [my dad was a church planter. For instance, in the 5th grade of elementary school, I attended 9 schools] I really don’t remember very many special toys received, but there are vague memories of a big baby doll, that my older daughter has kept with her for years, my first violin, skates and bicycle. Too many years and too many gifts. But the gift of loving people is treasured in my heart.

Grumpy old man. Ha. Good one.

A whole collection of hot sauces

One of those three in one game things, with the pool table, pingpong, and air hockey

a basketball hoop

I always get a really sweet pair of boxers

You’re totally right brings back a lot of memory’s!

Many a summer day was passed on the floor with the names of Podolak, Little, Gabriel, etc.

My Mom kept reminding us the electronic game was more but that one usually ended up with one of us losing near the end of the game and his running back would become superman and fly the length of the smooth vibrating turf of Jenkins Field.