Christmas of '05

Star Wars is just like Jell-O. Whether it's Christmas, the Fourth of July, or Thanksgiving, there is always "room" for a light saber fight with Uncle Cles. Jack was almost a three-year-old at the time, and with his best buddy Tommy here at Christmas too, it was a glorious Christmas. Uncle Cles was the icing on the cake for both boys, whom he teased and entertained the entire time.

And there were other things as well:

quality entertainment, with Jack on trumpet--a favorite decoration from the tree--Tommy on piano; (And when that wasn't enough fun, there was always the Surfing Santa that did a "jig" to a Beach Boys song.)

a lot of toys, with Tommy excited about his new Thomas the Train additions and a Caterpillar dump truck, bulldozer and loader; (There were other gifts I can't even remember having them open.)

and toys, with Jack discovering his bike helmet and new bike, and Tommy finding his train table;

and did I say toys, with Jack getting help from grandma with that bike helmet, Anna mystified by it all, and Tommy still playing with his trains: (Kristin took pictures of all the fun.)

And there was Anna.

I think this was her first Christmas. But most importantly, it was the Christmas when all my children and grandchildren were home--the thing that makes the holidays so much fun.

The tradition of having a big Christmas started with my father. He always talked about sacrifices his parents made to see the magic of Christmas. Dad did it for me and my sisters, and I tried to do it for all of mine. It isn't about materialism. It is about what is most important in my sweet heart's life and my life right now: our children and grandchildren.

There is nothing like Christmas. But the memories are fantastic too.