Christmas Memories

This is a picture of me on my first Christmas...28 years ago! Since then, I've had many, many wonderful Christmases and many, many wonderful memories.

Tomorrow I will be seeing my daughter experience her first Christmas and I am so excited! But, before we start making new memories with her, I'd like to share with you some of my memories of Christmases gone by.

As I was laying in my bed this morning, I was thinking of all of the wonderful memories I do have. The mental list I made was pretty long, so I'll just narrow it down to a few.

Christmas eve was always very exciting in the Dewey home. I remember having the hardest time falling asleep from all of the anticipation. It wouldn't be until I felt it was safe enough to sneak out to see if Santa had been at our house, that I could finally doze off...and then we'd sleep in the next morning. And the whole week after Christmas, we'd stay in our jammies all day, leave all of our new treasures in the living room and just play.

I have two favorite presents that I really can remember. They were all wonderful but the two that stick out right now are the doll house my Dad made for my sister and I (currently at my house) and also our dog, Heidi (Vinnie's first Christmas). Mom and Dad always made Christmas special for us. There was also the swing set my Dad made, the snowmobile my Dad fixed up...he is a pretty handy man! (Pretty doesn't come close to how handy he is).

Other fond memories that I have are of the Kamas Hatchery parties and sledding down the hill. It is now paved so I don't think it works that great as a sledding hill any more. Also, the Woodland ward primary program and Santa coming to see us. He would give all of us a brown paper lunch sack full of salted peanuts, chocolates and hard candies. Also the live nativity that the ward did. We'd all be freezing but it was such a wonderful tradition. And the stockings that we did in elementary school and everyone had to bring something for everyone else.

But, I think my most favorite Christmas of all was the year that my Grandma Dewey came to stay with us. She and I slept in my parents' bed and I couldn't sleep all night for fear I might kick her and break all of her bones. I don't remember what I got that year but it was just so special having her be there with us.

Now that I am the mommy, I hope that I can help my daughter (and future children) understand the true meaning of Christmas and to also have for themselves great memories of the holidays. Thank you mom and dad for doing that for me!

Merry Christmas to you all!