Cross Country Christmas Day 1

You saw that photo of me a few days ago looking at slides? My dad took zillions of photos.. almost all on slides. And being the BEST DAD in the universe... when his 'little girl' asked for some Christmas photos he started to dig in and found me a bunch! So every day during this blog hop you will see a holiday photo from my childhood.. this trip down memory lane has been extraordinary!

Our topic for today is 'A Childhood Memory' and of those I have many!! It was hard to come up with just ONE to share... but I did... so here it goes!

Like many people a big part of the Holiday season was visiting the grandparents and in my case also 2 sets of Great-Grandparents. I was lucky enough to have some of my Great-grandparents for many years.

In my family everyone wanted us to come to THEIR house. And early on that meant my parents had to drive a few hours from home to PA. Then we'd drive another few hours up into the mountains to some relatives. Then back down to another set. Then a few hrs over to see my Great Grand-parents, Ma-Ma and Da-Da and Great Aunt June. 

I loved going to see them as my Ma-Ma (The shorter older lady) and my Aunt June (the taller lady) are the two that gave me my love of making things. We'd do projects, we'd hunt around for things and they always had a stocking filled with goodies for me at Christmas!   Thanks to them a Christmas Stocking filled to over flowing means love to me.

The rest of the cast above is my mother's Father's family - On the far left is my grand-mother Na-Na, Great Aunt June, great grand-mother Ma-Ma, my grandfather Pop-Pop (this is my mom's dad and his sister and parents), and my great grand-father Da-Da (do you see a name trend here?)

And.. I'd really like to know WHO they allowed to cut my hair.. this one is not as BAD as other photos I found... Either I did not sit still or someone was using a chain saw to trim my bangs!

Question.. did you grow up with Great Grand-parents?

Now HOP over to Gudrun's blog.. there are prizes!! And click the logo below for the list of blogs.. visit everyones and leave comments

Tues is Food and Cookie Day!

xxoo... Pat

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Comments

[Kimberly]

We used to spend Christmas Eve at my father's parents when I was very young. I adored them and how I wish the memories were clearer.

[Beth Patrick]

oh I remember having to go from house to house to house... too full, too tired, and I didn't get to play with my toys!
Now, I'm the Grandmother and they come to MY house! Turn about is fair I guess.
Thanks for sharing,
Beth in Dallas

[Coleen McDavid]

What great childhood memories you have! No Grands in my family, but I did have two sets of grandparents, both on my mothers side! No grandparents on Daddy's side... Mom's mother did live nearby during my early childhood, and is a wonderful part of some of my earliest Christmas memories..

[Jocelyn]

Love the picture. It's so fun to look back at those special family celebrations.

[Leslie]

I didn't have great grandparents, but a grandmother that lived with us for 6 months then my dads brother for 6 months.she was wonderful.

[LizA.]

LOVE your Polly Flinders smocked dress. I think I used to have one just like it!

[Patty]

Love the sox. I remember wearing the same kind. I hated it when they kept sliding down my legs.

[Piroska]

I didn't even have the pleasure to grow up with grandparents, as my dad escaped Hungary to Switzerland, leaving his family. I was born in Switzerland, and then emigrated to Canada when I was 5.
I always envied the people with large, boisterous families...especially at CHristmas.
Luckily, my hubby has a larger family!
:o)

[Karen]

Yes, I grew up with great-grandparents, I remember them, but did not see them often. Your grandmother is so youthful looking! I would have thought that was your mom.

[Elaine]

no great grandparents here and way too many cousins (over 50) for there to be much spoiling, but still lots of fond memories of love and family. Loved hearing your family memories.
Elaine

[Christine Thomas]

I did get to know one of my great-grandmothers a little bit. She died at 101 1/2 when I was 31, one week before my 3rd child was born. What a gift that was for me.

[Kim D.]

I only had grandparents and they were in another state so we missed out being near them on Christmas. Love those bangs, I remember having slanted bangs a time or two. We probably didn't sit still long enough. :)

[Iva]

My great-grandmother passed away in the mid-1970s, and up to the day she died she continued to cook on a woodburning stove. She always had the smell of someone who had been standing near a campfire and I can still remember the earthy fragrance of her.

[Rene']

You are so lucky to have grown up with so much family close by....and two sets of great-grandparents!!! I was lucky in that both sets of my grandparents lived in the same small town we did, and for most of my childhood, my sister and I were the only grandchildren living close by. We were spoiled with lots of love and attention. I did know one of my great-grandmothers ... she passed away when I was about 12. My Mom says Great Granny Gatlin was the only creative one in the family, and that's where I get my interest in quilting and other crafts. I do remember her making dresses for my Barbie dolls, and she was always crocheting. Sorry...I got a little carried away there in my memories ;-)) Thank you for that!

[tami]

I grew up with only one remaining great-grandmother. She lived with my grandparents in an old farm house. We would go spend the night on Christmas Eve there so we could wake up there Christmas.