Christmas tickles the memory

MomMom Helen

It seems like it takes for ever for the Christmas Season to come, then before you know it, BOOM!  You are in the middle of it, and behind schedule.  I have visions of parties, baking days, dinners with friends,   taking the kids to see Candy Cane Lane.... but somehow, if I am not very careful the season can come and go with out hitting the memory making stuff.   We have been to the mall to see Santa, couldn't get the whole crew there, but 4 out of 5 kids isn't bad.  We are having friends over for dinner this weekend, and working in a little cookie decorating, looking forward to that.  We are not hosting a party this year, that poses a little to much stress, so I thought we would do smaller gatherings of friends. It makes for better time together anyway.

This morning was Nick and Victor's holiday performance at school.  It doesn't get much better than a bunch of precious Kinders dressed as presents, singing "Good Things come in Little Packages".  So sweet. My parents are coming for Christmas, Yeah!!!  I am so glad they value this time with us, and the grandkids so much.  Family is so important.  I feel so blessed to have so many memories of my own Grandparents, Jack & Helen Lafferty.

I can still hear Pop's laugh, and see his grin, I even have his snore engrained on my memory.  My MomMom even more so.  Sometimes I forget she is gone.   Everytime I sit indian style in a chair, or paint my nails, I think of her.  I am more like her than I ever thought. I love that she always put herself together, didn't leave the house without her lipstick on, and of course, no lady leaves the house without a nice big pump of perfume.  Hers was Estee Lauder, Youth Dew.  I need to buy a bottle of that.
I can't wear pearls without thinking of her.  She always used the adjective Marvelous.  I love that.

Pop Pop Jack with toddler Victoria

I have funny memories of my more dysfunctional Grandma too, Margot Suzanne-- or as my cousin and I used to call her, Betty Davis--- she was very dramatic, and glamorous, even when she stopped getting out of bed, she just decided to live in nightgowns, and stay in bed.  She had a tv tray next to her bed covered in craft supplies, and many unfinished masterpieces. Her bed stand was covered in empty drink glasses, pill bottles, and make up.  She had all of these girlfriends stopping by, night and day.  I uncovered the mystery of that eventually.  Another story, for another day.  But the stories I could tell..... good times.  You could always count on Lasagna, and meatballs at her house on Christmas, I never really got that, but it was her thing.

Thank goodness I have been the keeper of the pictures.  I have pictures to go with the stories.  My Grandma's will be remembered for generations, I'll make sure of it.