The kids and I stopped by my aunt’s house this weekend — the same house where my grampa used to live and the same house we visited on Christmas day almost every year when I was growing up. It was fun to see some of the same decorations around the house — including this little chapel and rows of choir candles. Apparently grampa made the chapel and grandma bought the choir singers, which, according to my aunt, makes this set up about 90 years old. Not sure what’s up with Santa’s bad self off to the side there. I’m thinking he’s new. 

It’s funny, but it makes me wonder what memories my kids will have of their Christmases growing up. What kinds of things will make them warm and nostalgic when they look back as adults? A few things I think of: 

– new pajamas on Christmas eve

– a live Christmas tree miraculously showing up on Christmas morning (downstairs)

– a small artificial tree with ornament overload (upstairs)

– mom’s breakfast casserole

– my dad’s secret stash of gifts in the basement

– car rides to grampa’s house

– grampa’s red Christmas sweater vest

– big family dinners and my efforts to sneak olives out of the tray before dinner and avoid eating spaghetti during. 

I sure hope my kids have been given some wonderful things to reflect back on later.