Christmas Spirit, Where are you?

Exactly twenty days from now ten children and 6 adults will have already gotten up at the crack of dawn, opened their presents and gotten some breakfast and I have no Christmas Spirit to get me there. The house needs cleaned, the presents need bought, the cookies need baked, etc. Heck, I didn't even get a tree yet. What in the world is the matter with me? Really, I think there must be something wrong with this old broad.

I love when we have Family Christmas at my house. Both my sisters and their families, my brother (sometimes), my parents and sometimes even my Aunt Judy come here Christmas Eve and spend the night and we all wake up Christmas morning and have a big family Christmas. It's awesome. I really love it and can't wait for it again.

Here's some photos from years past:
Sara checking out her stocking

Dominick looking at the Hermit Crab that Mikey found in his stocking

Isis looking on as Ben finds a Nerd's rope. He is a little nerd.

Everyone got to see Kelsey open the big box that held her kitten that she named "Angel".


The nieces and nephews will remember the Christmases at Aunt Bobbie's house and want to do that with their own kids and siblings some day, hopefully. My children will always remember these special days with love in their hearts for home.

It's so much more special when you can wake up in the morning, as an adult, and still get to spend Christmas morning with your siblings and parents. The memories it brings out of when you were young and running down the steps to shake the presents and trying to guess what's inside each package. One year, my brother and I carefully unwrapped one end of one of our presents and peeked inside. To this day I don't remember what was inside, but I remember the excitement of peeking. I think Mom would have been so pissed off had she only known.

In my memory, there was always Christmas music playing in the background too. I remember when April was little and I was a teenager by then, but we all got generic Cabbage Patch Kids from Grandma and Pappy Ogburn and Aunt Judy and John Porter. We struck the mother load!!! We must have each gotten like three of these ugly dolls, but we loved them just the same as if they were the expensive ones. They were the "tickle me elmo" of the old days. Even though they weren't the real thing, we didn't care. Here's a picture of Sherry, George, Apee and Me around that time:
Sherry was 10 1/2, George was 12 1/2, Apee was 6 1/2 and I was 15.

I remember a certain Christmas when I was sixteen and a boyfriend of mine gave me a tan rabbit fur coat. He didn't know that I didn't like fur, but I accepted it anyway without telling him my feelings. He was so excited to give me this beautiful coat and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. In my mind I thought he must have really loved me to give me something so extravagant. For a young man (18), he really had a lot of Christmas Spirit and I remember loving that about him.

Another Christmas memory I have is when Grandma Stair would come to our house and give us our Christmas Eve present. She was an Avon Lady and would give us a little white Avon bag with samples in. I think she put money in there, but don't remember for sure. I just remember loving those little tiny tubes of lipstick samples and perfume samples. Ha, now thinking back, she got off cheap, but she gave me wonderful memories and that's what's important. (*note that the Christmas Spirit is creeping into my soul as I sit here typing.)

When I was still fortunate enough to have all of my grandparents living, Christmas was the best. All the cousins, aunt and uncles, and parents and grandparents would all go over to Great Grandma and Pappy Shrader's house either Christmas Eve or Christmas night. I can't remember, but all I know is that it was always dark. The house would be so full of people and it smelled so wonderful. Grandma would hand out her Christmas envelopes. Tucked inside the bank envelope would be a brand spanking, new, crisp one dollar bill for me. The great grandchildren got a dollar, the grandchildren got two dollars, the children got 5 or 10, I forget. I loved getting that from her and sure do wish she was alive to tell her that. It was only a dollar, but it was always given with so much love. (*note, more spirit sneeking in.) She always had the best Angel food cake that gave me hiccups, ha ha. For some reason I remember her having these oranges for decoration that had cloves poked all through them. They smelled really good. Gosh, I miss her. Pappy died when I was 5 or 6 and Grandma died when I was 13 I think. She was such a wonderful woman and beautiful too. Here's a picture of Grandma and Pappy in 1957 (way before I was born)


The only things I remember about Pappy is that he loved her with all his heart and he loved me too. He was a tall, strong man. He took me to Park City Mall when I was 5 at Christmas time and I still hold those memories near to my heart. The magical scenes I saw there can never be topped. Little miniature scenes of Christmas everywhere. The way they decorated back then was pure magic. Looking down and seeing the ice skating rink right in the center of the mall with all the people skating. In my mind they look like Dickens Carolers, but I'm sure it wasn't like that, but memories have a way of becoming more romantic as the years past. (*Wow, Christmas Spirit overload here.)

When I was four my brother and I got a visit from Santa. He was just a toddler and didn't understand any of it, but I sure did. I heard the reindeer on the roof of my Grandma and Pappy Honeycutt's house. I heard the bells. Oh, the bells! The excitement just can't even be written. Too much for words. Santa came in with his big red bag and had a present for each of us, my uncles included. Poor little Georgie sat there looking up at Santa the whole time with his arm stretched upward. He finally did get his present, a Fisher Price or Playskool Ferris Wheel. That year the tree was swallowed up by all the presents. The picture just doesn't give it justice. In my memory the presents were all the way to the ceiling.
Here's a picture from that year:


and a newer one of my brother and me


The following year, my uncles who are only a few years older than me told me that Santa is not always real. They said that the only way you can tell is to pull his beard. Mom took me to the Santa Shack on the square of Littlestown. I remember this like it was just yesterday. I stood in line with my mom, freezing, waiting to see if this was the real Santa. Finally it was my turn. I stepped into his little wooden shanty. He said, "Ho, Ho, Ho" and asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I think it tickled him when I, in my pretty little, white tights and black patten shoes told him I wanted to be a football player. (you see, I grew up with my uncles and they were always playing football but wouldnt' let me play. They always made me act as the cheerleader, but I wanted to play.) So anyway, then he asks me what I would like for Christmas and if I was a good girl. I quickly told him I wanted a baby doll called "Baby Alive" and then I proceeded to pull his beard. He was not the real Santa afterall and my uncles were right. Well, I was given an orange and a candy cane and sent on my way. I bet "Santa" shared my story later that evening with "Mrs. Claus".
me around that time.

an earlier picture of my uncles and me

Back to present day and time I sit here at my computer listening to Kelsey play "Joy to the World" on the piano and I'm beaming with Christmas Spirit. Thanks to all my family and friends, past and present who have given me these memories. It has filled me with a joy of Christmas.

I hope that by having Christmas at Bobbies, I will be included in my children's and my nieces and nephews wonderful Christmas memories. I can't wait for you all to get here. I love you.

Looking Back

Was talking with my sister April last night, well into the morning, I might add and the subject of babies came up. Now if you know me at all, you know that I just love and adore babies. Human babies, animal babies, baby fish, baby birds - you name it and I will fall for one. Lately though, I am soooo over that. I see a baby and it coos at me or really just looks at me and instantly I want to hold it. So, I hold it and then it's over. I'm ready to hand it back to it's mother or someone else. This is really sad to me. I don't know when this happened either. I've been fighting these feelings for a few years. I know what it means too. It means that I am getting old. Let's face it. The years of having babies of my own are behind me.

You might wonder what in the heck I'm talking about. I already have 4 children of my own ages 10-17. No, I don't want anymore children. Please God forbid that, but to know that my little babies are all past all those early stages of childhood and are growing towards adulthood makes me sooo sad. It's really amazing how time flies. The time I had home with all my kids is all behind me now and now I'm working. I'm no longer a stay at home mom. The hours in the day are just not enough to do all the things I wanted to do when I was home with them (the things I failed to do). And here I sit at my computer feeling guilty about opportunities missed. There is still tomorrow though. Today has got to be the new tomorrow if I don't want anymore missed opportunities.

Tyler is 17 years old, has a job and a girlfriend and a bunch of friends. I remember what it was like to be his age. I didn't want to be home either. I understand, I really do. It's hard to face the fact that he will be grown soon and be out on his own. I don't get to see him much as it is. Sara is only two years behind. Mikey is past the cuddly stage. He only likes Mommy hugs when he wants them, but he still gives me hugs each day - just really quick ones. Kelsey is Kelsey. As far as I see it she will never stop being her sweet little self. (I can only hope, right?)

I was listening to some music a little bit ago and a song came on called "Good Morning Beautiful" and it made me feel so lonely for the old days when my kids were little. Mikey would sing that song to me almost every morning. I melted of course. That was during the time in his life that he would hug no one but his momma. I use to have to tell him to hug his grandma or he would feel like he was betraying me by hugging someone else. Sweet little boy. I sure do miss those days.

I started looking for some old videos on the computer and found some to add to this post. They will mean nothing to you but they mean the world to me. I remember being so annoyed with Tyler and Sara for acting retarded in the background of this video of Mikey but now when I watch it I just laugh at their silliness.



And of course I couldn't get the other video to load correctly so it will have to wait for another post/another day.

Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's aka Mamaw and Papaw, or Nanny and Papaw.

Mom and Dad had Thanksgiving at their house this year. Every other year we go to Kevin's Aunt Mary's house for the big McDonel Thanksgiving. It was so nice to see Mom in the kitchen again.
April, Pedro and the kids couldn't be here this year, but they will be home for Christmas so that sort of makes up for it. Sherry and the kids were all there and she brought along her new boyfriend Jimmy for the family to meet. This year she also has Cody in her family. He is a boy who is a friend of Dominick. He has a story, but I won't write it here. He needed a place to live so Sherry took him in and they are all glad to have Cody there. Very nice kid, that Cody.
So there are like a million photos from the day so I will get on with it.
Ben sort of looks like he's elevating in this one.

Ben again

Aunt Judy

Dad

Mom's gonna hate this picture but it's one of only a few I got. She always makes the "deer in the headlight look" ha ha. Love ya Momma.

Kevin (notice mom's list beside him? Mom likes lists. She always has.)



Dominick and Isis carrying on and there's Cody.

Sara giving her silly cheese smile

sweet little Kelsey

Isis and the phone

Blurry Buds

Little Ben wanted to take a picture with my camera.

so instead of giving him my big camera, I gave him my point and shoot.

The main attraction (although I dont really like turkey, this one was beautiful)

Dad slicing the Turkey

and everyone eating it. Look at Kevin showing what's in his mouth. Do you see how many kids are in that room? Are any of them misbehaving? No, just my husband. He had to know that this photo was going into my end of the year book, ha ha. When will he ever learn?

and here's one from the other side of the room that Tyler took for me so I could be in one of the pictures too.

The typical after Thanksgiving activity going on here.



Dad playing on the computer. Gotta love the 'stache. Mom hates it by the way. Me and my other sisters think it's pretty cool.



Ben, I have news for ya - she's your cousin. Look at that face.

Ok, back to business.

Clean up, Clean up....

Never see Tyler without his Mountain Dew.

Peace Brothaa

hours later.....Dessert.

I think he misses his girlfriend by this point

And here is where Ben started taking pictures
his momma. (We are all really bad about getting our pictures taken. We all stick our tongues out. Mom never taught us better, ha ha. Just kidding Mom - no I'm not. You do the same thing alot of times, lol.



Ben's self portrait. He was doing this all evening. Look at that cute mouth of his. I love the stage between baby teeth and adult teeth. He is so darn cute and little too. You can still pick him up and tickle him, which by the way I did alot of that day. He would tell me to stop tickling him so I told him that what he really meant was "he liked being tickled." Of course he disagreed with this so I stopped tickling him......."Aunt Bobbie?"...... "What Ben?"....."Tickle Me!" Gosh I love that little fart!

He is 8 years old. He looks like he's five or six. That's what makes him so much fun.

see? even Dad does it!!!

I hate this picture of me, but for my kids' sake, I won't delete it.

Over the River and Through the Woods.....

....To Grandma and Pappy's House We Go. Well at least over the river and back the lane. On the way I made at least 3 or 4 wrong turns. Jeesh, you think I haven't been there in over a year. There was road construction and detours and traffic out the ka-zoo. I need to make a mental note and just visit more often so I don't forget how to get there.










Kelsey just loves her Grandma - you sure can tell.


We had a great time and I missed them all so much. Grandma looks beautiful as she always does. She is just so darn sweet. She is one of my best friends. I hope she is feeling better soon. She was complaining of a bad leg and she has a terrible bruising on the back of her knee. Her kidneys aren't doing too good either. I just hope and pray that the doctors can do something for her. Good Lord willing she will be with us for many, many more years. This is my prayer and wish for today.

Pappy was so happy to see us today as he always is. He's not doing too good either. Since having cancer many years ago, it has really taken a toll on him. He is now having these spells where he hears a hum in his ears and then all of a sudden it gets louder and louder until he says it sounds like a freight train coming through the room and then he loses conciousness. When he comes to he is covered in sweat and is freezing cold. I sure hope they can diagnose him. He is so darn stubborn though and doesn't like the doctors. We all love Pappy and want what is best for him but he just needs to not be so old fashioned and bossy if you know what I mean. He told his doctor she's lucky she a lady or he'd knock her out. I guess he's so tired of hospitals and doctors and not feeling good for the last umpteen years that he's just tired of it all.

Mikey had a suprise for everyone. No one knew that he has been in guitar "pronounced: GEE'TAR to my Honeycutt relatives" lessons for the last six months. Ya see, my Uncle Charlie is a bluegrass musician and one of the finest guitar players I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. Uncle Roy plays the Mandolin. Together they are pretty awesome. Charlie sings also. Anyway, Mikey gets out his guitar (GEE'TAR) and starts playing for Grandma and Pap and also Uncle Charlie later. They were so tickled that Mikey could play so well in only six months time. Charlie taught him how to play "The Guitar Boogie" in like 10 to 15 minutes. Then later on he taught him how the play a Blues riff. It was pretty emotional to me to see my uncle and my little boy actually jammin' together and Uncle Charlie was loving it too. Charlie let him play his old Gibson guitar that was my Pap's brother's when he was younger. The thing was made in 1932 or something. I think that made Mikey pretty happy. I really wish I would have taken a picture or even a video, but I didn't. Next time I will not forget.

Grandma took a picture of Mikey and Charlie a long time ago up at my place. Charlie was playing the guitar and singing and Mikey was sitting there on his Uncle Charlies' lap just taking it all in. Now Mikey is playing the guitar too. Just pretty neat. I'm a proud Mama for sure. He comes from a long line of musicians on that side of the family. I am not musical at all. Wish I was, but I'm not.





Also, just have to mention that I have major TV envy and also computer envy going on here. Charlie and Connie have this awesome TV that not only has surround sound but also a gorgeous picture. They have their computer hooked up to it and so their super hi-def television is also their computer monitor. Man I can just imagine me sitting in front of that on my recliner listening to some great music on the surround sound and editing my photos in photoshop on that huge screen. Charlie say's to me "Did you ever see BluRay?". Killing me here... It was unreal. That's all I can say. Want one bad. Maybe someday.

An Ode to the Old

As most of you know, and those of you who don't, I am an old soul. I love old things. I love antiques, old people (Charlie, you are not old, but I do love ya sweetie - Ok, you're a lot older than me and you do remind me oh so much of my very missed grandma, but you are not OLD), old friends, old photos - which brings me to this post. I have this photo of my grandfather standing with his mother on a hill that looks so much like my own hill. It's really strange I tell ya, to see it because it's like they are standing right out front of my house. The view in the background of the picture is eerily very similar to my view. I was visiting my Pap one day and he told me he had something to show me. Went to his computer to look at old pictures and this one came up on the screen. He asked me if I knew where it was taken and I said not. He said it was taken up at my place. I beg to differ. Now Pap doesn't have the memory he once had. That man was sharp, but the years haven't been kind to him. He actually thought this photo of him and his mom was taken at my place. I've only lived here for the last 13 years. He gew up in North Carolina and Maryland. There's no way it could have been taken here. I have to say I was really interested in where it was taken though since it did look like my yard. I guess I will never know. He thinks it was here.
I went outside this morning and tried to take a picture just like his picture. I couldn't get it to look "just" like it of course but it's close.
Pap's picture:


and my picture:


Doesn't it look very much the same view? His photo was taken probably 40 years ago.


On with other "old" pictures of my yard. These were taken by me and processed to look old.






So that's me. I love all things old and it shows in my photography sometimes. I have a passion for taking pictures and turning some of them into old photos. Luckily for my subjects, I am not using photoshop to turn them old, lol.