Christmas Past

Well, Ninos, it has been awhile (at least six months, half of a year my darlings) since I wrote to you here, but Nonna is back on-line (thanks to your father who set up your momma's old MacIntosh laptop with a wireless component for me to use). Much has changed since May of 2009, and I will tell you bits and pieces of that missing time, along with current happenings, posting here whenever I can.

This is the first Christmas you have spent on the East Coast, away from your extended family (aunts , uncles, cousins, gradparents and other people who are related to you by blood or marriage). It is more difficult for us than for you, I am certain, as you are still very young and have your mom and dad to love and care for you. We are the frosting, that little bit of extra sweetness that you can live without, yet that adds something special (we like to think) to your young lives. But your absence leaves an empty place and so I am taking a look back at prior year Christmas celebrations. I have very few pictures of those times (I am hoping your mom and dad did a better job of recording these) but I am sharing what I have.

This is your GG, my mother and your momma's grandmother. She is decorating the Saguaro Tree she made to celebrate Christmas at our house in Arizona. The tree was made of dried "ribs" she harvested from fallen and decayed saguaros, those huge sentinels of the Sonoran Desert that are ubiquitous symbols of the American Southwest. The saguaros were on our property and were no longer living, so it was okay for her to collect their ribs.



Here's GG with the tree all finished. This was taken in December 2006, the last year that she lived in the Arizona house. It was your second Christmas in Spokane, Weezie, and Little Clam had yet to put in an appearance. GG and I spent the winter in AZ because the cold of the Northwest really bothered her, and the AZ sun made her feel good.


While we were in Arizona, Weezie was having Christmas with Grandma Dee and Grandpa John (and Mom and Dad of course). You came to see us in February 2007 and we had a wonderful visit (but that is another story).


This is Christmas 2007 at Uncle Judd and Aunt Sandy's cabin. Actually it is closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas, but the decorations are up and we are getting into the Christmas mood. Auntie Brit (your cousin really but I think of her as your aunt) is holding LC who is less than two months old while Mom looks on and Weezie plays in the background. Baby EM is still in Brit's tummy when this picture was taken. Aunt Sandy is putting finishing touches on some Christmas displays. It was a very mellow time for all of us.



This is Christmas 2007 with your GG at Grandma Dee and Grandpa John's house. GG is reading Weezie her new potty book. Yes that is a bottle of Dry Fly vodka in the foreground, ask Grandpa John if you have questions. This was LC's first Christmas and all my pictures of him are of swaddling and blankets. LC will get extra camera time elsewhere, I promise.


You've seen most of these pictures before, little ones. My goal in putting them together here was to soothe the sadness of my lonely heart this year without you, but also to refresh our memories and give perspective on the brief time that the two of you have been on the planet.

This picture of my house in Spokane is from Christmas 2008. Three feet of snow in three weeks. It is so pretty but I am happy that I do not have to shovel that driveway ever again.


Here you are at Grandma Dee and Grandpa John's house for Christmas 2008, Weezie. It is the only picture that I have of that day, so again, LC is absent from my chronicle. I do remember that he looked especially handsome in his Christmas outfit. Again, I will restore balance with a later post.
So, my little chickadees, Nonna is here. This isn't much of a story, but it is my way of getting started with this journal again, and sending a bit of my love to you.