Christmas Advent Day 23 Sweetheart Memories Las Vegas Style

Today is Day 23 of the Christmas Advent... Christmas Sweetheart Memories
Do you have a special memory of a first Christmas present from a sweetheart?

How did you spend your first Christmas together?

Hubby # 2 seems to have swept me off my feet. We had only known each other a few months. We were middle age, had been previously married and divorced to others. We knew that we had met some one we were comfortable with, some one we loved and we wanted to be together.

My soon to be hubby had bought me for Christmas a real pretty black suit to wear selling Real Estate. I had decided to stay through New Years at his place. It was about December 26th or 27th when he came home for lunch from work. Hubby the true romantic and a tax nerd announced " If we got married before the end of the year we could save enough money on our taxes to equal the cost of a trip to Las Vegas". Lets run away and get married.

Sounded good to me, so while he went back to work I got on the phone that afternoon. I was able to book 2 plane tickets, I found a chaplain at the " Missions Of The Bells" and got all the needed info for getting a marriage license. All I had left to do was to find us a hotel room. Now you need to remember that this was just days before New Years Eve. Everything is booked up. The only room I could find was on Las Vegas Boulevard, but was several miles from the casinos. It looked like the Bates Motel Las Vegas style. And best of all, it was within walking distance to a Denny's Restaurant. Now if you can walk to Denny's for breakfast it can't be all bad can it?

That night we called our parents and kids to share our plans. No one said anything negative but I am sure they thought we were off our rockers.

We flew to Las Vegas on the 29th of December. On the 30th we took a Limo to city hall for the marriage license, next stop was Mission Of The Bells. Our minister was toothless and a retired minister. He really was adorable in a funny way. We were lucky that I had friends who had moved to Las Vegas so we had witnesses to our wedding and to share dinner with us. Dinner was at Hugo's Cellar at the Four Queens. It was fantastic, total class and delicious food all paid by my bosses.

Next stop was some casino on the strip where hubby and I did a little gambling. We found nickel machines and were having the time of our life. Three o'clock in the morning came and I was tired. I said "sweetie I'm tired call me a cab" My darling bridegroom turned to me and said " your a cab"

First fight, picture a huffy bride walking out of casino mad, smart hubby grabbing his nickles, and running after said bride and yelling " cab".

This was almost 22 years ago and we are still adoring each other. Over the years we have made a few trips to Las Vegas for New Years and to celebrate our marriage. I think the Mission Of Bells may be gone but we always do a little gambling at Four Queens and remember our first trip to Las Vegas.

And he has brighted up and has not called me a cab since.. but we do chuckle over it every year on our anniversary.

Advent Calendar Day 16 Christmas At School

Advent Calendar - Day 16 Christmas At School .. I do not remember an awful lot of grade school, but I am sure we made Christmas cards for our parents and probably the chain for the Christmas tree out of construction paper.

I do remember being in 9th grade and being in the choir. We had a Christmas program, all dressed up in our best and singing Christmas songs. It was so much fun and exciting with our parents in the audience. My favorite song was " Winter Wonderland "

At that time I was crazy about Jeff and he was in the choir also. I thought he was so cute.

In a couple of months I would meet future husband # 1 and that would be the end of Jeff and me until 20 plus years later. We would meet again and date briefly after my divorce.

Memories are great... thanks for stopping by.. please visit again soon... Grace

Advent Calender Day 15 Holiday Happenings

For today's posting of Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories December 15 we are to share Holiday Happenings.

Were any of my ancestors born, marry or die on or about Christmas?

I had searched December for my " On This Day " Postings. I found that my 3rd great grandfather McCormick Zion passed away December 26th 1863.

McCormick was born January 22, 1795 in Virginia to John W Sr and Lucy McCormick.

McCormick was married twice, first to Sally Stuart with whom he had Sarah Zion. Sally died young some time before 1818. McCormick then married Mary Gobble shortly after Sally's death in 1818. McCormick and Mary had four children, Eliza , Mary, John Henderson ( my ancestor ) and Andrew.

I am thankful for each one of my ancestors. Because of them and their lives I am who I am. They once again come alive as I search and learn about their lives. This is why I will continue to tell their stories.

Advent Christmas - Day 11 Other Traditions

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories for December 11 .. Other Traditions. I can not think of any other traditions during this period of my childhood. So no posting tonight on the Advent calender.

Advent Christmas - Day 9 Grab Bag Topic

Advent Christmas - Day 9 Grab Bag I am suppose to come up with my own topic of a memory.

My most treasured memory is of the warmth of Christmas time spent with my parents and grandparents and uncle and aunts. They are all gone in body, except for my Aunt Lil, but always close to me in my thoughts and heart.

The house would be warm in temperature, full of light and laughter, great food and the smell of coffee for the adults. Us girls would get a bottle of ginger ale and then egg nog later on.

I miss them all daily but it is hardest at Christmas time.

These memories are around my childhood so I can print and give to sons and grandchildren for them to read if they ever want to.

The picture above shows my Grandma Grace, Grandpa Bill and left to right me, Cheryl ( in front) cousin Bonnie and my sister Mary.

Advent Christmas - Day 7 Christmas Parties

Advent Christmas Day 7 .. the topic is Christmas Parties.

Our Christmas parties were about getting together with family and revolved around the church.

We would spend time with my Grandma and Grandpa Day, Aunt Daisy and Uncle Don, Aunt Lil and cousins Bonnie and Cherryl.

My other Grandfather lived in Washington and we never spend any holidays there. My Grandma Alta had passed away about 4 years before I was born.

Christmas mainly revolved around church and spending time with the family. My daddy and uncle Don were ministers and the church was very important in our family.
When I was a pre teen, my family and a group of others left the church they had been attending and started their own little church. This church was just blocks from where we lived and when the weather was good we would walk to church.
Every year at Christmas time there would be a Christmas program. I sure wish I had some old pictures of those Christmas programs.

The only program I kind of remember is, the children were to dress in costumes of a country their families were from. I wore something that was to look like England and think my sister Mary wore something green for Ireland. Bonnie was either for Scotland or Finland.

The memories I am sharing are from my childhood. I plan to print and give to my sons and grandchildren to read if they ever want to.

thanks so much for stopping by.. hope that you come again soon.. Grace

Advent Calendar - December 6 Santa Claus

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration. There will be a different topic each day. I will attempt to post on each of the topics.

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I am sure I wrote a letter to Santa as a child but that is the best I can do with this memory. As a child Santa Claus came to visit us at my Grandma and Grandpa Day's house on Christmas eve. A big jolly fella in his red suit, I thought he kinda resembled Vern from our church. But of course Vern resembled Santa all year round.

My sister reminded me that one year our cousin Bonnie told us there was no real Santa Claus. My sister says her heart was crushed. I knew Bonnie was lying and teasing us and I still believe that today.

Of course there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the heart of true believers all year round. I love this wonderful, generous Jolly Old Man. I even see him on the street waving to us as we drive by this time of the year. And of course I always wave back. You gotta love that guy.

I am doing these Christmas memories of my childhood only. I will print and give to my sons and grandchildren for them to read if they like someday.

Advent Calendar - December 5 - Outdoor Decorations

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration. There will be a different topic each day. I will attempt to post on each of the topics.

On the 5th Day of Christmas, I am supposed to talk about Outdoor Decorations.

I grew up in the 1950's and I remember no real outdoor decorations. There may of been a wreath on the door but nothing like we see today with the huge displays of lights, huge plastic Santa's and characters from the " Grinch Who Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss.

I believe it was a different time. The decorations were inside and had not moved outdoors for all to see. The tree may of been in the window for those passing by to view. I remember fake candles in the window. The candle stem was a beige plastic, there would be 5 candles at varying heights and they had Christmas bulbs screwed in at the end to look like a flame. They were placed in the windows and plugged in at night.

Every once in awhile I will still see something like this is a window. It always makes me think of my childhood and another time.

I am doing these Christmas memories of my childhood only. I will print and give to my sons and grandchildren for them to read if they like someday.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories Day 3 - Christmas Tree Ornamens

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration. There will be a different topic each day. I will attempt to post on each of the topics.

This post is number 3 in a series of 24 for the 2010 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.On the 3rd Day of Christmas, I am supposed to talk about the Christmas Decoration.

As a child our Christmas tree always had multi colored lights, the kind that got HOT when on. And they were big, no twinkle lights.

There was always more tinsel than any thing else and the Christmas balls were pretty, fancy and on the small size. They were so dainty I would just stare at them for the longest time.

Sadly I do not have any of those Christmas balls that belonged to my parents or grandparents. BUT I do have the fancy coffee cups with saucers they used to drink their coffee. I always plan to use them but never have. That will change tomorrow. Coffee cup is clean and ready to go.

I am doing these Christmas memories of my childhood only. I will print and give to my sons and grandchildren for them to read if they like someday.

Advent Calendar Day 2: Holiday Foods

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration. There will be a different topic each day. I will attempt to post on each of the topics.

This post is number 2 in a series of 24 for the 2010 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.On the 23Rd Day of Christmas, I am supposed to talk about the Holiday Food.

I do not remember a lot of any special holiday food. As a child we would of been at my Grandma and Grandpa Day's house on Christmas Eve.

We would probably of had roast beef with mash potatoes , gravy, corn and rolls. And in the middle of the table there would be little sweet pickles, olives and small pieces of American cheese. Dessert would be after opening gifts and would of been apple pie with ice cream or pumpkin pie with real whip cream.

My grandma Grace and aunt Daisy would of done most of the cooking with the pies being brought by my mother or uncle Don. The adults would eat around the dining room table, my sister Mary, cousin Bonnie and myself would eat in the kitchen. My cousin Cheryl was five years younger than Bonnie and probably was in a high chair by big table.

The table would have a white table cloth and cloth napkins that had been pressed with an old Iron press. They would of used their best china plates and drink coffee out of fancy cups and saucers.

Christmas Day we would go back to our grandparents for sandwiches that were turkey, ham and cheese served on little rolls. It was a casual meal, a time for the grownups to visit and us girls to hide in the bathroom and tease my little cousin Cheryl by not letting her join us in the bathroom. We were so naughty to this little girl.

I remember the food was good and the atmosphere was warm and safe. It was always a wonderful time of the year.

I am doing these Christmas memories of my childhood only. I will print and give to my sons and grandchildren for them to read if they like someday.

Christmas Tree (Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories #1)

This Blog is pleased to join with other GeneaBloggers around the world in presenting this Advent Calendar over the next 24 days leading up to the Christmas celebration. There will be a different topic each day. I will attempt to post on each of the topics.

This post is number 1 in a series of 24 for the 2010 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories.
On the 24Th Day of Christmas, I am supposed to talk about the Christmas Tree.

Did you have a real tree, or was it artificial? How big was the tree? Who decorated the tree?












Christmas memories as a child are of a wonderful time. It was a busy time with getting ready for Church Christmas programs, decorating the Christmas tree and planning what we would buy as gifts for the family.

The picture on the left is at my grandma and grandpa Day's house. This is a picture of my dad holding our dog Lady, my mom, sister Mary and me. The year is 1957 .

Picture on the right is of my sister Mary , Dale and me. My father sold Insurance with Dale's father Ray. I am guessing the car I am sitting in is Dale's Christmas gift since my sister Mary and I do not remember having a car/fire truck. The year is 1956.


These pictures are of my little brother David. The pictures are taken at my mom and Dad's house on the Skyline Drive in Duluth,Mn. The tree is real and the year is 1967.







I remember the first trees were real and carefully decorated. They were usually about 6 feet tall and bought from a corner tree lot. At my grandparent's and aunt Daisy's home the job to decorate the tree was left to Aunt Daisy. My Aunt Daisy was extremely fussy and each piece of tinsel had to be placed just right on the tree. Every ball in the right place and of course you would always decorate the back of the tree. She would have us help her but carefully watched how we did it. And when we were all done we would get a bottle of ginger ale and a cookie.



When we would decorate our Christmas tree at our home the tree would also be real and bought at a tree lot. My father would place it in the stand and put on the Christmas lights. Then we would decorate it with my mother watching and telling us where to place the balls and tinsel. My mom had polio in the 1950's and was handicapped so her part was to give us the decorations, telling us where to place them and handing us the tinsel. And of course the tinsel had to hang just right. When it was all done daddy would put on the Christmas star.


It was a wonderful time. We would spend the evening with the lights off, the tree lights on and eating hot chocolate and cookies.





I am going to writing these postings as memories of my childhood rather than later years. I want to print out and give to my children and grandchildren so they can read them as they wish.