Grandma Isabel came to celebrate Christmas with us in New Jersey some times. She would fly in a few days before and help us with the preparations. My Mom and Amy like to bake sugar cookies and decorate them. Amy also likes to bake cheese cakes for family functions. My Dad decorates the house with all kinds of things that have been passed down from his parents and given as gifts from friends and relatives. My Dad also spends some time wrestling with lights on our artificial tree.
On Christmas Eve, our extended family comes to have dinner and to open presents. As a kid, this was like pre-Christmas. I would get a bunch a gifts after the adults slowly ate their dinner and finished their coffee. I was the youngest in the family for a long time as my sister is 9 years younger than me, so I had no one to commiserate with. It always seemed like forever until we opened the presents. Eventually after the presents were all given, my parents and I would get into the car where I would fall asleep thinking of what I was going to get the next morning.
One of the most memorable Christmases was the last time my grandmother came. She was still feeling pretty good then and we had a great time. She was really friendly and personable and good at parties. Her laughter was musical and catchy.
On Christmas Eve, we exchanged gifts and hung out with my dad's side of the family. My second cousins, Jeff and Nicole brought their dogs, Mary and Wilma. My second cousins, Pete and Liz, have two little girls ages 9 and 11 who make the holidays more fun. My grandma liked to talk with my Great Aunt Kathryn (shown above).
We'll miss her this year!
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