Christmas 2005

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

What reminds you of Christmas?

Is it a special ornament that brings back some treasured moment? Or is it some favorite food, Christmas photograph, or TV show? I remember mom hanging red wreaths, with a red bulb in their centers, in the front windows. Another thing that brings back memories are ads showing metal trees lit by revolving green/red/blue spotlights. That was such a '60s thing...

But what brings back memories for me are the Christmas songs that played all day long in our home. We had an eclectic collection of music, ranging from Bing Crosby to Chipmunks Christmas. The album on your left is something we found while "antiquing" west of Austin, Texas, over a week ago. Tim, Laurel, Elizabeth and myself decided to go the Hill Country (Texans call 'em hills); and somewhere in west Texas we saw this album. Well...it came home with us.

Its funny though...I haven't hooked up my turntable in years. But I will...just to hear the same music we heard for over a decade.

So, what reminds you of the holiday season? Let us know. We'll publish your memories on this page. If you have any photographs you'd like to add, just send them along.

Kate found this photograph along with others that she wanted to add to our website. Click on Kate's Photos to see pictures that remind her of Christmas and other memorable times in her life.

These are a few memories from Wendy.

The candy house made of sugar cubes - only the chimney, windows and doors every got eaten - in fact I think the rest of the house was recycled from year to year

Mom's homemade decorations - angels made of magazines, white styrofoam tree, and of course the 12 days of Christmas

Waking up on a holiday morning to mom's Danish almond rolls - heavenly

Hanging our stockings on a broom only to get fruit and nuts in - boring

The boys carrying boiling pots of water outside to melt the snow and thaw the ground so they could put up their outdoor decorations

Putting together Christmas bags for all the church kids - candy came from Tom's Candy Company

Going to the Coast to Coast and entering the basement filled with amazement at all the toys they had - it pales in comparison to today's toy stores -but I still remember going in there wide-eyed. The only toy I really remember getting was a Barbie plane - I don't even think we had any Barbies in the house - I must of had to borrow them from Krein's.

The most memorable Christmas happened a couple of years after dad died. We had no money, I believe it was just Merida and I at home, Steve and Ann came home for the holiday. We became creative for presents - we wrapped up items from around the house. I remember receiving mom's kitchen timer. We had so much fun. My second most memorable Christmas happened three years ago. We had fondue over at Barb's house on Christmas Eve and we almost burned down Barb's house three times. We laughed, Barb cried - it was memorable.

These are just a few of the things I remember, We are having Christmas Eve at my house. Barb, Mike, Sam and family, Joe, Merida and family, Ann and Matt will be here, so there will be 15 Smith's here. It will be fun and we will think of all of you. Everyone, have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

My brother Steve & his wife Sue were flying to Orange County, CA Christmas Day for a much deserved vacation. We received holiday wishes from them via phone call as they waited for their flight to take off at St. Louis Airport.

My brother Neal, his wife Jennifer & daughter Lara were celebrating Christmas down in San Antonio with Jennifer's family. Will be seeing them soon as they are having a New Years Day celebration at their home. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the special moments this time of year brings.

Click to JACOBSEN "OLD" CHRISTMAS PHOTOS

Teresa

On Christmas Day, Wendy, Ann, and Matt came up here to Spearfish, while Barb kept busy with a new puppy and two grandkids under the age of two at her house - I hear it was quite a zoo! We played Tripoli for quarters - Ann came out the big winner. Ann gets a litle giggly when she wins, so she had a great time coming out the big winner. She said she plays online poker - good thing the other players can't see her - she has no poker face whatsoever.

Click to RAPID CITY CHRISTMAS

Merida