In honor of Christmas, I thought I’d do a fun contest. Just post a short essay about your most memorabl holiday gift. The contest will run until December 15. The winner receives a $100.00 gift certificate to Toys R Us.
In our house, my daughters first pick was always Barbies. They played them through junior high and would have continued if we’d kept a toy room in our new home at the time. I have bins upon bins of Barbies, cars, clothes, accessories, McDonald’s shop, airplane, etc. that I have kept for posterity.
My mother-in-law was in the last stages of Alzheimers and the doctors didn’t think she would make it past Christmas last year. She was there last Christmas although she didn’t know what was going on it was so nice to have her there smiling as she watched everyone open up their presents. She passed away soon after, but her being there was my best Christmas present.
I think the best Christmas present I ever received was a new camera back when my daughter was born just 6 weeks earlier. It was marked ‘open me first’. I could now take pictures of her first Christmas. She’s 40 now and those pictures of her in a baby booster seat under the Christmas tree are among my favorite.
The best Christmas present I ever got was the year my family was only going to have potato soup for Christmas dinner. The church came by on Christmas Eve and brought us everything to make a good Christmas dinner, candy and fruit even. That wasn’t all, there was presents for each of us 5 kids – an outfit of clothes apiece. As we never got NEW clothes – only hand me downs – it is a Christmas I will never forget.
The best Christmas was last Christmas. My mom has been sick for many years and that was the last Christmas I got to spend with her. She died less than a week later. We had such a good time tho. She was alert, laughing and having a great time. I will never forget it!
One Christmas I got a purse for my sister-I almost didn’t send it to her because it was one I really liked, anyway, much to my surprise when I opened the present from my sister she had purchased the exact same purse for me. She lived in San Diego and I lived in Phoenix so it was another example of how close we have been in our lives being identical twins
My most memorable gift I got was when the Cabbage Patch dolls first came out. Me and my sister got one for Christmas. A couple of Christmas after, we got the talking Cabbage Patch Dolls. Those were really neat. We still have them and they still work. They will sing together and everything. A couple of years ago I went to Walmart’s Black Friday sale. I was getting nieces and nephew a Cabbage Patch Doll. I was one of the first ones there and got stuck handing the rest of the dolls out. Someone tried to take one of my dolls that I had in my buggy because it was one of the few boy dolls. I held on to it and kept it though. Funny thing is when I got to the checkout line, I found a hat in my buggy. Someone had tried to get my attention so I would give them a doll by throwing his hat at me. lol
A memorable present that meant a great deal to me was my first bicycle. This was so special since it was exactly what I hoped for. A dark blue Raleigh bike, no gears and a basket in the front. What a surprise. I used it endlessly and enjoyed it thoroughly. Nothing could ever compare to that wonderful gift. Many years later we sold it and now, of course, being older and wiser, I really regret it since they are irreplaceable and one of a kind. I pine for that bike, even now since they are extinct.I should have just held onto it as a memorablia.
First Christmas after I was married I lived out of town from where I grew up and all the family was….We traveled back and forth when we did go packing clothes in bags and boxes..That year for Christmas my parents gave us a set of RED(always my fav. color) luggage……44 yrs later now I still have one of the pieces keepsakes are stored in it……….
My best Christmas was a quiet one. While each year we have to travel highways to my parents, that Christmas we were delayed driving until Christmas morning. That Christmas Eve consisted of a dark room, multi-colored lights on the tree and Christmas specials on TV as we sat on the sofa enjoying each other. No rushing, nothing hectic. Just family being family and enjoying the still, special moment that is Christmas.
The last Christmas I spent with my father, I remember how he enjoyed his grandchildren. He died suddenly of a stroke, 4 months later at the age of 57.
We were given gifts that were necessary and practical. I was appreciative of this fact, even then, and loved getting new clothing. Since we lived in a cold climate and I needed new pj’s and a housecoat that was my holiday gift one year. I wore them proudly.
My parents got me a bride doll when I was 4 and she is still with me today 58 years later. My daughter was never allowed to play with her only hold her on special occasions. Times were hard back when I was small and it was the only present that I received besides some clothes. That is what makes her so special in my heart now and forever.
One of my memorable Christmas’s was watching my granddaughter be born. She will now be 11. Sometimes I don’t think she relishes sharing her birthday though.
I started a new job which required me to be working on Christmas. My truck driving husband was working also and the 3 girls would be “home alone”. We had Christmas at 5:30 am with me going and him coming to sleep. I promised the girls we would do something special when I got off work! No restaurants were open in the town in those days(80′s). We had our pick of the food at the 7-eleven and went to see The Three Amigos movie. This Christmas 21 years ago sticks in my memory!
Both my children were born in December so I think they have to be the most memorable Christmas presents.
My most memorable moment was Christmas 2002. Our house burnt in November and we lost everything. For Christmas that year my husband bought me a new wedding ring to replace the one that burnt. It was the best Christmas present ever b/c 6 months later he passed away.
Not exactly a Christmas present but since it falls on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th) and it was my dh’s present for his birthday I figured I could have it fit the topic.
Twenty years ago Dec. 26 I woke up and told dh I dreamt I was in labor and we had our baby. A few minutes later we realized I was in labor. Four hours later I looked at my dh and told him not to expect a birthday present like this every year.
On the down side it was the last year dh really got to celebrate his own birthday.
My most memorable Christmas was my sons first Christmas 15 yrs. ago.
He wanted a train set from Santa Claus.
I ordered one from Montgomery Wards and my brother and I went to put it together on Christmas Eve.
Well, needless to say, there were pieces missing and the train would not work. I went everywhere hoping to find a place that had a train set. Any kind! Just so everyone knows LOL Walgreen’s and the 7-11 do not carry trains especially at 9:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
I had to write my son a letter from Santa, that went something like this:
Dear Dylan,
I am soooo sorry that your train will not work for you on Chritmas morning. The elves were very tired and ruined this one, so they will be put in time out when I get back to the North Pole!! I will make sure that your mommy and daddy get a new one from me to give to you very soon.
Love,
Santa
Believe me…this upset me more than my little one. He just played with all of the boxes anyhow on Christmas Morning
Kids HA!
Doreena
Obviously the above is about my sons most memorable holiday gift, not mine, but I like the story
Doreena
My favorite Christmas present came to me in 2005… It was my husband’s turn to go home for Christmas, ever since we moved away from both our families, we took turns, and that year he gave up his turn so I could be with my Grandma when she needed me the most… We had lost my 10 year old cousin suddenly in June of that year, and she needed the moral support to get through the holidays. That to me meant more than any material gift ever will… Although this year I am getting a new wedding ring to replace one that I lost or had stolen, and it is going to be 2nd on my list, even if it will be a plain gold band.
The most precious gift that I have ever received arrived on my birthday in the middle of December. A little unexpected but very welcome and this little bundle was my first child, my son.
When I was 4, I woke up one morning. and ran down stairs. Christmas was a big deal to me,as it is for most every kid.There, beside the tree was a hot pink bike!I thought I was dreaming but I didn’t want to stand there and wait to find out! I rushed over to great the magical prize. If this was what being nice all year paid off to. Fine by me! I’m sure that I said something. Or maybe I just stood there in aw of my new bike. Jut I’m not quite sure. Like I said. I was only four. But the next thing I remember was me getting on my bike and smiling at the camera so my dad could take a picture.
Later that day I showed my bike to every single person that walked through my front door. I’d love to tell you that I remember that day being the proudest day of my four year old life. And that I’d always remember it for the rest of my life. But truly, I don’t really remember what I did exactly. But I’m almost sure that it was along the lines of what I’ve already told you.
The next thing I remember about my “magical” bike was that I would ride it around my house. Over and over. My little sisters birthday is in January only a month after Christmas. I remember that she had gotten a baby doll that year. It wasn’t very fancy. Had real thin hair and only her face and the ends of her arms and ankles were hard. To make them look like skin when in it’s clothes. I know that she loved that doll. As you probably already know how two year olds get attached to there dolls. But other then her. I think that I loved that doll almost, if not more then her. It’s not that I love baby dolls. I’ve never really been quite as into them as my sister. But the thing is that that little doll was just perfect to fit in my basket in the front of my pink bike. We would often come up with little games to play with “her” probably just an excuse for me to stick that little doll in my basket and ride her around the house a couple times.
Before long I could go around the house pretty fast. But my mom had told me that as long as I was going to ride my bike in the house. It had to stay in the house. Which means that my bike had never been out of my house. Except for of course in Santa’s shop. But as we all knew the day came when my dad finally asked if I wanted to go outside and ride around the street on my bike with him. I knew that once I started, I couldn’t go back. I wouldn’t be able to ride my bike around the house anymore. No more being able to take my sister’s baby doll around the house on my bike. I finally made my decision. I would go.
My best Christmas present was the gold bracelet my dh gave me; it has a Medic Alert sign on it with the words of what I am allergic to on the underside. But it is gold and bought from a jewellery store
Mine was an Easy Bake Oven. I used that thing forever making little cakes. I always enjoy the the things my son makes me too. I have all the things in my china cabinet.
Congratuations to Anne who won the contest. Everyone wrote such nice stories. I picked a winner simply by putting everyone’s name in a bowl and drawing a piece of paper. Anne was the lucky one. Thanks to all who entered! Merry Christmas.