Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas Club

*with apologies for the late post - I was fighting a cold this past weekend and just not up to it on Sunday...

December 2004
Our Most Unusual Christmas...

started like this:
with early Christmas gifts that Santa had his elves drop off... an iPod Mini for Sarah, a portable DVD player for Rachel & Becca and headphones for all three. The iPod already had a list of Sarah's favorite music loaded.  The nicely typed letter from Santa, dated 12/19/2004 explained that he heard we were going to be away for Christmas and thought the girls might like these gifts for the trip.  Which makes sense, considering we were flying from Philadelphia to Maui, Hawaii that day!

This was the only year that we didn't decorate the house for Christmas. The little two-foot tree was it.

We celebrated Christmas Day in Waikiki. No tree, no chimney, no turkey dinner... but the girls still got new jammies on Christmas Eve and I had brought their stockings and some small gifts (earrings, charms for their Italian bracelets, candy) that I could easily pack in my suitcase. We also picked up a few trinkets at the open markets in Waikiki on Christmas Eve. I tried my best to make it feel a bit like Christmas at home. Their Nana had sent the lovely arrangement, which served as our tree.

 Becca and Rachel got Mia Hamm jerseys - high on both of their wish lists!
I couldn't find these reasonably priced anywhere in adult sizes, so they got youth sizes and, needless to say, outgrew them by the time Mia Hamm retired from the sport!  But I digress...
Sarah got an Eagles jersey - which she still wears to this day!

Everyone knew the trip was the big Christmas gift. Nonetheless, at least two of these three young girls recall this as the Christmas that they got jipped. Yes, they are accustomed to excess.  And they like being home at Christmas.

11 comments:

Amy said...

Gee Santa is awesome!

Hope you are feeling a bit better soon Cheri :-)

Becky said...

I think I would rather have the trip than the presents! Hope you are soon feeling better and have a very merry Christmas.

Melissa said...

Sounds like a great Christmas to me - I'm sure as the girls get older, they will remember it differently. I love the Santa note to go with the early Christmas gifts.

Sian said...

What a lovely, unusual Christmas memory :) and a fab reminder that Christmas comes in all shapes and sizes!

Cheri, thank you so much for contributing your CC stories - I have had somuch pleasure from the project I can't tell you! Merry Christmas Cheri

Anonymous said...

Lovely memories Cheri and that Santa is just so bright to know when people are going away and to bring the presents early!

Anonymous said...

Lovely memories Cheri and that Santa is just so bright to know when people are going away and to bring the presents early!

Denise said...

Lovely story Cheri and Santa certainly is wonderful isn't he? Sounds like the trip was fab too !

scrappyjacky said...

I think however much they like holidays....kids always prefer presents!!!!
Me.....I'd much rather go to Hawaii!!!

Anonymous said...

Isn't it funny that most of us would choose the trip in a flash, but kids want the traditional? Hope you're feeling better.

Miriam said...

Hope by now you are feeling better. This is a lovely Christmas memory Cheri & what a star Santa was that year! Merry Christmas to you, wherever you are this year.:)

Cheryl said...

Sounds like a wonderful holiday to me! :)