holidays

So here's how it went - - The 4th of July & the 24th of July; we walked or drove down to the end of the street to watch the parade. grandpa loved parades so that was a given...never miss a parade! Then there was the year the parade changed its route & as luck would have it, it went right in front of Aunt Pat & Uncle Darrells home on 4th Street. So we would sit at the kitchen window if it was too hot or on the front lawn with family. Sometimes the family would have a picnic at Tauphaus Park & then end up at grandma & grandpas house, where all the cousins would sneak over to the neighbors house to pick crab apples off their tree & throw them at each other. Great fun!! I remember making Kool Aid which was the best drink ever ;) Then there was Christmas, grandpas very favorite holiday, which meant the tree was usually fresh & made beautiful. Grandma would decorate the house & then there was all the cooking with the wonderful smells...& the fudge, can't forget the fudge! I was usually spoiled each & every Christmas :) Some of us cousins always bought for each other & such fun doing that. Mom, grandma, grandpa & I would spend Christmas afternoons with one aunt & uncle or another. They took turns having us over for dinner, which is called lunch these days. I loved going to Aunt Orlene & Uncle Johns - right as you entered the front door, they had the most beautiful picture of an outdoor scene that had the sun shining on it. It made me feel very happy & warm inside every time I saw it. Uncle John had a forever smile on his face & made you feel like you were the most special person in the room! Aunt Orlene just made you feel happy :) I loved going to their home. Easter was usually spent at Beaver Dick park outside of Rexburg. There we had picnics with baseball games. Not many memories other than that. Thanksgiving was pretty much the same deal as Christmas - the aunts & uncles took turns having us over once grandma got older & had her share of having her kids at her home. But when it was at our home, the big table came out with a sorted array of chairs & the piano bench for enough seating. Whoever came brought their own special favorite food to share. Aunt Carols was my favorite - her homemade rolls - the Best!! She always helped me with the dishes afterwards too & she would have me giggling so hard. I love her! Spending the holidays with family can be very special - it sure was for me :)