Posted in Family History

This is a post I did back in January…but it definitely indicates one of my most cherished Christmas Gifts.

Kathi's avatarKathi O'Neill Genealogy

One of my most cherished possessions is a child-sized ring and bracelet that my grandfather gave me when I was merely a baby, over 56 years ago.  They are both so tiny and precious.  Made from silver with small little turquoise stones embedded. We were his first granddaughters and he wanted to mark the occasion appropriately.  I am sure that I was only able to wear them for a short time as I was growing up.  My mother had kept these mementos until she finally gave both my sister and I our individual set of jewelry.

This picture is the first time my grandfather saw my sister and I.  It was also when he gave us our rings and bracelets.  Now before you start leaving comments…yes, I am a twin.  I believe in this picture I am the one looking up at my grandfather.  (At least that’s what my mother told me!)  My sister…

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Posted in Advent Calendar - Genealogy

Advent Calendar Memories – Santa Claus

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

I know I must have sent a letter or two to Santa when I was young.  I know we visited Santa a few times too.  No pictures exist, as far as I am aware. I remember when we lived in El Paso, our house did not have a fireplace…boy we used to worry a lot about how Santa was going to get in to leave us our presents!

Visiting Santa was always something fun that we did with our son, Graham.  He attended the same preschool and after school program for many years when he was young.  The best part was that the same gentleman played Santa every year. He had a real white beard and mustache, too.  My son grew up believing that this guy really had to be Santa because he saw him every year!

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Santa and Graham (age 5)

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Posted in Advent Calendar - Genealogy

Advent Calendar Memories – Outdoor Decorations

Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?

When I was growing up in the 60’s I remember we always selected one night before the holiday and would drive around the city looking at all the lights that people had on their houses.  I know my Mom particularly liked it when a neighborhood of houses all had luminarias lit.

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Christmas 1960 – El Paso, Tx

Each year, my Mom would decorate our windows.  When we lived in El Paso, Texas we only had one picture window.  My mom would make a stencil out of newspaper of a particular scene she wanted to use that year.  She taped the stencil to the window and then used that spray snow to decorate. This picture gives you an idea of how it looked.  That’s my younger sister (Karen) and I out on Christmas Day dressed up for church.  Those are our large stuffed animals that Santa brought us that year.

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1968 – Denver, Co

When we moved to Denver, Colorado, my Mom had a larger canvas to work with…

What you can’t see in this picture is another angel on a window to the right and then to the left were three wise men on the living room windows!  (I know there is a picture around here somewhere…but can’t seem to put my hands on it right now!)

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Posted in Family History, Fuller

Mystery Monday – Who can they be?

Mystery photo - aMystery photo - b

While digitizing an old photo album, that my Dad’s mom put together – circa 1924, I found these two professional pictures.  Nothing written on either side…nothing indicating who these two might be…  I am not sure if either of these is my grandmother…although the one on the right seems to me to have characteristics of the her side of the family.  Maybe my great-aunt?  Maybe pictures of some cousins?  My search begins…I am up for a good mystery!

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