Skip to main content

On The Eighteenth Day Of Advent We Had Special Guests and Went To Our Neighborhood Christmas Party

Ever since we moved in we talked about having the previous owners over. We wanted to wait until we had refinished the floors before having them. Since we never did that I finally decided to suck it up and call them.

It wasn't going to happen this winter.

The husband passed away this spring, but his wife was excited I called. I told her she could bring her kids if she wanted. That way we could hear stories about being a kid and a parent in the house. After calling back and forth figuring out a time we finally decided on a week before Christmas. Two daughters out of eight children came along.

 I always wondered how they had so many kids in the house. I guess they fit as many kids as they could into each room. They also had a dining table that fit 10 people. One of the kids said they would go down the stairs backwards because it was so deep. 

We had asked them to bring photos from when they lived in the house. I should note that they had owned the home from 1952-2006. It was so neat seeing old photos. Our home looked exactly the same with different decorations.

The only big change was the back porch. I always wondered what it looked like. I like our enclosed porch, but it would've been nice to have a small, open back porch.

They used to flood the backyard to make an ice rink in the winter. They also had swings and a giant chalkboard in the basement.

We also learned how the kitchen looked when they bought it. The sink was where our oven is, the oven was where our fridge is and the fridge was where we hang our coats.

They also said to look out for lost baseball cards and a paint set.

We got our picture taken with her.

They were so sweet and brought us a poinsettia, homemade cookies and a gift for Meadow. We told them that the other family members were welcome to stop by as well. 

After they left I baked some molasses cookies I'd prepped the night before.

Gingerbread cookies may be fun, but these are way better.

Later we attended the annual neighborhood Christmas party. At the last second I was given Santa picture duty.

Meadow loves sitting on Santa's lap. At least she wasn't crying, just tried to get away.

I talked with our neighbors while Meadow worked on a craft.

Meadow made a really nice card.

Everyone wanted a picture with Santa.

Not a bad a way to spend a December evening.

I think we all had fun.

Comments

Amanda said…
I think it is so sweet that you guys invited the previous owners. What a neat experience! I'll bet they loved it.

Popular posts from this blog

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 1  Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19  precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month.  I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Since we were near Fergus Falls we had to stop by the abandoned state ho...

Sand Dunes State Forest

Out of the blue we decided we needed to go camping. Being only a few days after the fourth we decided to head to a state forest. Most state parks are booked this time of year, so the forests are good alternative. On the way I got really hungry. We found a Culver's and ordered a small feast. Of course I got a blueberry malt and a bacon butterburger. The best of all malt flavors. Brooke and I shared cheese curds since she already ate leftovers.

Work Trip: Carlinville, Illinois and a St Louis Walk on the Hill

Every few shoots for my main client I end up somewhere I'd never heard of before. This time it was Blackburn College in quaint Carlinville, Illiniois. Apparently famous for it's chili factory and its parlor. The family friendly chili parlor faces the town square, meanwhile the Anchor Inn faces the street behind it where the chili is also served alongside beers and rail drinks.  I was informed the chili comes with a kick and that was no lie. Knowing this fact I went with the chili mac and I'd do it again. Even though Carlinville is much closer to St Louis, the Anchor is definitely a Cubs bar. This town rules. After my shoot at the tiny Blackburn College I drove back to St Louis, where I'd flown into, for dinner. Well, one of the inner ring suburbs that's more urban than parts of Minneapolis. Anyways, Balkan Treat Box may have been the best meal I've had all year. After dinner I drove over to the Hill, an old Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. I don't know wh...