Christmas Past

I don't have many Christmas photos of my sons growing up. Most of the time I was a single mom and money for film and developing just wasn't there. It's sad now that I don't have lots of photos to reminisce over but that's just how it is. The very first picture I even have of my sons at Christmas is this one taken in 1967, the year their dad and I separated. Mike was nearly 5, Mark 3 1/2 and Jeff had just turned 1.

This was a year later. Tonka trucks in abundance that year.

1974 with cousins Kristen, Debbie & Kathy, my sister's daughters

Mom went into debt big time in 1974! It was the first year I felt I could splurge a little.

December 1974 dressed for a cousin's wedding

1975 Flagstaff, AZ. All our ornaments were in Iowa so we made our own.

That's a crocheted afghan being blocked leaning against the wall.

Not sure if this is 1980 or 1981.

Then the boys started leaving for the Army and our Christmases together have been few and far between since as we've all lived in different states and sometimes different countries.

The next time we were all together was 1992

Mike, Jeff
Mary, Mark

The only Christmas we were able to have my three and their step-brother together for Christmas before we lost Jean-Richard in 1995.
Tom and I with our sons--a very special Christmas

1997

2003 with spouses

2003

2007

Tom and I and our "boys"

2007 with spouses
2007

Quilts from Mom

And that my friends is how quickly 45 years can go by. I wish we could all be together each and every year, but have to be content to be together in our hearts.