MAGICAL WONDERS ~1989

MAGICAL WONDERS:  Christmas has always been filled with magical  wonder when you have children. This one wonder was a memorable one.  It was 1989 and my four children were excited at the anticipation of the pre-holiday activities.

Hannah ~1989

It was a financially lean year and we as a family had been discussing whether to get a live tree or set up the artificial tree again. 
 Our children had never had the opportunity to see one in our home.

We had just come back from a trip to the mall and a visit with Santa.  My three year-old was enthralled by the lights and Christmas trees and had just asked Santa with a sweet soft voice and wistful eyes that she wanted a real Christmas tree  and toys.
Back at home, the hour was getting late.  My nine- month-old was put to bed in the vintage port-a-crib in our bedroom, with the two older ones in the bunk beds in the other.
Logistics in sleeping arrangements changed at various stages in the kids lives due to our small basic, post war, sturdy, yet functional, two bedroom ,1949 home with a brick front and large back yard. 
My three-year-old, tantamount to a Chatty Cathy, a pull-string talking doll, manufactured by Mattel from 1959 to 1965, unfortunately would keep the others awake in her process of putting herself to sleep, consequently, we had the full-size crib in the living room where she could keep herself company.
This particular evening after she was quiet and asleep, we got a phone call, from another family who just happened to have an extra live tree to give us and promptly delivered it.
My husband quietly prepared it outside and set it up in the living room while I proceeded to decorate it with the few ornaments we had accumulated.
It was perfectly shaped and the most beautiful tree we had ever had.
How we accomplished this feat without waking up the kids, I do not know.
Well, you can imagine the awesome look on my daughters face when she awoke that next morning to find a real, decorated tree.  She remained speechless, her eyes transfixed, giving way to those sparkling eyes unique to her personality.
We later had to explain that it was not Santa who brought the tree but something that God had provided.

Sarah

This was also my youngest ones first Christmas.  Tinsel, bows, paper, and empty boxes were her main interests and paper shredding and testing gifts her main activity.
The girls were excited to receive new born dolls which were promptly named, Joey, Janna, and Judy and dubbed the triplets.