Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa Pugh with Brooke at blessing in Orderville February 1972.

Jeanne, Brooke, Brent Christmas 1972

Amy's First Christmas 1975

Tamber, Melissa, Brent, Devin, Brooke, Jeanne, Travis on Santa's lap, Bryan, Robert. Christmas 1973  at Murphys

"That Santa was Grandpa inside," Amy Lyn said as we drove home. "How did you know that?" "I could tell by his hands. Grandpa's all hair on his hands. Do you know that?"
DeRay, Jeanne, Brent, Jeanette, Amy, Eddy & Brooke on Grandpa Santa's lap.

Brent, Grandpa, Amy Lyn, Grandma, Jeanne, Eddy, Brooke 1980

Grandma, Grandpa Pugh, Grandma Esplin, DeRay; Brent, Jeanne, Brooke, Travis, Jeanette 1973

For the first few Christmases after my mother died, DeRay’s parents spent Christmas with us.  It eased the loneliness for me and brought untold treasured memories for the children.  It’s been fun to look back and cherish the time with them when our kids were growing up.

Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

  We always had a Christmas Eve program, as we had in our home in Orderville growing up.  First we went to the Primary Program each Christmas Eve in the church with Santa Claus coming outside afterwards and passing out candy.  We usually invited everyone who wanted to come to the program in our home. I remember sitting in our frontroom with extra chairs to hold everyone who enjoyed Christmas Eve with us.

1977

Amy Lyn was Mary with her baby as the baby Jesus, Eddy was Joseph; Jeanne, the shepherds; and Brent, the Wisemen.  Brooke wouldn’t even don a robe but he held the lights for the movie camera so we decided he was the star that shone over the place where the dear baby lay. Grandpa Pugh read the Christmas story from the Bible.  Grandma and I were honored guests. Brent played “Oh Holy Night”; Jeanne played her Christmas Medley on the piano. Brooke learned some darling Christmas songs in kindergarten but he wouldn’t sing any for us. Eddy and Amy Lyn sang “Rudolph”, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town”, “The ABC’s” “The Lord is Good to Me” (from Johnny Appleseed) and said the Pledge of Allegiance.  The kids and Grandma and Grandpa each opened one gift and that made them happy as little larks.  At 10, everyone was ready for bed in hopes that Ol’ St. Nick would visit that night.  The rain had washed away all the snow but Brooke had no doubt the reindeer would bring Santa Claus right to our house on Christmas Eve. Grandpa slept in Brent’s room and Grandma in Jeanne’s so all the children decided to sleep in the front room.  The three boys slept in the conversation pit, which is the most coveted spot, even though it is too short for the big ones and cold with the fireplace drafts. Jeanne and Amy Lyn slept by the couch.

After finishing the stockings and other gifts, DeRay and I relaxed and enjoyed the fire and the peace and quiet and magic of Christmas until about 3 AM.

The children officially woke up around 7.  We had to awaken Amy Lyn and Grandma but soon we were all ready to march in—youngest by youngest, as we had done in our home when I was a child. Of course, these kids don’t have garter belts—you know the kind that went up over your shoulders--to contend with like we did. Those things used to get twisted and turned in every direction, especially on Christmas morning, even though we had laid them out very straight the night before.  Ole Santa did come and the children were delighted as children have been for decades past.  We had a nice ham dinner about 3, then all went to Sacrament Meeting. Brooke sang three songs with his Sunday School class. Brent played a piano solo, “The Holy City”.

1979

Grandma Pugh went upstairs to bed Wednesday and didn’t come back downstairs until Saturday night for a special dinner we had in the dining room.  She sewed doll clothes every waking moment; we carried her meals up to her.  Her dolls and the clothes are absolutely exquisite.  Beautiful works of art.  Grandpa read to the kids and petted them. They ate it up. I think Amy Lyn memorized about five books sitting on his knee. He’d supply a word here and there and off she’d go reciting the story.

Eddy sat on Grandpa’s lap in church that Sunday before Christmas (Christmas Eve morn).  The next Sunday when Craig Fisher talked in church, he talked about how Eddy sat so close on his Grandpa Pugh’s lap.  From the stand he noted the love between them and at one time a tear in Grandpa’s eyes after Eddy said something to him.  “Everyone needs a Grandpa Pugh,” Craig ended.

1980

Christmas Eve: Early on Christmas Eve morning, Eddy scolded Brent: “Wake up, Brent. It’s a beautiful day outside. Why  don’t you wake up and enjoy it? Dang Brent Splent.” 

Grandpa and Grandma and eight Ogdens came out about 4.  We had delicious ham and turkey dinner – hot rolls and salads, then we went upstairs for a program.  It was special.

Christmas Day 1980

We had to wake the kids up at 7 again – except Eddy woke up at 4:20 AM – I put him in bed with us until 7.    At 7, I tell DeRay we better get up.  Eddy pops: “Oh! Let’s have Christmas! DeRay! DeRay! Let’s hurry and have dang old Christmas that I hate.” “I don’t think Santa will come,” DeRay teases. “He will,” Eddy insists, “if he tries and tries.” Brooke and Amy Lyn are still soundly sleeping with their alarm ringing at 7 AM. We awaken Brent and Jeanne from the frontroom where they are snuggled all safely in their sleeping bags.

“My drums! My drums! I must have been a good boy. Santa brought me drums!” “Two Schwin Pixies!” (Not really. Eddy had seen too many advertisements on TV. One was a $200 Rampar, for Brooke; and the other $125 Rampar, for Amy.  We’ve never paid more than $60 for a bike before.) 

“Oh, my gosh, a parakeet!” Mama had embroidered a cover for our birdcage nearly 25 years ago.  It didn’t fit our cage so we never used it. It fit Jeanne’s cage perfectly. I told Jeanne maybe Grandma made it for her.

Brent helped us play Santa Claus this year. Grandpa stayed up too. We had bought a stereo, planning to give it to Jeanne but when it came right down to it, we decided it was too big for her room and too much gift for one child; especially since we had clothes for her, a ski outfit, a watch, curling iron, parakeet, and on and on. We used the stereo as a family gift and gave Brent and Jeanne each a tape recorder.  They could record and play the music in their rooms. We also bought a set of earphones they have enjoyed. Brent got a nice set of tools and a tool box, a quad, some pants plus ski pants, a velour I made,  and a promise for a cover for his Bug. I had earlier bought Bible and Church History tapes and a Bamix.

“There’s three things I notice about Christmas now,” Amy Lyn observed. (Earlier she had noticed two things about Christmas people don’t like.” “It’s a fattening time of year and you get sick.” “Who told you that?” I query. “I just know.” – at five years old?  The three new things she came up with: "1. It’s fattening; 2. It’s fun. 3. It’s messy.”

1:30 pm Grandma and Grandpa are sitting in the kitchen waiting for DeRay to slice up the fresh fruit.  (I’m in the bedroom sneaking See’s candy!)  Amy Lyn is whining in the green chair: “What can I do?” She needs a little girl to play dolls with. “Mama, when will the Easter bunny come?” Amy Lyn whimpers. Brooke is over to Jason’s with his new bike.   Eddy is out riding his Super-cycle. Brent is playing Eddy’s drums and Jeanne is talking on the phone. It’s a fun Christmas.

6:12 PM Brent is taking his morning shower. Jeanne is watching her bird; Grandma and DeRay are putting a difficult jigsaw puzzle together; Amy Lyn is doing designs; Brooke is playing the drums; Grandpa is sleeping; Eddy is sitting on the potty. I just woke up from a nap. Brooke asked me to play UNO with him ; I fell asleep reading the instructions.

 7 pm Christmas Day – The bird on the counter, Jeanne and Amy Lyn are making cookies in Amy’s (old) Holly Hobbie Oven. “All the women of the house downstairs,” Jeanne dramatizes, “slaving over a hot oven.” Eddy and Brent are playing Space Invaders.  Brooke is pounding on the drum set. Grandma and Dad are still working on the puzzle; Grandpa is keeping an eye on everything. He grabs Eddy and hugs him, “You know Grandpa loves you, my Little Drummer Boy!” “Santa Claus brought me my drum set from the Drum Set Store,” Eddy says.

8:30 PM Amy Lyn is playing the drums. Brent is fiddling with the stereo; DeRay stands up from the jigsaw puzzle. Grandma is eating vegetables and dip; Grandpa is watching the story of Christmas on TV; Jeanne and her bird are watching the same thing in our bedroom.  Eddy has fallen asleep.  DeRay is playing the drums, Amy Lyn is cuddled on Grandpa’s lap.

Goodnight everyone.  MERRY CHRISTMAS  1980.