Memory Lane - Part 3

I almost forgot about these Memory Lane posts!

Forgive me for messing up the "order" of things. In Part 2 I was still a mere babe of a few months old. But these are the pictures that really touched me today, so this is what you're gettin'!

In these photos, I'm between 2 and 3 years old...about my Sammy's age. Is it me or does she look a little like me?

I just adore this first picture. First of all, I have CURLS! I've had stick straight hair as long as I can remember. Oh...I hope that doesn't mean Sammy's going to lose her beautiful curls. Maybe I'll just never cut her hair so we don't have to worry.

Second, see that high chair? Every one of my babies has sat in that exact high chair...metal tray and "genuine Naugahyde" seat and all. At one point, my Dad put that material (was going to say fabric, but I'm not sure it works!) on the high chair and our dining room chairs. Those dining room chairs now sit in my dining room! Although I replaced the Naugahyde with a more traditional fabric. Clearly, I did so before having children. These days I'm thinking of putting some Naugahyde back on! That Daddy of mine...he knows his stuff.

And third - the cake. My Mom made us a double-decker chocolate cake with chocolate frosting every single birthday. It's still my favorite. My mom? She knows her stuff too.



Hey, look at that plate! I have a bowl that matches that plate in my cupboard right now. I just love having little bits and pieces of my childhood around my house :)

Can I just say...it bugs me that these two pictures have such different color tones. Flash in one but not the other maybe?



Here's my beautiful Mama and Grandma showering me with gifts. Look at that cheesy grin again...



Looks like I got a big-wheel for my birthday. And that grin again...I'm detecting a pattern here. The thought of my Mom and Dad giving me a big-wheel for my 2nd birthday absolutely blows my mind. Although at the time, I NEVER would have known because I had every single thing my little girl heart desired...but looking back (and from stories Mom and Dad tell), we were B.R.O.K.E. back then. Mom and Dad were very young and Dad was in school. Let's see...if I was turning two, then we were living in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Dad was going to school to get his degree in nursing.



Here's that silly grin again. See? I had everything I ever wanted...my Mommy and Daddy. The needs of a little girl are really quite simple. Hey, look at the old picture of Grandma and Grandpa!


I gasped when I saw this picture...my Sammy "does the dishes" every single day! She cracked me up yesterday. She said, "Mama, I want to do the dishes with you."

"Well, sweetie, but I'm not doing the dishes. I'm vacuuming right now."
"Okay, I see."
(pause)
"Mama?"
"Yeah?"
"Mama, I want to do the dishes without you."

This picture was taken in my Grandma's house. Man...that kitchen saw a lot of parties, a lot of card playing, and a lot of yummy meals. Evidently, it also saw some remodeling because I don't remember it looking like that at all!

Uh oh. It looks like these pictures don't quite belong in this time line, but I love them, so I'm including them today. This is me with my Grandpa (Dad's Dad). Isn't he handsome? This photo was taken at his house - it seemed he always had a comfy chair in that particular corner. If my memory is right, there was a bedroom off this family room which held Grandma's organ. She played for their church. See that painting on the wall? Grandpa's brother (Father Rich) was an incredible artist...and a priest...we didn't call him Fr. Rich for nothin'. My Catholic roots run deep. Grandpa loved the church.

Oh. Yes they did.

Let's see...1976...I had just turned 3 years old. This is just how old my Sammy is right now. I don't know where they got the idea to take these crazy New Year's pictures...I assure you that this tradition didn't last many years. Thankfully. :)

Stay tuned for the next installment of Memory Lane - this is fun!