Some of my favorite memories at Papa’s house were at Christmas time. It all started the day after Thanksgiving every year. All of the cousins would gather – parentless – at Papa’s house where we each gave him a new ornament for his tree, labeled with the current year. It was always fun to see what everybody gave him and I was especially excited to see the Thomas kids’ latest fishing related ornament. Then, armed with the newest addition and the box of ornaments we’d given him in years past, we crowded the tree and hung the ornaments as fast as we could as well as strings of popcorn and red and white beads. Bart would always have to have his angel ornament as close to the top of the tree as possible.

Papa had this whole box of little handmade, pom-pom animals popping out of felt stockings that I remember hanging along the ceiling. There were poodles, monkeys, elephants and all kinds of things. I got told every year but I can’t remember where they came from. I do know they were old.

Then with Papa’s halls fully decked, he treated us to cheeseburgers at McDonald’s to reward us for all of our hard work.

Christmas day we’d all get together for the North family Christmas dinner-eating extravaganza. This event was followed by present opening from youngest to oldest. Every year Papa’s present was the coolest new electric toy. There were the penguins that climbed the staircase and slid down the ice slide and the electric race cars that went around the track and, my personal favorite, the construction trucks that drove around and picked up the little black balls and dumped them off into the next truck.

I never wanted the tradition to end so I was so sad when I got my box of ornaments back from Papa. But now when my kids and I decorate our tree in those ornaments I always remember growing up with Christmas at Papa’s.

Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Birthday to the Best Dad and PAPA ever!! Since I won't be in SLC to celebrate with you, I've decided to create this blog for you. Hopefully all your family will participate with favorite remembrances of good times spent with you. You are our Family Treasure. We are so thrilled to be able to enjoy life wih you and to be able to continue making memories. Hopefully some of your talented grandchildren will help me add interest to this computer book of remembrance for you with photos etc. It should be interesting to see who has inherited your "gift of story telling" as entries are made to this site. Thanks for your positive attitude and continued support and advice. I vote that your birthday goal should be for the century mark! love, Paula