I've noticed that the majority of pictures from family gatherings come from my/Jen's camera. For Christmas 1998, I was pregnant with Callahan and wasn't feeling great. It was a little earlier in December when I'd passed out in Sacrament meeting. Grayson was shifting jobs (had quit K&B, went Pentalon, but then got the Hamlet Homes offer) - so life was a little crazy and I didn't get pictures of Christmas Eve ... or at least I thought I hadn't, as I didn't find the usual ones at the Havenmoor Home. I was keeping a journal at this time (the memories from above and some of the dates below) but didn't mention much about Christmas Eve ... except to say that we were late (as usual). Wendy consulted her journals and was able to add some details. We'll have to check out Dad's journals to see if he has more memories from December 1998.
At the end of November, Jensens were in town, and stayed at the Blackham's. On November 28, we had a belated Westra Thanksgiving at the Havenmoor House. There were several pictures of the grandkids with gifts in December Dropbox that were labeled "Christmas 1998", but you can see the corner (bottom left), and the tree isn't there. Some years though, the tree was at the base of the stairs instead of in the corner. Landon and McKenna are holding gifts, so it would be easy to think it was Christmas ...but this was the dinner and "December" birthday celebration (photos of Jase, with a second pink cake for Janika).
Thanks to Wendy's journal entry, we now know that Christmas Eve 1998 was actually held at Scott and Amy's house (on Rosewood Park Lane in Draper). Note the different decor and couches in the three photos (Christmas Eve 2012 would also be hosted by Scott&Amy). At the Westra home, I'm sure another little stocking was added to Scott&Amy's with the addition of little Kemery this year.
The picture of the Jensen family (bottom center) is back at the Havenmoor House right around Christmas. You can see the card holder decoration there in the background. The group of grandkids on the stairs? Another journal entry indicates a belated Christmas dinner at the folks on December 28, so maybe it was from then (found footage ... video from this event below), or another time before when everyone was together (different outfits than any of the other photos).
THIS video was uncovered after this post went up. All the indications (ages, # of stockings, placement on the video between 1997 and 1999) are that this is Christmas 1998, but if Christmas Eve was held elsewhere, perhaps this is from the post-Christmas party on December 28th.
https://youtu.be/PVj_ZGX1UcQ
Lots of detective work required for this year. What have we learned?
Keep journals. Take photos & label photos. Add personal pictures to the family Dropbox.
No comments:
Post a Comment