Friday, December 26, 2008

Christmas 2008

This Christmas was bittersweet since it was our first without my sweet grandmother, Mimi. Although, truthfully, every holiday has been difficult since Byron died 4 years ago.

We began Christmas morning gathered around PawPaw as he read the birth story of Jesus out of his Bible.
Then it was time to gather around the Christmas tree as PawPaw handed out the gifts.


Colin and Jenn


David
Colin and Jenn gave me a Longhorn doggie treat canister! Grayson
All my Aston cousins.

Every year since I was born as their first grandchild, Mimi and PawPaw started a Christmas Eve tradition of giving us Christmas pajamas and a brass ornament engraved with our names on it. Mimi would bring out her giant, brown "Santa bag" and pass out our special gifts. This year, PawPaw wanted to somehow continue that tradition for us. He brought out "Santa's bag" with a completely unexpected, but cute surprise! With my mom's help, they've slowly been going through things in the house. Remember the old Tupperware plastic cups??? I have clear memories drinking milk out of these cups when we were little at Mimi and PawPaw's house. Well, PawPaw pulled out these brightly colored cups out of his brown bag, and we all started cheering! We each picked a cup to take home with us! Good memories! Thanks PawPaw!


The Aston kids spent a lot of time collecting family Christmas pictures from over the years and compiling them in a book for PawPaw. What a great gift!


It's a little emotional to look through all those pictures. The time goes by so quickly, but those memories never fade. We miss Mimi and Byron so much.



Mimi made all 12 of her grandchildren's stockings! She was the greatest crafter in history! Despite the fact that we're all adults, Santa still fills our stockings! Byron's stocking holds a US and Marine Corps flag.

As we have been slowly going through all of Mimi's things, we have come across many things she made. One drawer held about a dozen old aprons she had sewn! Some of them were horrible, though I'm sure very fashionable once upon a time! But some of them were pretty cute and very retro - we kept these!

Grant and Uncle Randy particularly loved these handmade aprons with giant skillets on them. But who wouldn't?

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    Love love love the pictures of Christmas! The idea of the Tupperware cups & the aprons...only the best gifts when given by precious memories! Thank you for sharing! I feel like I'm getting to see you & know what's going on with you! Now if only I could be close enough to hug you!!!
    Kristi Lofton

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Freedom Journey


In December of 2006, just 2 years after Byron died in Iraq, we decided to take a "Freedom Journey." We spent 3weeks on a road trip through the eastern US - from Austin east to Savannah, then all the way north to New England, and back a little inland to Texas. We traveled over 6000 miles in an effort to see our beautiful country and understand what Byron sacrificed his life for. We drove scenic routes, through small towns and big cities, stopping at places that held history in shaping our nation. We stopped at Veteran's Memorials, National Cemeteries, historical monuments and some of the most beautiful places in America. In each place, we left a "Freedom Rock," a smooth stone that had Byron's name and KIA date on one side, and said "Freedom Isn't Free" on the other. It was our way of taking Byron with us and leaving a bit of him in each special place. This experience was so healing for us, and truly one of the most memorable and special events of our entire lives. Here are our favorite pictures from the Freedom Journey.