Christmas in Bridgewater, NJ in 1987

My parents' house contains lots of treasures and photos related to our family's history. Each time I visit, I try to find some more and add it to the blog. 

Most recently, I found a little pink photo album that contains photos from Christmas at my grandparents' house in 1987. My sister was 2 and I was about 11 or 12. It seems like ages ago.  It's interesting to see my grandparents' house again.

The photos are of my grandfather, Jules, on the loveseat rocking chair in front of the large book case. The book case had tons of interesting stuff inside of it and also some funny ceramic sculptures on it. There were jokes about the ceramic 

piece that my dad made with his Aunt. If you look carefully, you can see it, but I won't point it out. My grandpa was pretty sick at the time when this picture was taken. He passed away in 1989.

My grandma Elsie is perched on one of the kitchen chairs in front of the

 big television. Behind her you can see a religious painting, which I never noticed was religious until now. It was just always there and I never really looked at it before. The doors behind her lead to the giant dining room, where we shared many holiday meals and sunday dinners. 

She liked to wear red and is clad in one of her favorite festive christmas outfits. She is smiling a smile that I remember well. I think she thinks it's funny that I am taking her picture with my toy camera -- she probably wonders if there will even be a real photo or if there is film in it. 

After the portraits of my grandparents, there is a photo of the christmas tree. I loved to look at my grandma's tree because it had really old tin ornaments and other interesting decorations made by various generations of her nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She told us how they used to light their trees with real candles! 

The focal point of the tree was the nativity scene below. It is very famous because her sister, my Aunt Emma, made it herself. It is really really lovely and each year the youngest child would get to put the baby Jesus in the cradle on Christmas. I did it for many years and then passed along the duty to my little sister.

Dinners at my grandparents' house

On Sundays and for the big holidays, we went to my grandparents' house in Bridgewater, NJ.  On Sundays, we would have roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes and string beans with a salad. Sometimes, my grandmother added orange jello with madarin oranges. There would always be a good dessert. 

For holidays, we usually tried to follow the Slovak traditions or at least nod to them. Easter included various Slovak foods. Christmas was a bit more American. I always enjoyed the big meals at the long table at my grandparents' house.  I loved being with my extended family and being in a full house full of relatives. There's a warmth about it that I still feel when I am home for the holidays despite the fact that our family is getting smaller.

Here's a photo of one of the last dinners at my grandparents' house in Bridgewater: