I wrote on Monday about my children and their cousins. The picture above is my favorite picture of the four of them, primarily because I know the story behind it.
They were singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” to the adults that were present. The youngest, my daughter, was nineteen months old, and didn’t know much more than “Woo-doff.” The middle two—my son and my niece—knew all the words and most of the tune. Only the oldest (my nephew) could add the “extra” lyrics—you know, the ones that go:
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (REINDEER)
Had a very shiny nose (LIKE A LIGHT BULB)
The other kids thought he was hilarious.
So in this picture, the four kids are singing away, three of them clapping with delight. Son and Niece carried the melody, while Daughter bounced and clapped to her own rhythm. Nephew, a suave eight-year-old, displayed his boredom with the traditional Johnny Mark lyrics and only chimed in with the special harmony at the end of the lines.
Note that my son was so into the song that he stomped his foot in time with the music.
I laugh every time I see the picture. I wish I had a recording to go along with the picture.
(Just in case you wondered, none of them grew up to be singers. But all four of them won Hall Family Foundation college scholarships while I worked at Hallmark Cards, and they are all responsible and independent adults today.)
What memories of children during the holidays make you smile?
Your son’s enthusiasm is priceless, Theresa. Aw…the hearth, the perfect place to line up the kids on Christmas. My family has the same picture. 🙂 All of my childhood holiday memories make me smile.
I love this shot and the two little ones on the ends keeping time with enthusiasm. A keeper, that’s for sure. Wish I had some of those old holiday photos but I don’t think we were a picture taking group when I was young.