Christmas in July 2026 Day 8

[sweetpumkinpye]

CIJ Day 8: Share a story of the best gift you ever received.

When I was young, maybe 11 or 12 I received the gift of a beautiful doll. I collected dolls from all over the world, but I did not have a huge collection. This doll was an English queen. Her costume was green and had little gold braid and ‘jewels’ on it. She came from England and my dad had asked a friend of his who went on vacation there to buy it and bring it back for me. I just thought that she was lovely and I was so thankful that my dad thought to organise it. I don’t think she was terribly expensive but she was lovely.

 

[Lana]

As a girl I would say my dolls too.

When living at my grandparents (before 3rd grade) I got a 3 foot doll that was suppose to walk with you. I played with her forever. A green dress with stripes on the yoke.

Another Christmas I received Chrissy with the growing red hair, Tippy Toes that rode a tricycle and Baby Tender. Parents, and each grandparent got me one or the other. Anybody remember those?

Thanks for those memories, Katrina!

 

[halimer]

When Barbie - type dolls came out I got a Miss Revolon doll. One Christmas my mother sewed her an entire wardrobe. I especially remember a beautiful blue satin gown with tulle. I think she also made her a shoe box closet to put her clothes in. My mother was very creative/crafty.

Gosh I miss her!

 

[Myron's Mom]

As a girl I would say my dolls too.

When living at my grandparents (before 3rd grade) I got a 3 foot doll that was suppose to walk with you. I played with her forever. A green dress with stripes on the yoke.

Another Christmas I received Chrissy with the growing red hair, Tippy Toes that rode a tricycle and Baby Tender. Parents, and each grandparent got me one or the other. Anybody remember those?

Thanks for those memories, Katrina!

Lana, was that Patti Play Pal doll? I still have mine. Not sure how old I was when got her.
Most favorite gift was tiny Pebbles and BamBam. My cousin Barb had the full size dolls we had so much fun playing with them.
Another favorite gift was nylons and garter belts from my mom. Was a big deal to be able to wear nylons.

 

[Holiday_Mom]

When I was five, I got a kitchen set and chalkboard. I was in heaven playing mom and teacher. I ran to the window and screamed, "Thank you, Santa!" Funny how I got to be a mom and teacher in real life too. LOL!

A few years ago, my dd got me a Mason Cash bowl. I started crying. Everyone looked at me and then one another. My reaction even surprised me. A Mason Cash bowl was never on my list. However, I always admired them on the British baking show and in Downton Abbey.

 

[Lana]

Lana, was that Patti Play Pal doll? I still have mine. Not sure how old I was when got her.
Most favorite gift was tiny Pebbles and BamBam. My cousin Barb had the full size dolls we had so much fun playing with them.
Another favorite gift was nylons and garter belts from my mom. Was a big deal to be able to wear nylons.

Not sure what her name was. Jaymee played with it too but finally had to move it out. Jaymee and Teigan both played with some of my barbies.

 

[Kate1964]

I was not much for dolls, but I did have a few. I was more into stuffed animals. Lol. Two gifts stand out. One year my Dad built me a wooden bunk bed for my stuffed animals. Still have it. And one year my bro and I got matching Huffy 3 speed bikes. My parents didn't have money and that was an awesome gift. I still have that too. Am I a pack rat? Lol. Oh, also when I was maybe 4, my middle bro (who passed away about 5 years ago) gave me a big stuffed turtle that I sat on or laid on to watch TV. And...yes, I still have that too!

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

I think she also made her a shoe box closet to put her clothes in. My mother was very creative/crafty.

What a gift of love!

We did not have a lot of money and there were 3 of us that Santa had to provide for. I always felt so extraordinarily lucky at Christmas time. We always had a full stocking and 2 or 3 things under the tree which were so precious to us. I am thankful to my parents for giving us such wonderful experiences.

 

[GrammaDeb]

Always mindful of Santa’s (aka my parents’ and grandparents’) limited funds, I always kept my Christmas list short, and except for the horse I never received, I got everything on my list. Every year I got a novel featuring horses, a Barbie with clothes, a coloring book with a new large box of crayons (I still love the smell of new Crayola crayons), and that year’s new Beatles album. I was pretty excited the year my parents surprised me with a stereo record player!

 

[Minta]

My favorite christmas gifts came from my MIL. The 1st Christmas after DH and I got engaged she gave me a set of Christmas Cookie platters and a couple years after DH and I got married she gave a full set of Christmas dishes. We use them every year.

 

[Lori K]

There are three gifts that came to mind immediately.

1. When I was in my early teens, I wanted a dog so badly. But, for some reason, my parents were against it. That Christmas, I received a stuffed shetland sheep dog that stood about a foot tall. I absolutely loved that stuffed animal!
2. As an adult, in my 30s, after my GM passed, my GP gave me her vintage jewelry box. I guess these were once stationary boxes and she used it for her jewelry after. It is wooden, with a hinged lid that has some ornate scrollwork on it and a vintage flower image painted in the center. To this day, I treasure that box and it sets on top of the chest of drawers.
3. Lastly, I received news of my pregnancy in early Dec. 1981. It was a gift we were able to surprise my parents and in-laws with. Each received a gift-wrapped box of Pampers that Christmas. Surprise!

 

[AnnieClaus]

My best gift ever-

As a young girl, I was obsessed with dogs and in particular cocker spaniels.

One Christmas I got the stomach flu and was bed ridden.

My Uncle gave me a stuff animal cocker spaniel that was also a radio!!!

Even though I was in bed, I lit up when I got that present.
There is even a picture of me in bed, hair all wild, sick as can be but smiling, holding that stuffed animal.

It is still my favorite present I ever got.

As a side note- one birthday I got 2 cocker spaniel puppies!!
Dusty and Sandy.

 

[jampss]

@Lana I had Crissy!! My younger sister had Velvet!

Loved reading all these stories.

What comes to mind is my 12th birthday of a three speed bike!

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

@Lana I had Crissy!! My younger sister had Velvet!

Velvet was very coveted as a child, I still have her in the display cabinet in my guest room.

 

[halimer]

a new large box of crayons

DH still gives me boxes of crayons and we sniff them together

 

[jampss]

I do love a box of 64 crayons and have a box still of my own that I did not share with my kiddos all these years! LOL