Family Stories: Vintage Christmas

My mom and Joan decorating the Christmas tree at their home in Cerritos, California in 1981.

My mom and Santa. See more santa pictures.

The family Christmas tree in Palos Verdes, California in the late '60s.

My mom in Palos Verdes in the mid '60s.

My mom's little Christmas tree. Notice Davy Jones on the wall.

Elsie preparing the table for Christmas dessert.

My mom and her bear on Christmas. That little rocking chair is now at our house.

Christmas dinner with my mom's sister Betty, her daughter Cheri and her husband Bob.

My mom and her step-grandfather, Mr. B, in front of their Palos Verdes home.

Vintage Christmas balls in the living room in Palos Verdes and the couch that I still dream about. My mom has the lamp and coffee table. Elsie always put her Christmas cards on the coffee table, and my grandmother continued that tradition with the table was in her home.

Joan and my mom in Alaska in 1957.

Merry Christmas

Thank you for the love and support you've shown Gerald and Joan in 2013.

From our family to yours, we wish you the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of New Years!

Family Stories: 1960s Christmas

My mom in front of her Christmas tree.

The mantle decorated for Christmas at my great-grandmother's house in Palos Verdes, California.

My great-aunt Betty (Joan's older sister) pouring tea to go with the fruit cake. I love the Christmas table decor. I have those birds in my dining room!

Betty, Elsie, Betty's husband Bob, their daughter Cheri, and my mom enjoying Christmas dinner. Joan was taking the picture.

My mom and Joan on Christmas morning. My mom still has that awesome chair and its mate. The bird candelabra on the right is in my dining room.

My great-grandmother Elsie and Joan reading Christmas cards.

My mom and Joan on Christmas morning at my great-grandmother's house. Those fireplace pokers are now beside our fireplace.

On the Road: Christmas at the Beach

Today we're sharing some photos of our favorite place at Christmastime. The South Bay at Christmas isn't your typical Christmas setting, but it's still very charming. Here's the Manhattan Beach Pier all decorated for the holidays:

Manhattan's neighbor, Hermosa Beach, has a large Christmas tree on their pier.

I love the shell ornament!

It always surprises me to see roses blooming in December. Here's one in Joan's backyard in 2010:

Also, in Joan's backyard, oranges...

And flowering Jade...

The views from Palos Verdes are spectacular all year round, but they are serene in December:

La Venta Inn, which is located next door to Elsie's old home:

The sunsets are always showstoppers:

It is far from traditional, but California isn't a bad place to be at Christmastime!

All photos taken in 2010 during this trip.