I have three reasons for making this information available to y'all. First, I want to show that it really is possible for an (almost) Christmas Child to enjoy both a Birthday and a Christmas. Secondly, it can be used as a social reference of gifts given to children almost 50 years ago!
As an FYI, in most cases, we celebrated Christmas twice: on Christmas Eve, on base with the other Army Families, with gifts donated to all of the children (almost always handed out by Santa Claus; and again at home, as a family.
| Year | Birthday Gifts (5 days before Chirstmas!) |
Christmas Gifts (5 days later!!) |
| 1951 | Rocking Horse, Books | Big Panda, little curly doll, Rubber pants, Dress, Coat & Hat, Bib & Baby Plate, Sweater |
| 1952 | Big Clown Doll | Baby, Cradle, Buggy, telephone, Desk, Color Book & Crayons, Broom, Dust Mat, and a Stocking filled with Fruit, Nuts, & Candy |
| 1953 | Book, 50 cents, beautiful Red Nightgown, Plastic Horse | Doll, Dishes, Doll & Pillow, Stuffed Elephant, Rubber Roll, Train, Scooter, Pots & Pans, Blackboard (shared with Jeannie), and a Big Stocking filled with Fruits, Nuts, & Candy |
| 1954 | Purse, Comb & Brush, Crayons, Doll Furniture, Kitchen Utensils, Finger Paints, Color Book & Crayons, Croquet Set | Telephone, Stocking filled with Candy, Doll, Tea Set, Iron, Ironing Board, Washing Machine, Table & Chair Set (shared with Jeannie), Panties, Doctor’s Kit, Crayons, Hand Puppet, Material for a new Dress |
| 1955 | Phonograph & records, Erector Set (I had Chicken Pox on my 5th Birthday) | Boy Doll, Doll Bed, High Chair, Policeman, Cars, Doll Cradle with Small Doll, Gun & Holster, Rudolph Red Nose Reindeer for the Bath, Blackboard & Chalk (shared with Jeannie), Paint Set (shared with Jeannie), White Gloves, Picture Book |
| 1956 | Tea Set, Pots & Pans, Paper Dolls, Lotto Set, 2 Magic Pads, ABC Spelling Blocks, Elephant, Jump Rope, Metal Craft Topping Set, Printing Set | Puzzles, Gloves, Storybook, Color Book & Crayons, Piano Book, Monkey Doll, Print Set, Puzzles, Hand Puppet, Hand Puppet, Puzzle, Doll Buggy, Clock (shared with Jeannie), Play Clock, Doll, 2 Story Books, Doll, Cup, Saucer, Plate & Bowl |
| 1957 | Towel Set, 3 Purses, Panties, Bubble Bath, Brownie Dress, Hat & Book, Paper Dolls, Doll and Carrier Bed, Scarf, Rig-a-Jig. | Not recorded |