Post by cam83 on Dec 18, 2005 11:42:30 GMT -5
The family was spending a quiet Christmas in California, and the kids enjoyed the enthusiasm for Christmas that their mother instilled in them. They loved all the fun that went with it. Finding the right tree, hunting for Christmas decorations in huge boxes in the storage rooms, decorating the tree, and everything else that went with it. Christmas CD's of all their favorite Christmas songs were a must. There were so many, that the kids enjoyed...like Boney M's GREATEST CHRISTMAS SONGS, Barbra Streisand's Christmas album and many others. Earlier that month, Karen had went out and bought a bunch of CD's, and one of them was the Statler Brothers, whom she had met, earlier on in her career. She loved their Christmas album, and penned them a note to tell them so. Of course, the Carpenters Christmas albums were definitely included in that, and even Karen loved to hear her children singing. She hoped that one of them might decide to have a career in music. If they did, she would help them in any way she and Jon could, but they would have to do all the hard work. It wouldn't be fair for them to get all the connections that Karen or Richard had, while others struggled. They would have to do everything by themselves, and learn. She and Richard had to struggle just like everybody else before 1969 rolled around and found them signed to a major record label.
Danny had just turned 5 years old on November 6, 1994 and Richard's children came over for the birthday party. Karen and Mary helped plan the festivities, and the whole house was filled with kids running here and there. Since all the kids birthdays filled July and onwards, they had been busy with birthday parties, so now that Danny's birthday was over, Karen was so thrilled to finally be over with birthdays until next July. She loved her kids so much, but a mother could only do so much, and that was the truth. She was just plain exhausted, but all her energy seemed to reappear in time for the Holidays. She knew this would be the last time she would have with the family for awhile especially since it had been over 21 months since she had been involved with Hollywood, and she had to get her career back on track. This was going to be a blockbuster year for her. 1995. She would be releasing another solo album. Another Carpenters album. A TV Special. A small part in a dramatic movie. And her biography would be released. And she would be celebrating her 45th birthday. Where had all the time gone?
Christmas Day, at the crack of dawn, the kids all woke up screaming and yelling, while Jon and Karen were attempting to catch a bit more sleep as they yelled at the kids to go back to bed. Everything quieted down for awhile, and they lay back attempting to get some more shut eye, but to no avail. They both felt guilty, so they threw back the covers and put on their bathrobes. As they were heading downstairs, Karen glanced at herself in the mirror, and laughed. She looked a mess. So she quickly brushed her teeth, ran a brush thru her hair and pronounced herself ready to go downstairs , and told their kids they could get up. Christmas only came once a year!
Danny loved his new bike, and Karen had to stop him from riding around the house. She didn't want the floor scratched up. Florine wouldn't be too happy. Lindsay loved her doll house, which had every accessories a little 4 year old girl could want. 3 year old Stephen liked his blocks, trucks, and even a cute Teddy Bear. 2 year old Cynthia loved her dress up doll, with the doll that crawled on the floor. Twins Katie and Kierra loved the wrapping paper more than their gifts. All the kids received gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Andrews, Grandma Carpenter, various Aunties and Uncles, family friends.
Jon and Karen had decided that the children received too many gifts which would spoil them, so they had to give some of the gifts which were unopened, to other kids less fortunate. They wanted to instill in their kids the importance of giving rather than receiving, and that they were very fortunate to be raised in a home which had material possessions. The kids didn't seem to mind giving some of their toys up. They had seen on television those kids who were starving in other parts of the world, and Karen even told them that even in their country, there were kids who had absolutely nothing, and suffered. She was thankful to have compassionate kids. Plus, her motto was, if something new comes into the house, something has to leave to make room.
Jon had given Karen a gift of beautiful emerald earrings offset with diamonds, and a beautiful, costly emerald gown, which was a Dior origional. Karen gasped in shock. He told her that she could wear it to the Grammy Awards in February. She hugged him. He was so good to her. She felt sad for all the wives who received blenders and pots and pans from their husbands. She gave Jon a brand new boat, which she had purchased. Her cousin Mark had helped her pick it out for Jon, as he knew that this was the one that Jon had had his eye on for the last while, but never told anyone. He was actually stunned speechless, when she led him to one of the outside sheds, and he spotted the huge boat wrapped up with a red bow. The kids had all come outside, and were jumping up and down. Afterwards they went back inside and dinner was being prepared, nothing too great. The real dinner would be held at Richard's home tomorrow in L.A. and Karen was excited to see the whole family again. Mom and Bernice would be flying down for the occasion.
That day, Jon built a fire, and the kids sat around, and they read the Luke story account of Jesus birth. Karen looked at her family, with love in her eyes. All this. She had finally gotten what she wanted...a family. She got all teary eyed, as she watched them, stretched around their family room. The room was messy, but it didn't bother her too much. She was spending quality time with the family, as she and Jon were sharing memories to their kids about Christmases past. Karen got all the kids laughing when she told them about the time she got a Machine Gun for Christmas when she was a little girl. They had a great laugh. Jon was reminiscing about the very cold winters he had as a child, and the wood he had to chop, along with his older brother, and keep the side of the house filled with piles of wood, neatly stacked.
Later on that day, the whole family talked to friends, family who were calling on the phone, wishing them a Merry Christmas. It was a fun filled day, snacking, and playing with toys, and watching tv specials on TV. That evening they watched, as a family, the classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC on tv. Everyone got to sing along to the songs, when the music came on. Everyone hissed when the Baroness Elsa Schraeder came on screen...it was similar to the famous and upcoming SING A LONG's that were down the corner and gaining mass appeal.
Finally bed came...and as weary as Karen and Jon were, they were happy for the wonderful Christmas day. It couldn't have gotten any better.
Danny had just turned 5 years old on November 6, 1994 and Richard's children came over for the birthday party. Karen and Mary helped plan the festivities, and the whole house was filled with kids running here and there. Since all the kids birthdays filled July and onwards, they had been busy with birthday parties, so now that Danny's birthday was over, Karen was so thrilled to finally be over with birthdays until next July. She loved her kids so much, but a mother could only do so much, and that was the truth. She was just plain exhausted, but all her energy seemed to reappear in time for the Holidays. She knew this would be the last time she would have with the family for awhile especially since it had been over 21 months since she had been involved with Hollywood, and she had to get her career back on track. This was going to be a blockbuster year for her. 1995. She would be releasing another solo album. Another Carpenters album. A TV Special. A small part in a dramatic movie. And her biography would be released. And she would be celebrating her 45th birthday. Where had all the time gone?
Christmas Day, at the crack of dawn, the kids all woke up screaming and yelling, while Jon and Karen were attempting to catch a bit more sleep as they yelled at the kids to go back to bed. Everything quieted down for awhile, and they lay back attempting to get some more shut eye, but to no avail. They both felt guilty, so they threw back the covers and put on their bathrobes. As they were heading downstairs, Karen glanced at herself in the mirror, and laughed. She looked a mess. So she quickly brushed her teeth, ran a brush thru her hair and pronounced herself ready to go downstairs , and told their kids they could get up. Christmas only came once a year!
Danny loved his new bike, and Karen had to stop him from riding around the house. She didn't want the floor scratched up. Florine wouldn't be too happy. Lindsay loved her doll house, which had every accessories a little 4 year old girl could want. 3 year old Stephen liked his blocks, trucks, and even a cute Teddy Bear. 2 year old Cynthia loved her dress up doll, with the doll that crawled on the floor. Twins Katie and Kierra loved the wrapping paper more than their gifts. All the kids received gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Andrews, Grandma Carpenter, various Aunties and Uncles, family friends.
Jon and Karen had decided that the children received too many gifts which would spoil them, so they had to give some of the gifts which were unopened, to other kids less fortunate. They wanted to instill in their kids the importance of giving rather than receiving, and that they were very fortunate to be raised in a home which had material possessions. The kids didn't seem to mind giving some of their toys up. They had seen on television those kids who were starving in other parts of the world, and Karen even told them that even in their country, there were kids who had absolutely nothing, and suffered. She was thankful to have compassionate kids. Plus, her motto was, if something new comes into the house, something has to leave to make room.
Jon had given Karen a gift of beautiful emerald earrings offset with diamonds, and a beautiful, costly emerald gown, which was a Dior origional. Karen gasped in shock. He told her that she could wear it to the Grammy Awards in February. She hugged him. He was so good to her. She felt sad for all the wives who received blenders and pots and pans from their husbands. She gave Jon a brand new boat, which she had purchased. Her cousin Mark had helped her pick it out for Jon, as he knew that this was the one that Jon had had his eye on for the last while, but never told anyone. He was actually stunned speechless, when she led him to one of the outside sheds, and he spotted the huge boat wrapped up with a red bow. The kids had all come outside, and were jumping up and down. Afterwards they went back inside and dinner was being prepared, nothing too great. The real dinner would be held at Richard's home tomorrow in L.A. and Karen was excited to see the whole family again. Mom and Bernice would be flying down for the occasion.
That day, Jon built a fire, and the kids sat around, and they read the Luke story account of Jesus birth. Karen looked at her family, with love in her eyes. All this. She had finally gotten what she wanted...a family. She got all teary eyed, as she watched them, stretched around their family room. The room was messy, but it didn't bother her too much. She was spending quality time with the family, as she and Jon were sharing memories to their kids about Christmases past. Karen got all the kids laughing when she told them about the time she got a Machine Gun for Christmas when she was a little girl. They had a great laugh. Jon was reminiscing about the very cold winters he had as a child, and the wood he had to chop, along with his older brother, and keep the side of the house filled with piles of wood, neatly stacked.
Later on that day, the whole family talked to friends, family who were calling on the phone, wishing them a Merry Christmas. It was a fun filled day, snacking, and playing with toys, and watching tv specials on TV. That evening they watched, as a family, the classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC on tv. Everyone got to sing along to the songs, when the music came on. Everyone hissed when the Baroness Elsa Schraeder came on screen...it was similar to the famous and upcoming SING A LONG's that were down the corner and gaining mass appeal.
Finally bed came...and as weary as Karen and Jon were, they were happy for the wonderful Christmas day. It couldn't have gotten any better.
