Friday, August 15, 2008

Picture Memories ... Past and Present

Today I'd like to share with you a picture I gave my daughter Whitney for her birthday last November. This first picture is of Whitney when she was around three years old (33 years ago!), dressed in a dance costume sitting and waiting for her group to perform at a dance recital.

I just couldn't bear to get rid of all of her old costumes and shoes, and remembered them last Halloween when we were trying to come up with a Halloween costume for Whitney's daughter, Avery Grace, who was two at the time.

I went to the attic and found the box of dance costumes which were just like new. After trying on several, we chose that same costume her mama wore for her dance recital. It fit Avery perfectly and brought back so many memories of her mama wearing it 33 years ago.

I took this picture of Whitney and Avery that Halloween night ...

Whitney's birthday is November 3rd, just a few days after Halloween, and I decided to surprise her with a picture of her and Avery wearing the costume. I was excited as I edited the pictures and put the collage together, but the impact of it didn't hit me until I printed the picture and saw the two of them together. It was like Whitney was looking 33 years into the future and seeing her little girl ...

Needless to say, I burst into tears when I saw the printed picture, and if I remember correctly, Whitney was pretty teary-eyed, too, when she opened it on her birthday.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those pictures are adorable and who could blame a proud Grandma and Momma for a few tears. What a wonderful memory to have pictures of.

Gretchen
birdnestcottage.typepad.com

Unknown said...

Janie,
What a sweet and precious story! Kelli and Whitney are exactly the same age. I have lots of pictures with costumes like this....but we didn't save the costumes!

Kelli's mother in law has lots of Connor and Cooper's dad's ball playing shirts and stuff. I'm sure she feels just like you do! Avery Grace is adorable! Nothing like grandkids is it?
Have a great day,
Diane

Linda S H said...

What a neat story Janie! Thanks for sharing your story with us. I loved seeing the pictures of Whitney and Avery Grace together! Especially the one on the porch! Isn't it great to be a Grandma??? It does bring tears to your eyes though at times when you see things like that and think back to when our "Babies" were still at home.

bj said...

Well, guess what, Janie...I'm sitting here with tears in MY eyes, too...such a sweet, sweet photo! Boo Hooooo...they all grow up so fast !!

StitchinByTheLake said...

How cute is that! My girls had all those costumes too but I didn't save them. Later I sure wished I had. What a great idea to have the two pictures. blessings, marlene

nikkicrumpet said...

OH how precious to see the two of them together in that adorable little costume. I'd frame those pictures side by side!

Laura said...

What a wonderful idea! I wish my mom had done something like this for me!

Karin said...

I tried to leave a comment the other day, but this post just had me in tears and I had to go hug my little ones. I think it's wonderful that you saved those costumes. My daughter has a trunk full of princess dresses and hats and gloves. She loves to dress herself (and her little brother!)and play Princess.

I've tried to be very selective in saving little bits and pieces to pass along for my grandchildren one day. It's hard for me to throw ANYTHING out. I cried when it was time to part with baby bedding and little baby things. It just goes so fast.

But, isn't it sweet to get to share those beloved things with your sweet grandchild?