Trinitiee Allen of Festus got a great gift last year for Christmas: her baby sister, Brooklyn, born Dec. 25. Their mother, Jamiee Allen of Festus, took this photo.
Santa brought an extra-special gift to brothers Broxtyn, then 8, left, and Brynen Johnson, 5, in December 2009. The jolly old elf arrived with a golden retriever puppy, later named Goldie. The boys are the sons of Matt and Batina Johnson of Festus.
Samantha DeClue of Crystal City took this shot of her sleepy son, Nathaniel DeClue, then 2, at the end of the day last Christmas. “He was so tired at the end of the day that he fell asleep while playing in his room,” she says.
Rochelle Davis of Barnhart says her father made this dollhouse for her granddaughter, his great-granddaughter, in 1989.
Bonnie Sampson of De Soto captured her three children, Abbi, Ethan and Nick on Christmas morning after they opened presents.
Melissa Rickermann of Festus took this picture on Christmas Eve 2010 of, from left, brother and sister Cole and Abigail Rickermann, and their cousin, Tyler Isaacson. “With these cousins being neighbors, every snow day is a great one,” she says. “They spend their time sledding, snowboarding, building forts and throwing snowballs.”
Rosemary Graham of De Soto recalls the times when her family would get together to attend the Christmas programs held at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. “We always enjoyed the play and being together,’ she says. From left, Kelsey, then 8, April, 5, and Paige, 8, in the lobby of the Jefferson College Fine Arts Theater in 1997.
Getting a photo of her grandchildren isn’t an easy task. So Donna Portell of De Soto ordered them to “be silly.” From left, Allison, Emma, Milo, Frances and Abby.
Rochelle Davis of Barnhart’s photo preserves a memory. Her first grandchild is having the most fun ever in 1985,with the box a toy came in rather than any toys themselves.
JoAnn Feldges of Hillsboro sent in a photo she took during a family Thanksgiving get-together in 2010 of the grandchildren of Carole Smith of Festus. Back, from left, Jackson Greenstone, Miles Greenstone and Alec Feldges. Front, from left, Sage Feldges, Stanton Greenstone and Nya Greenstone.
Denise Dill of De Soto took this picture in 2010 of Joan Wills of Festus with Wills’ granddaughters, all wearing matching PJs – from left, Novella, Augustine and Penelope Wills, all of De Soto. The girls are the daughters of Dill’s brother, Scoey Wills.
Charlotte O’Dell of Herculaneum took this picture of her grandchildren at her home on Christmas Eve 2010. From left are Trevor Forshee, Morgan Partney, Macy Pope, Erin Partney and Lauren Partney.
Donna Geary of Hillsboro has kept track of her cat, Jake, in his quest to see Santa under the tree.
Dena Redfern of Imperial took this picture of her granddaughter, Zoie, during a visit to Santa Claus in Kimmswick in 2010.
Kelly Geiler of Festus sent in this picture of son Alex’s first-grade class at Our Lady School in Festus, taken in December 2010.
Donny and Gina Whitehead of Festus were blessed with two grandsons in one year. Weston Gant, 3 weeks, and Wyatt Wallman, 11 months, posed together on Thanksgiving. “We have more and more to be thankful for every year,” Gina Whitehead says.
Catherine Williams of Festus submitted this photo of her grandchildren, 6-year-old Kaidyn, left, and Kamaryn Stanfill flanking their cousins, Brynen, 6, and Broxtyn Johnson, 9, at a Breakfast with Santa event in 2010.
Heather Shadowens of Festus took this sweet photo last Christmas of her daughter, 5-month-old Aubrianna Trenholm, giving a smooch to big sister Clara Trenholm, 9.