Saturday, March 28, 2009

Ghost of Easter Past

Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers for my family during the loss of my grandmother. I am so grateful.

After my last Wordless Wednesday post I knew I'd have some explaining to do. The picture is a bit deceiving. M to the Izz-A did in fact throw Kate up into the air, and while it was higher than I would have liked, it is not as high as it looks. My cousin Ben snapped the pic and because the tree limbs start pretty low on that particular tree, it makes is look as if she's extremely high. Or at least that's the story I keep telling myself. As you can tell, I'm trying to convince myself just as much as I'm trying to convince all of you.

With Easter around the corner, I thought it would be fun to revisit a few Easters photos from way back when. (Fun for you all, not so much me....you'll see why.)

I've always loved Easter. Til this day, I still think of coloring Easter eggs every time I smell vinegar. The eggs, the hunt, the Easter dress, and that annoying fake grass in the bottom of my basket, I love it all. But I have to tell you, when it came to the Easter egg hunt at Grandma's house, most everyone stayed out of my way. I was all business and didn't like losing, although I did... a lot. Not only did I want to win by finding the most eggs, but I also wanted to find the prize egg, which was always one of those egg-shaped containers that Grandma's Leggs Pantyhose (shade: Suntan) came in. Why did people ever think that buying suntan colored pantyhose really made them look like they had a tan?? Did they think that everyone would think that their legs had somehow gotten tanned and that their ivory arms missed the rays? Or that the big seam running across their toes while hanging out of her strappy heels didn't provide a clue?)

Let's take a look at a few Easter photos from the good ole days...the days when Aussie Scrunch Spray ruled and posing came easy.


We'll start out easy (on me). I'm the babe in my mom's arms.

No doubt my dad is the winner in this pic. The perm and the 'stache...well, they speak for themselves. Props to my mom for making her daughters wear their Easter hats, which I think was a requirement for Easter Sunday services back then, and for labeling this photo...with a snippet of notebook paper and tape. And that of course is Sal Gal in the front. The only one who appears to be truly happy. It must be those perfectly straight, blunt cut bangs.


Next is brown on brown. I'd say that 80% of my childhood pictures are brown-tinged. This is me with Sal Gal. As you can see, I had already busted into my chocolate bunny, before the sun came up I'm sure.





Ahhh yes, now we're getting somewhere. Here I am with Big Al....and a lion's mane worth of hair. Last night's bangs obviously still intact, fly backs still flying.




And here I am on a mission. A mission to be the Easter egg hunt champ. Unfortunately I didn't win this particular year and I can only assume it was because my hair weighed more than my body, which totally messed with my speed.




Wow. Really? The toe point, the bangs...and I very well could have benefited from wearing suntan colored pantyhose, over my entire body!





This particular year I chose the nautical/sailor girl look. And I can almost guarantee that I had a brushed out perm in this pic. I think I had a brushed out perm throughout most of my childhood. I'd get a perm and then hate it, and try to brush it out. Needless to say I was unsuccessful in my attempts. And although I used to make fun of Sal Gal and her friends for laying their hair across the ironing board and ironing each other's hair, I'm thinking I should have slapped my head on that board and let them go to town. Thank goodness I couldn't get this pic to zoom in more than this.




I remember taking this picture. Again, with the hair. Why?! This particular year I gave the nautical look to Sal Gal and went for a more flower girl look, hat and all. But I think Big Al wins this one with those bangs (or lack of) . I distinctly remember that she cut them herself. And if you've ever done this, you know there is absolutely nothing you can do to make them look any better. My mom was horrified. Out of three of us, if anyone was going to cut their own bangs, it was Big Al. The same Big Al that while at church one Sunday, walked through the church doors and because the doors closed so quickly it caught the sleeve of her dress in it. Well, instead of opening the door to release her sleeve, she just jerked her arm really hard and ripped off part of her dress and kept walking. Yep, that's Ali in a nutshell.


To post this last pic I had to lay all pride aside. Can you say awkward phase?
I mean, I understand the Easter bunny leaving you Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies. But did he have to leave me his teeth?!! I'd like to give a shout-out to Dr. Geiger and associates for their time and dedication to my grill during the early nineties. Holla!

Here's to hoping that this year's family Easter photo is missing flybacks, bunny teeth, and unibrows.



25 comments:

Heather said...

I love looking at old pictures, but not sure I am as brave as you to post them! Thanks for sharing, they were fun to look at and you were such a cute kid! You always crack me up, I didn't see any unibrows!

Pamela said...

Hollie, I know this kinda depressing and really sad, but these were the good old days! :) These pics bring back so many good memories!

MiMi said...

You are so funny! I love all the "captions" that went along with the pictures. How fun to see these old pictures! You were such a cute kid and you couldn't be more adorable now!

Unknown said...

I enjoyed looking at your pictures! You were adorable!

Kristy said...

Nice. I think I may be hearing the Ghost of Easter Past calling my name. You are my inspiration.

Perfectly Imperfect said...

You crack me up! These old pics are a hoot!!

I think I had most of the same outfits you did... Gracious...

Running In Stilettos said...

We totally would have been BFFs back in the day! I had the exact same out of control wavy hair, accompanied by the feathered back bangs that took over the entire top of my head!

~Mrs. Guru~ said...

I always love looking back at old photos!

Kerri said...

Old pictures are the best! Yep...Kate looks nothing like you as a kid...Well except she has your LOOOOOONG legs! Love the last picture!

shalay said...

Haha this is great! I love seeing old, embarrassing photos. We all have them! I know I have my fair share of big hair, poofy shoulders pads, and funny Easter hat pictures. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

OMG Hollie,
Great post! I love all of your pics. I especially live the shout out to your dentist. Enjoy your Easter.

mandy rose said...

This was such an adorable post! Loved all the old school pics!

I am still thinking about you and praying for you. Losing a grandparent can be sooo tough!

Jon and Steph said...

I loved these old picture! and the hair.... too funny! Thanks for sharing!

Nessa said...

LOVE this post, LOL, hilarious. The pictures are priceless..;) Happy early Easter to you!!

Kasey said...

you have a darling blog, don't know quite how i ended up here.
off to peruse.
xoxo

Bridget said...

OH my I am in tears laughing reading this! I was born in 1980 too and all your pictures look just like mine(but mine are way worse) Remember Blossom? I wore a huge hat to church on easter with the front glue gunned folded up and a huge flower on it. I'll have to do a flashback on it...maybe not LOL..thanks for a good laugh. (but why did he have to leave the teeth)...this is why I love your blog!!!!!!LOL

Q, La, and Gooner said...

You shall henceforth be known as the "hot girl with awesome hair." I love it!-La.

Sassytimes said...

I think you should rock the perm again this Easter. ;)

Lane said...

Ok that is hysterical!! Brings back some good memories from the good ol 90's!

Anonymous said...

Love the pictures!! and the hair!

Lindsay said...

Those were great! Now I want to dig out my old photos. Too funny, thanks for sharing......

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh you are hilarious!!! The last one about the teeth brought the LOL's for sure!!!

Kasey said...

I am so glad someone else mentioned the teeth one b/c I was laughing out loud. I have always thought you had a pretty smile.

JAMIE said...

So, you inspired me to get on Facebook and create an entire album of olf family pics. They're hysterical!

momofmoddy said...

Those are the most beautiful pics and precious memories.......I remember every detail...my 3 girls..took a lot of dressing but ya'll were beautiful to me!