Christmas 1988 - Dad and Uncle Dale

A rare photo of Dad and Uncle Dale together. Here they are at Grandma Alice and Grandpa Louie's house.

Christmas 1988 - Jean and Les

Our family hadn't been up north to be with Mom and Dad's families for Christmas since 1971. We spent just about every Thanksgiving with them but due to music commitments for church we stayed home for Christmas. In 1988 Grandpa Les was in the hospital for an operation just before Christmas. We went up for Christmas that year to be closer to Grandma Jean and to be available to help while Grandpa was in the hospital. I noted in my journal that being up there for Christmas was "just like Thanksgiving only with ham instead of turkey." In the above photos you see Grandma Jean with Grandpa Les shortly after he came home for Christmas. This was the last Christmas I would spend with them. Jean died in 1991 and Les died in 1992.

MN State Fair 2011

Why am I writing about the State Fair for a Christmas blog? Well, Dale and I went to the Fair last night and at the Agriculture/Horticulture building we saw the prize winning Christmas trees. When we walked through the area in which they are displayed the scent of pine was wonderfully overwhelming. It's the first time I've even noticed Christmas trees at the fair and I must say they were some of the most perfectly conical tree I've ever seen. There were prize winning wreaths too.

Christmas 1988 - Grandma Alice

Grandma Alice with grandson Sam to the left and Pete to the right. Three of her great-grandchildren, all Debbie and Larry's kids, are also in the picture.

Christmas 1988 - Opening Presents

Left to Right: My cousin Deb barely makes it in the picture. Next to Deb is her husband Larry. Uncle Dale is on the chair with the door behind him and Aunt Alice Mae is in front of him openening a present. Grandpa Louie is in his easy chair and opening a present as well.

Christmas 1988 - Cousin Diane

Here's my cousin Diane and her other boy at Grandma Alice and Grandpa Lou's house.

Christmas 1988 - Sam

Because Grandpa Les was having health trouble and in the hospital in Duluth in 1988 we decided to spend Christmas in Two Harbors for the first time since 1971. In the photo above is Sam and one of my cousin Diane's boys at Grandma Alice and Grandpa Lue's house.

Christmas 1989 Part 2

Christmas 1989 Part 1

Christmas 1990s

The following is from the book A Century of Christmas Memories 1900-1999:

"Jim Henson's irreverent and lovable gang starred in 1992's A Muppet Christmas Carol, helping kick off the nineties on a happy note. Yuletides this decade were marked by events like the December 1991 release of hostage Terry Anderson and the 1995 launch of online auction site eBay. Blockbuster movies included holiday hit Home Alone, A Nightmare Before Christmas, The Santa Clause, and Toy Story also entertained seasonal audiences. Plush purple Barneys, Beanie Babies, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Tickle Me Elmos, and Furbys were among the decade's top Christmas gifts. It was the end of an era with Bob Hope's last USO Christmas tour during Operation Desert storm, but his warmth and humor remain a gift to treasure."