Holiday Season 2019 - A Christmas Story & The Shark's Tooth Tiki Bar

Friday, November 29, 2019

Lunch with cousin Leo today. We had a wonderful time visiting with him. After lunch Pete and Steph had to go to work so Mom and I stayed home with the kids. We watched Christmas Story which Abby, Xander, and Emma had never seen before. They seemed to really like it. 

After the movie we had dinner and then opened up the tiki bar Abby set up. Abby and I made up a tiki drink just for the evening. The beverage was made with about a third of an average sized tub of rainbow sherbet, one cup of Hawaiian Punch, and one cup of pineapple juice all stirred together. We divided it into 5 glasses and then topped each glass off with ginger ale. It turned out great and it was enjoyed by all!

By the way, Emma named the drink the Shark Bite and I named the tiki bar the Shark's Tooth Tiki Lounge. 

Christmas Eve 2017

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Sent the above picture to Sam and Pete.

Sam texted back that they got a white Christmas. I texted back that that's pretty good for Kansas.

Pete texted back that they are doing cheese fondue at their house.

Advent Calendar - December 1

This are the pieces for the Advent calendar for December 1st. Mom made this calendar for Pete.

Emma's Christmas Picture

Emma made this on my iPad (with a lot of support from me and Dale) during our Thanksgiving 2012 visit to Pete and his family in Arkansas.

Abby's Christmas Picture

Abby made this on my iPad (with minimal support) during a visit to Pete and his family in Arkansas for Thanksgiving 2012.

Christmas Season 2011 - The Swedish Institute Part 2

As kids Mom used to read Sam, Pete and I The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren. I loved the story and was delighted when Mom visited my classroom this year and read it to the kids. The receiving room at the Swedish Institute was decked out with a bunch of Tomtens and you can see some in the above photo. Actually, if you look to the right of the picture you can see one of a couple that were in the fireplace. You can see me snapping the photo in the mirror above.

Christmas 2011 - A Charlie Brown Christmas

Dale and I caught A Charlie Brown Christmas on television the other night. It's my favorite holiday special. Sam, Pete and I loved watching this as kids and waited with anticipation for it to be on.

Christmas 1970 - The Manger Scene

1970 is the first year that the whole manger scene appears in a photograph. The Mary, Joseph and Jesus figures, along with an angel appear in a photo from 1968. Mom made all the figures and Dad built the wooden form to house them. The manger scene is now in the possesion of Pete's family.

Christmas 1974

Christmas 1974 is the only Christmas I remember where we had guests stay with us. Mom's mom and dad, Grandma Jean and Grandpa Les, came to stay with us for the holiday along with Mom's brother, Uncle Denny, and his wife, Aunt Marlene. These pictures really make me sentimental for Christmas past.

Christmas 1975 - Pete's First Christmas Part 2

Pete didn't do too badly his first Christmas. He got all of us! Of course, the rest of us did pretty well too. After all, we got the world's cutest baby!

Christmas 1975 - Pete's First Christmas Part 1

Pete was just about one month old in these photos.

Christmas 1975 - Joe, Sam, Pete

Sam, Pete & Joe

Christmas 1975 - Opening Presents

Christmas 1978 - Pete's New Ted

Here Pete happily shows off his new teddy bear.

Christmas 1978 - Opening Presents

Note Mom's pencil and pad of paper to write down who sent various presents so that thank you notes could be sent. Pete's old ted is on the floor next to him.

Christmas 1978 - Joe, Sam & Pete

Early Christmas morning.

Christmas 1979 - Decorating the Tree

As in the previous post, notice how the tree is on different sides of the fireplace. One of the slides got reversed when taken to the photo shop. The bottom photo shows the tree on the correct side.

Christmas 1979 - Opening Presents Part 2

Mom remembers Underoos being one of Pete's favorite presents. Underoos were a matching brief and t-shirt set and usually had a super hero theme. Here Pete models.

Christmas 1979 - Opening Presents Part 1

After Christmas morning mass we opened presents. In the bottom picture it looks like Pete is ready to get started! Note that the tree is on different sides of the fireplace in the top and bottom photos. When I brought the original slides that were developed from Dad's 35mm film to the photo shop to be transferred to DVD, they reversed one of the slides. The top photo has the tree on the correct side.

Christmas 1979 - Pete's Tree

Pete displays his ornaments and his tree. He's 4 years old here.