Tag: Christmas
1994 Christmas
Christmas time is a big deal in the Kleiber family, it always had been. This year the entire basement was decorated for Christmas with about 50 animatronic carolers, angels, and elves. A full size nativity scene in a wooden manger was one of the main scenes, along with a holiday train display, a trio of angels over a nativity scene, a workshop complete with many elves, and a woodland of decorated Christmas trees with many Christmas figures gracing the landscape.
Blue tarp all around the basement set the backdrop for this Christmas adventure which was certainly inspired by Bronners display. The items that were usually in the basement were placed up against the wall and covered with Christmas lights. On top of the Christmas lights cotton snow was placed, then dozens of small Christmas trees with animatronic characters completed the scene.
Dinner rotated each year between Ham and Roast Beef. Grandma Loretta did not want to use turkey since everyone had some already at Thanksgiving.
Christmas 1993
This year we focused on adding Santas workshop and more elves. We had three already but we added a couple from Bronners which were by far the most expensive things in the display. They don’t even call the elves but they call them sprites. Anyhow they look good in the display.
We also went to a store called Kaufmanns and bought some of the Dicken Village houses from them. This is making our little Christmas village look a little more respectable as we know some collectors do this for decades.
We found a Marley and Scrooge house in the Dickens village and bought the characters including the three ghosts from the story. This is my favorite of the village houses even though it probably is the least Christmas looking of the bunch, it would be more appropriate for a haunted village but I don’t think those exist…yet.
Christmas 1992
We started a third wall, about half, giving us a staple looking display this year. More decorations were added including more full size Christmas Trees. The Christmas trees hanging down from the ceiling are a pain to set up but really look nice. We have to remove the light cover, tie the Christmas tree up, power it from the lightbulb socket using an adapter, then staple the first row of branches to the ceiling. The procedure is reversed after the new year to take them down, also a tedious procedure.
The rest of the display sets up quickly again with the boxes as foundation and blue tarp as background sky. Where we do not have boxes we have to use full size trees or decorations. As the display grows it is getting more difficult to find room for the life size nativity scene, which is really what Christmas is all about. We may end up moving it outside which is really where it belongs since it is an outside blowmold decoration.
Again a very successful party and my mothers idea for a Christmas party at the house is slowly turning into a family tradition.
Christmas 1991
The third Christmas Party once again was at our house and this year we bought even more decorations. Once again we hung tarp up for the background. Anything that was in the basement before was packed up and placed into boxes. These boxes were placed up against the tarp and lights were put over the boxes. The lights were all plugged into power strips placed strategically around the display.
Once again snow was placed on top of the lights and thus we had a complete foundation for the Christmas display. The storage boxes were completely hidden by the lit up snow and looked great against the blue tarp background. From here it was just a matter of adding the animatronics and small Christmas Trees.
The first year we decorated like this we only did one wall of the basement, second year a wall and a half, this year we did that wall and finished the second wall completely which made it into an L shape that really captured a small part of a Bronners look to the display.
Christmas 1990
Once again we had the Christmas party in the basement and Loretta enjoyed cooking a massive feast for everyone.
This year Mark came and we did not know at the time it would be his last Christmas with us. He had a great time and what I remember most was him playing with Pepper, our dog.
Pepper did not get along with everyone, well to be honest she didn’t get along with anyone. She was part schnauzer and part poodle, a mix known as a schnoodle. She would not hesitate to bite someone, although her bite never really hurt. However she got along great with Mark, giving him her paw and doing tricks for him. Mark was always good with animals but getting along with Pepper was rare.
Once again the party was a big success and everyone had a great time. Gifts were exchanged and we also added a couple more animations to the display. We also hung white Christmas trees upside down for the lights, an idea we got from a Christmas store up north near Cadillac MI.
Christmas 1989
Loretta wanted to have Christmas at the house this year so I went out and bought a couple small animations to help decorate the basement. Since my father pretty much was living in the living room due to medical complications we had no choice but to work on the basement.
We went out and bought a couple of blue tarps that would act as a background and a few small trees. We then took strands of lights and laid them on top of boxes, then covered them with “snow” (actually cotton rolls that you can buy at Christmas time). The lights beneath the snow gave it a soft glow that looked really cool.
The party was a big success and we decided to do it again the next year.
Christmas 1988
In the past Mark would set up his Christmas Train display in the living room, however this year the display was set up in the basement. This year Mark really outdid himself as the display was very elaborate. This year Mark is having a little fun with the billboards in his display as he placed a school picture of Criss in the billboard. These are strategically placed around the display because Mark has a video tape in his train engine so everytime it goes by the billboard, a picture of Criss (that she hates) is displayed on the TV.
Once again Christmas dinner was upstairs and put together by Aunt Louise and Ron. Ron is taking cooking classes in college and is making some excellent dishes for the holidays. A great time was had by all, but was their really any doubt.
Christmas 1986
This was a very special Christmas as there was a surprise visitor who came to see Natalie. The visitors name was none other than Santa Clause and let me tell you, getting the one and only Santa to show up at a Christmas party on Christmas day is no easy feat. Santa had a very busy day yesterday (Christmas Eve) so that made this visit all the more special.
The Christmas day fun was only beginning as after Santa’s visit everyone opened up gifts and had a grand ol time. Natalie especially enjoyed the day and why not, its not every Christmas you get to see the one and only Santa Claus in person.
Christmas 1982
Sandy and her family were in town for this celebration, along with her mom Aunt Terese, and the Trenton home never looked more festive for a holiday celebration as it did today, with an angel these both on the tree and on the dinner table. A very nice touch.
The Trenton house has been a fixture for so many parties taking place throughout the years that we lost count. In fact one could say every weekend was a party atmosphere as the family get together for a meal and then a card game. All are welcome and everyone knows where you will find members of the family on Saturday, at the Trenton house playing cards
James Dad was in Korea at the time and was unable to attend, but her heard nothing but good things from everyone in their letters about Christmas so he felt like he was there.
Christmas 1981
James Dad was in the army and missed this years Christmas in Trenton. The Trenton house has a huge picture window that goes from the ground to nearly the ceiling which makes it ideal for displays that can be seen not only from the inside dining room but also the outside. With that in mind a large Christmas tree in the picture window is about as close to a Christmas tradition as we have.
One thing about any visit to Trenton, whether it was for a birthday or holiday, the evening always ended with a game of cards. Pinocle was the game of choice and the Trenton card players were extremely good at the game. So much so that years later the “little friends” would challenge the sisters Loretta and Louise to a pinocle game each year on Labor Day at Camp Dearborn. The final score after 4 years of battle was Loretta and Louise 4, the little friends 1.
