Thanksmas

   Thanksmas a term invented by my Dad's side of the family to represent the holidays we celebrate on Thanksgiving. As Dad's family grew and families got bigger Grandma Tielke wanted to see everyone for all holiday's but knew that it would not work so she started just bringing Christmas gifts to give on Thanksgiving when we were all together. So we started celebrating Thanksgiving for lunch and then transitioned into Christmas in the afternoon with gifts and Christmas trees. Not everyone is able to make it each year but many try to come for some or all of the day and it is always a great time. This was the second Thanksmas without Grandma and boy was she missed. This was also a special Thanksmas as Patti is still with us. She was diagnosed with a type of bone Cancer in August and there have been many time that we were not sure how much longer she had. But with many prayers, her strong will to live, and a loving God we were able to celebrate this Thanksmas with her in her home.
    November 21-27
 Monday the girls both had school and we stayed home and worked on unpacking from the weekend and getting stuff ready to leave on Wednesday to head to O'Neill. Charlotte the cat finally decided that maybe the kids are not so bad and finally let Becca and then later Alec pet her and play with her.

  Tuesday we took the girls to school and worked on laundry and packing for the weekend. Mike worked late and so the kids and I had an evening of playing. Wednesday the kids did not have school so Elly the neighbor came over to play. We went to Walmart then grabbed some lunch and went to the children's museum. The kids had a great time playing. After that we took Elly home we came home and loaded the car and headed for O'Neill. 

Giant Operation

The Ambulance Driver and his patients

Rachel was the receptionist and I was the Dr.

At the market

Planting the vegetables

Pirate Becca!

   The kids were so excited to get to Sandi's to meet baby Axel. Becca loved snuggling him! Thursday we spent the day at Patti's then stayed overnight again with Sandi. Friday we got up and packed our things and headed to Atkinson to pick up Ansley and Kinley, then to Grandma Kohle's for a quick visit before heading out to mom and dad's. We watched the football game then Mike and I meet up with Nicky, Clay, Bill and Laura at the new brewery in Atkinson. Mom and the kids watched a movie while we were gone. Saturday we got up early and headed home.

Her favorite part of the day.

All the Cousins together!

The Tielke cousins that were there for the day.

Alec got his shirt and pants wet so he wanted to change. I didn't have another shirt so this is what Grandpa Bill did for him.

He loves baby Axel

Becca held Axel every chance she got.

Baby boy is getting so big already.

   We came back to North Platte Saturday afternoon and then Nick, Melissa, and the kids, Pat, Wanda, Phyllis, and Auntie J had dinner with us. Nick and Melissa stayed overnight and then headed home on Sunday. Rachel and I went to church and then to Walmart to get some Christmas stuff. The kids each ended up with a tree in their room this year. Alec loves to have his on while he sleeps. The girls think their tree is too bright and can't sleep with it plugged in. We also got all the other Christmas decorations up in the house on Sunday. The tree I got last year after Christmas was too tall so I had to get Mike's help to cut the bottom off so it would fit. Once it fit in front of the window we got it decorated and I love it!

She wanted it to look like she was falling into the tree.

The finished product!