Thankmas

My immediate family has been celebrating Thankmas (i.e. celebrating Christmas during Thanksgiving weekend) for the last several years. The timing works well for my oldest brother and family who drive up from DeMotte, IN, and for my little sister who flies in from Oakland, CA.

Bucking tradition has now become our tradition.

How do we celebrate Thankmas? See below...

Cousins playing games

This picture represents a minor part of what the guys do which
usually involves fire, guns, tractors, fixing things or cutting wood.
In this photo, Joel is shooting and my oldest brother, Elton, is observing.

My oldest niece, Alex, loving on Sam

Grandpa even cleared out his garage (heated) so the kids could
play ping-pong and run around and scream until their
hearts were content.

A few gifts were opened by the grand kids. We went minimalist
this year and it was nice. We cut out adult gifts, stockings (except Gma)
and even the cousins chose names.

Sam checking out his new building blocks

Emma received a digital camera for Christmas and I caught
her TELLING her much older cousin to "sit and smile!" I wonder
where she's heard that before :)

Crazy Aunty Emily from California always has some body deforming
"treat" for all the nieces. Last year it was henna tattoos, this year, hair dye. Emma begged and begged and we finally agreed to a strip of hot-pink
wash-out color. Thanks Emily! Can't wait to see what you bring next year.
It better not include a needle, bar of soap and ice cubes.

Emma in "big girl" heaven...getting her hair "dyed" like
all her older, girl cousins.

NOTE: let me add that mass carnage also took place over Thankmas, but I surprisingly took no pictures of that.