Monday, November 22, 2010

Thanks-mas is on the way!!**EDITS AT THE END..

For anyone not knowing about Thank-mas...it's a thing with our family that started when the Colorado contingency came to Thanksgiving one year with the grands and we sent the back with all their wrapped  Christmas gifts...and we didn't get to see them open them..nor they see us open ours..



The next year, my sister Gerri & her daughter Lisa representing Arizona came as well..and left with wrapped packages.

We thought.."maybe we should have Christmas while they're all out here..but that seems a little extreme..so "Thanks-mas" was born..


Thanks-mas 09

They arrive at various times on Wednesday..we have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday..

Friday anyone who wants to {required of the girls} gets up at 4am and does the Black Friday thing..{usually just to see of we can hit all the freebies}



The guys join us about 9am for a breakfast out..then it's sight-seeing, or more shopping, football games and left-overs.


Thanks-mas 08
Friday night is then like Christmas Eve..last minute wrapping, excitement, card games, watching Christmas movies, hot chocolate drinking..


Thanks-mas 05

Saturday morning is "Thanks-mas" morning..everyone meets in the living room in their jammies to open presents, see all the happiness and make big 'ol wrapping paper messes..


Thanks-mas 04

Sunday they all head back to their respective states..and have their own traditional Christmas with no worries  (and no shipping of presents!)

It's a "win-win" for all, but especially the younger ones..2 Christmases in one year!

This year, a blizzard is forcasted for late Tuesday and the early hours on Wednesday..which could cause hazardous conditions as the storm moves towards our drivers..




We are watching the weather forecasts and we know they will make the right choices as to the travel to our home..

We hope for the best..and would be so sad not to have them..but nothing is worth their safety..even Thanks-mas..

So wish them well and our prayers to all who are traveling this week..

-me

17 comments:

Pearl said...

The blizzard is on here too but I wish your family the safest of drives and flights. I love the tradition you guys came up with how cool. Be careful out there.

RoeH said...

I love traditions. Every family has their own unique times and that is so cool.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Brilliant!!!

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Re: My rant

PLEASE send me a LINK to where the whole story is told, and I will post it!!!!!!!!!!!

Karen said...

I love it when families figure out the best thing for them and let it become their tradition. Have a wonderful Thanks-mas!

Vee said...

I'll join you in praying for traveling mercies for all those who make that decision and for those who remain home that Thanksgiving will be extra special all the same.

What a great idea Thankmas is! I imagine that you'll have a lot of those who are separated by many miles thinking about the possibilities.

Ming said...

Safe travels to all your contingencies and a very happy Thanks-mas to you and yours! What a neat idea for families spread out over a wide geography and can't do Christmas together.
Happy Turkey Day Colleen.
This year, I am thankful I started my blog and found yours.

June said...

I love thinking about your family on Thanksgiving weekend. Your Thanks-mas is wonderful! Safe travels to all your loved ones; at least the snow will make it very ho-ho-ho. Love to you, Colleen, from all of us in Maine...

A Wild Thing said...

You are NOT sending that my direction are you...yesterday it was 70 with tornado watches, today the 20's...GEESH!!!

Safe travel for you and yours and have a wonderful Thanksmas...what a concept...leave it to the incredible Mr. B...........think Spring!!!

s

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It's not looking good.
I love your Thanks-mas, that is a great idea. I can't stand the shipping anymore but we just can't get together to do something like that. I mail to Florida, Wisconsin, Texas, Kansas, Arizona, North Carolina and Illinois. I am doing ALL gift cards next year, no exceptions!!!

Shane Pollard said...

Hi Colleen
I'll be thinking of all my American bloggers tomorrow Thursday so "Happy Happy Thanks-mas 2010" to everyone in your house from everyone in our house on the other side of the world!!!

I think it's such a wonderful celebration and I heard on the radio that it's "the busiest time"
for travelling, be it air or road.
I was amazed it is bigger than Christmas which is our big family get together time.

Please enlighten me - what is the black Friday thing and why do you get up at 4am????

Take care
hugs
Shane

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

I understand about your comment showing 3 times! I've had that happen to me toooooo. It'll say "too long." I break it up, into 3 parts and send. It shows up, the whole thing anyway. -duhhhhh- I know! I know! Just thank you for sending me the link!

Best wishes for the traveling of your family!!! Hope you'll do a quick post, when they land. So your Dear Readers can stop worrying about them. :-)

I passed your "Thank-mas" idea along yesterday, and it was received as Brilliant! It might spread here, to the "North Country".
:-)

Gentle hugs...

Breezy said...

I love the Thanks- Mas idea! Fantastic.
You have the best of both worlds.

Vee said...

So how's it going? I'm thinking power outages or something at this point. Keeping you guys in my thoughts and prayers.

Vicki/Jake said...

Hi again Colleen..
Hope you're having a GREAT holiday with your family today. Makes me remember my grandparents version..Thanksgiving-Christmas which was the same idea. As a kid it was funner than the regular holidays for sure. We didn't get the blizzard they warned about but it sure is cold! Hope all got there fine and will get home safe too. Love to all your family. Keep us posted.

Unknown said...

hope you are having a great Thanksgiving day with your family. I think it's a brilliant idea what you came up with Thankmas! perfect.

diane b said...

That sounds like a good idea for a tradition. No posts since Monday so i hope you weren't damaged by the blizzard. That sounded nasty. Hope you and all your family are safe.

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