Thanks-mas is going to the "dogs"...

Kobe scores the ball from Emily

"Thanks-Mas"..for those who are new to my blog, or have not heard the story, let me explain...

We have family so not close to us (in distance not in heart) .

As in other states.

Not Utah.

And, because we wanted to see the kids and the grandkids open their presents, and they wanted to see us open theirs, we decided to have "Thanks-Mas"..a combination of Thanksgiving (which many of my family travel to Utah to have with us) and Christmas (the holiday where you'd love to have the kids, but they're grown and have their own traditions, experiences, etc.) at one time.

Gorgeous Kobe - with snow all around his collar...

So, it's turkey on Thursday, then Black Friday shopping for the girls, and breakfast with the men at about 10-ish - then off to see Wheeler Farm, or Thanksgiving Point or Gardner Village.

The evening is like Christmas Eve - a scurry of wrapping, giggling, talking and card playing.

Saturday morning then becomes "Christmas" with all meeting on the family room - in Pj's - and opening presents and playing the White Elephant game. "Christmas" dinner is served, pie eaten and bags packed for the Sunday departure times.

Sad times. Very sad times.

Ever tried to play "catch" with a snowball??

Well, as the grandkids grow and get jobs ( many in retail..or banking) fewer are getting the Friday after Thanksgiving off.

So this year, to have the maximum number of kids and grands able to come, we moved "Thanks-Mas" up to the Veteran's Day week-end.

How does Veter-Thanks-Mas day sound??

And, as families grow, so does the pet population. April & Chris had a friend watch their 2 dogs ( Riley and Sophie) & 2 cats (Ty and Tiki), and Brian & Tessa drove from the Phoenix area with Kobe- pictured above.

He's a beauty of a Healer-Lab mix that is just a pup - but mannerly and sweet as can be.

Auntie April tries to give kisses to Spec - Lisa's little "couch hugger"

and no, she didn't get one...

Then there were Dot and Spec..2 more Arizonians of my niece Lisa's. ( Bishon Frese and Maltese mix)

Curly little balls of fur.

Oh, and pretty little Angel, a Cocker Spaniel of Lisa's friend, April, who finally got to join us this year.

Here's Spec and Angel with Auntie Rachael

Emily, Grammie, Braxton, Alyssa, Tessa and Brian

So, if you're keeping count, adding in Braxton and Lulu, we had 6 dogs.

And one cat, Bones, that lives with Grandma Evelyn downstairs.

And, yes, if we could have, we would have had more.

Maybe we can borrow Ophelia, the Urban Chicken that lives next door...

Handsome Lulu Belle and pretty Mr. B...I mean...ah..you know what I mean..

Sweet Spec...


Lisa, Spec, Angel , Dot and April

It was a bit rough on little Lulu, the Princess Warrior... but she did remarkably well..sharing her Mom & Dad... her floor... her window... her people.. her couch...her air...however...

DO NOT go near my bones, toys, blankies, socks, treats, food or water. My pillow, my bed or my leash. My park, my sidewalk, my street. My hydrant. My park bench.. My sticks, my rocks, my grass.

More photos to come of the other parts of the family..and to share with you our fun, food and festivities.

And, Lulu said after that...NO MORE SHARING. Ever. Again. Never. Nada. Nope. Not even.

Until next Thanks-Mas

Have a good Tuesday. And thank your pup, gerbil, fish, cat, rabbit or horse for being so kind and good. Maybe with a lot of practice and study, we can be more like them.

-me