White Christmas

This is what we woke up to on Tuesday morning, December 20 - 11+ inches of snow.  The prior day, Nancy and I drove to Dorrance from Manhattan and had the most white-knuckle experience I have ever had. The road was fine until we reached a few miles west of Salina when the ice, slush and snow hit fast. We barely avoided two accidents and I definitely needed a shot of whiskey we we arrived at Susan's house.

As a reminder, you can click on any photo to see a larger version.

After the snow, we spent lots of time enjoying the white Christmas. Garrett was sledding behind the four-wheeler and was covered in snow.

Joey pulled the kids behind the four-wheeler.

Sweet Anna

The snow piles up in front of the sled and eventually covers the kid's faces.

Sam helped in dad Joey pull the sled.

Joey and Sam with the snow man in the background.

Sharon and Avery - even though we had lots of snow, the temperature wasn't that cold. Sharon was sitting outside without a coat.

Cousins Garrett, Avery and Anna

Sweet Avery

That is Anna under all that snow.

Sharon, Avery and Kevin right before Christmas Eve mass

Garrett, Anna and Sam

Avery and Sam enjoyed a laugh together in front of the altar

Two lovely Chickadees

Joey, Kelly Sam, Anna and Garrett

Sharon and daughter Avery

Kevin, Avery and Sharon

Brooklyn loved the snow - to play in it and to eat it.

Anna

Hallie

How many Thielen boys does it take to fix the truck?

Apparently, the Thielen boys needed help from the Thielen girls to fix things.

Looks like the Thielen girls gave up on the Thielen boys.

Anna, Sam and Garrett with their favorite great aunt.

I'm not exactly sure what Hallie, Brooklyn and Anna were up to, but it looked like they were praying for more snow.

Kevin

Sam

Hallie

Hallie

Matt

Can you believe it? Another snowball fight broke out.

Santa made an appearance and Brooklyn was eager to tell him how good she had been this year.

Hallie and Santa

Avery wasn't quite sure she wanted to tell Santa how good she had been.

Grandma Siefers and Santa - there wasn't any doubt about it, Grandma had NOT been good enough to get a gift from Santa.

Cousins Brooklyn, Sam, Hallie and Avery

Anna and Grandma Thielen

The Thielen grandkids - Brooklyn, Sam, Hallie, Avery, Anna and Garrett

The residents of Thielenville

Susan and her boys - Kevin, Joey and Matt

Sam rode the trike off the edge of the porch.

Matt and daughter Brooklyn

It was such a nice day that Anna played outside without her coat.

Greg seemed to attract the kids - Brooklyn (with her guitar around her neck), Sam and Hallie.