19th Annual Thanksmas 2014

The traditional Fritel family "Thanksmas" was at the funny farm this year.  Jimmy, Kelly, Andrew (8), Matthew (5), and Grace (4) from Wisconsin arrived at the farm on Tuesday.  Anastasia, Claire (5), Cecelia (3), and Lydia (3) came from Minnesota on Wednesday.  OnThanksgiving, Bob's brother Jerry, his son Doug and Doug's wife Jill came from Minnesota and Grand Forks; sister Kathy and Jerry (Blessum) came from Rugby, and their daughters  Andrea from Bismarck, Julie and Dustin with Dane (5), Brody (4), and Reed (5 mo.) from Minot; brother Steve and Barb from Rugby and their daughter Nicole, Eric, and Jace (6 mo.) from Wyoming, and son Brad, Maureen, and Kimber (11 mo.) from Rugby added to the fun.

The Gang's (not) All Here!

Mother Goose (Ana) reads to Cecelia, Claire, Lydia, and Grace

Andrew wanted to check out our "attic"

Cousins Andrea, Anastasia, Jill, and Kelly entertain Aunt Kathy

Cecelia's new "hat"

Celebrating Kelly's Nov. 27th birthday with cheesecakes
Lydia, Grace, Claire (in back), Cecelia, Kelly, Andrew,
Anastasia, Jimmy, Bob, and Matthew 

Claire and her "selfie"

The "adults" had the traditional gift "exchange" after the
kids opened their gifts: Kelly, Brad, Maureen, Kathy, Brody,
 Dustin, Eric, Nicole, and Andrea. This year's theme was anything that
began with the letter "r"

The kids, of course, wanted to help the adults with their gifts.
Brody, Matthew, and Dane "help" Nicole

Jerry and Rudolph



Bob's sister Kathy created her own "turkey"



Kelly got "screened" by Kathy's recycling project: This snowman won't melt!

Doug is really excited about the gift exchange

Andrew, Jace, Kelly, Bob, and Steve waiting for supper

Matthew's "selfie"

The kids kept the adults entertained until supper was ready:
Grace, Jimmy, Jerry, Brad, Nicole, Ana, Eric, Claire, Andrew, and Jace

Bob's brother Jerry brought (and ate) the pies

Jimmy got ready to sample his prize before someone took it away.
Wishful thinking, Kelly?

Eric, is that your toy?

Lydia's "hat"

Kelly, Ana, and Jimmy went to the Corrigidor bar in Wolford
for steaks on Friday night and left grampa and gramma
with six kids and a hot dish!

November--First week

Bob spotted this owl on the trail to one of our fields.
Definitely a "wise" owl

Jimmy worked here in Breckenridge when he was a student at NDSCS

Remodeling Old Main at the ND State College of Science
Alma Mater of Bob and Jimmy

NDSCS

Busy October: Halloween and More Birthdays

Brother-in-law Jerry Blessum and his brownie

Diane's buddy Rita Teigen and her "cake"

Claire, Cecelia, and Lydia with pumpkin friend

Aunt Lou celebrated with Caiden, Annika, Ariana, and Jett in Miami

RJ with mommy and baby Julia kangaroo

Grace, Andrew, and Matthew

Birthdays and Baptism in McLean, Oct. 18-19

Ana and Corey's twins, Cecelia and Lydia, turned 3 on Oct. 15th
Sara and Doug's new baby, Julia Christine, was baptized on Oct. 19th
We celebrated at Doug and Sara's in McLean, Virginia

Cecelia checks out the cupcakes and candle

Lydia gets ready to blow out her candle

The girls got matching shirts from grampa and gramma

RJ wears his new Thomas the Train shirt

Parents and Godparents (Michael and Anastasia)

Julia Christine with her godparents

Bob, Donna, and the kids wait for the ceremony at the church

The kids decorated their own cupcakes at the birthday party.
l to r: Sara, RJ, Doug, Ana, Cecelia, Claire, Lydia, Bob

October 2014 in Miami

Paola and Isabella brought Mother some balloons and gifts from the office staff
Mother received ten flower bouquets from friends and family! 
The house looked like a flower shop.

Our Cuban cousins brought a fruit basket for Mother on her birthday:
 l to r: Leslie, Maria, and Ricardo, with Aunt Lou

Ron and Melinda Prague brought Mother a pumpkin.
 Ron hits tennis balls with Mother on Sunday mornings.

Hilary, one of the night nurses, brought a balloon, flowers, and hats for Mother

Night nurse Tia gives Mother a hug

Mother and her "girls"

Aunt Lou made spaghetti and the family came from miles around!
Fifi, Michael, Sharyn, Aunt Lou, Mother, Pat, Stephanie, Brian, and Bob

Pat Cloherty plays word games with Mother as they read the cards

Pat C. and Diane get some exercise instructions from Edna

We opted for cupcakes at party #5. Cousin Pat helps blow out the candles.
l to r: DD Eisenberg, Fifi, Donna, Diane, Mother, and Pat

Ice cream parfait "cake" at the first birthday party.
(We had a party every day for a week!)

Pat C. and Diane met for the first time at Mother's party.
Donna is the super-organizer of  "party week"!

Cousin Sharyn Smith shares a moment with Aunt Lou

Mother gives a lesson to the tennis team: Mother on the right,
tennis coach Paige to her left, and Paige's daughter to her left

Aunt Lou, Diane, and Mother (sporting her new sweater)

Cousin Pat Smith and Mother

Mother, Izzy, and Pat C. celebrate early

The first party at the Seasons 52:
l to r: Aunt Lou, DD, Brian, Stephanie, Diane, Mother, Donna