Mother Nature Brought Her "A" Game!!

A True South Dakota Winter Wonderland!

This snowstorm shut down Timber Lake, roads & highways. All Christmas Services at Churches were cancelled as were plans for many! A True White Christmas!!

The evening of Dec. 25th...the snow was piling up outside of my parent's Sun Room.

Morning of Saturday December 26th began the "Big Dig-Out!" Roads were still closed but the clean up began!

The Drift outside the SunRoom was way taller than the kids...almost 5 feet in spots!

A burried house and Garage...

Hmm...wonder where we should start!?!

Matt dug a path to the Sun Room windows because we were affraid the weight of the drifts would break the widows.

Matt digging out the sunroom.



Dad snowblowing his way to the massive Garage drift.
SERIOUSLY? DOES MATT GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT A MT. DEW!?!





Hard working boys!!
(Dad & Matt)

Then Jake Kraft showed up with more "Horse Power!"

This Rig is massive and dig out the garage in 3 or scoops!

Almost cleared for opening!!





Opened after 3 days of being Snowed in!
Brushing each other off...Clint (brother-in-law) brushing Matt off!

This picture and the one below made it on the KSFY 10:00 news out of Sioux Falls, SD.

We emailed them in!

Above: My Dad is snowblowing off the back Patio which is waist deep!!

Below: My mom opening her front door. The drift was chest deep and had the door imprint in it!

Matt digging a snow tunnel for the kids.

Ryder helping with the tunnel. Cousin Haylee and Uncle Clint in the bcakground

Haylee peeking out the tunnel.



Uncle Clint tried to climb through the tunnel...unsuccessfully!

Cousin Lisa Schlosser had the same idea as dad to drive around town and see the drifts! Behind her is the front doors to the school. Thank goodness it was Christmas Vacation already!

Looking down Main Street. The road is cleared down the middle but you can see all the businesses drifted shut! All you could hear in town the entire day on Saturday the 26th...was Tractors, Plows and Snowmobiles! Kinda Spooky!!

Grady Kraft using the skidster on Main Street.

Christmas with Family 2009

Matt, the boys and I ventured out heading to South Dakota to spend Christmas with Family. We drove through REDICULOUS weather conditions...snow, wind, ice and drifting to FINALLY arrive after 9 hours!! So worth it!! DANGEROUS....but Matt and the boys FINALLY got the White Christmas they have always wanted!!




My mom putting out all the goody trays! Mmmm!!



My sister's family arrived around supper time on Christmas Eve and the kids were all eager to open gifts. We decided to let the kids open all their gifts and then the adults opened theirs while the kids played with their new loot! Very enjoyable that way!

Adorable niece Macy with her new baby from "Aunt Beki!" This doll looked FREEKISHLY REAL!!

Haylee loved her Christmas Barbie from Grandma & Grandpa.

Tysen was SO EXCITED to get his New Tom Brady Jersey from us!

Ryder & Matt...both excited to get the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Box Set of movies! VINTAGE!!...to HIM anyway!

Tysen & Ryder with their new RC Helicopters!

Dad was like a little boy...Giddy with excitement...when he opened the Canon Battery Grip for his camera from us.



Haylee fixed Grandma Kris' hair while we opened our gifts. LOVELY!!

Santa found us in the Blizzard! He is quite amazing!
Ryder checking out Haylee's loot!

Tysen was first up to check his stuffed socking.

Kannin slept in and checked his loot from Santa a few hour later.

Haylee in her pretty Christmas dress...playing Barbies. Just like Aunt Beki...I have hundreds & hundreds of hours of memories of playing with new Barbies (especially on Christmas morning).

Ryder was EXSTATIC to get a Remote Controlled car that looks like "Bumblebee" the Transformer.

First Thing...A Hot Cocoa Break...

And Then...

All dressed up...well sorta!! Ryder wearing his HULK costume and Haylee, her pretty Christmas dress. They were watching cartoons waiting for LUNCH!

Adorable Macy D. in her pretty Christmas dress!





Mom and Grandma Dorothy visiting before lunch. I love mom's barstool covers.

Kannin giving Great Grandma Dorothy some loves. Matt can't resist sticking his head in pictures!





Macy D. enjoying a Santa Cookie!

And even though it had already been snowing for over 24 hours..."The Madness" truely began! It was amaxing that Santa actually found our burried little South Dakota town!

RADAR OF THE WEATHER CIRCLING OVERHEAD!!

Article for the Timber Lake Topic

I was contacted by Kathy Nelson, the owner of my hometown newspaper in South Dakota. She asked if I would be interested in writing an article for their Christmas edition of the Timber Lake Topic which was also their last edition of 2009. The article was asked to be about my feelings on the "True Meaning of Christmas." It was very fun to write this article which was one of 5 submitted stories. I also wrote a full page article for the Topic back in May of 2009 about the "In's & Out's of Autism" to which I received a ton of positive feedback and well wishes. I am always up to write anything for the Nelson's!

This is the picture that accompanied the story I submitted. It was origionally taken of me in 1982 with Santa! (aka Albert Kougl) .

(Below is the article)

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What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Is Christmas about playing “Mary” in my Church’s Christmas Program when I was 5 or being an angel with silver garland on my wings all the other years of Sunday school? Is Christmas about the mini pink piano keyboard I could not live without when I was 8? Is Christmas about the Moreau Grand Boom truck that hoisted Grandpa Wayne and I up 2 stories to decorate his big tree in their front yard every year? Is Christmas about receiving my “own” telephone from parents when I was 13?

I could go on and on. Eggnog…homemade ice cream…pipe cleaner candy canes…oyster stew…Christmas carols…snow tunnels… hot cocoa!! Is that what it is all about? Those are the memories I have! Those are the memories I hold true. The memories I laugh about. The memories I cry about too. My innocent years have past. The simple days long gone.

With three boys of my own…I hope to instill the importance that this time of year brings. They WILL learn all that “I” did about this special time of year. I will ensure that they have wonderful memories when they are my age and beyond.

It is hard when views get clouded by “40% off SALES”… “Pushy people in lines at Walmart”… and the Latest & Greatest things that kid’s HAVE TO HAVE this holiday season! Lord I have heard all about the things that my kids CAN NOT live without this year!

Why do people say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays” and hold doors open for others this time of year? Where is that courtesy year round? Does everyone have the ability to show courtesy, love and compassion year round? I think so. NO…I KNOW so!

I met a remarkable man over a decade ago that told me something that put my Christmas holiday in perspective. These are the words from SANTA. Maybe he was the real one…maybe just a helper? None the less…he gave me some words that I have been saying to myself and my children ever since…

“Remember, teach your children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center. I am but a humble servant of the One that is. I bow down to worship the Lord, our God.”…Santa

Thank you Brookings, SD “Mall Santa” for not only reminding me the true meaning of Christmas but for also giving me something to live by and something to instill in my children. That does not mean that pink pianos, Barbie Dream Houses, Egg Nog and Sledding do not have something to do with this time of year. However, I believe it is very important to remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season” …but I cannot resist a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” as I am holding open a door for another!

PS: Dear Mall Santa…My boys have not always been good this year but neither have I. They brush their teeth, say their prayers and know about celebrating the Lord’s birth. Tysen wants a Nintendo DS game, Ryder wants a remote controlled car and Kannin wants anything “Blues Clues or Sponge Bob.” If you were looking for something for me…I am looking for a cure for Autism. I know I may be asking a lot…so I would settle for a Happy & Healthy year ahead for us all. MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Oh My!!! We have a TEENEAGER!!!

Tysen turned 13 on December 5, 2009!! YES...A TEENAGER!!! How is that possible!?!?

Tysen @ 2 years old!!

Ryder REALLY wanted to help Tysen open his presents. Here he shows off his new PS2 Game and new shoes.



Tysen checking out his Guitar Hero III for his PS2.

We met Grandma & Grandpa at McKenzie River Pizza for a fabulous supper and then home for cake. Tysen picked a Chocolate-Chocolate-Chocolate cake. Mmm it was fabulous!!

Tysen Wayne Kraft 13 years old!!!

Build A Bear Day

We went to Build A Bear on November 24th, 2009. Grandma Carol took all the grandkids as a treat. It was actually a really fun day. We missed not having the out of town cousins (Tristan, Sidney, Helaina & Izabelle) from Kansas City here. Grandma Carol traveled to Kansas City a few weeks later and treated them all to a Build A Bear outing as well.

Standing on the Build A Bear circle taking the "Build A Bear" Pledge.

(L-R) Nicki (Kannin's Hab-aid) holding Kannin, Hannelora, Cozette, Sebastian & Ryder

(Back) Amber holding Bjorn & Sara (soon-to-be sister-in-law)

Nicki & Kannin "HOPPING" to the next Bear Station

Brother-In-Law Isaac with Willes. Isaac recently proposed to Willes' Mommy Sara so he will be our new little nephew! YAY!!! Grandma Carol in the background.




Kannin picked a Fuzzy Bear and here he is placing a heart "IN" his bear.

Ryder giving his Polar Bear a quick shower and a brushing.

Kannin showering his bear.

Ryder picked a a Batman outfit and named his bear "Buddy."

Kannin with his bear named "B" and Ryder with "Buddy."





The whole crew... Kannin in the front on the circle, (L-R) Amber holding Bjorn, Analise, Willes, Cozette, Hannelora, Sebastian & Ryder D. (Back) Sara & Isaac.

After Build A Bear...we all went to Matt's office and made homemade pizzas. Above are Matt & 2 of his brothers prepping pizzas. (L-R) Nathan, Isaac & Matt.




Willes shows off his "Builder Bear" while waiting for his pizza.

Mmmmmmmmmm...Pizza!!!!


Final Results...Ryder Batman "Buddy"



Kannin's Grizzly Adam's Bear "B"

Before Christmas we went back to Build A Bear and used some giftcards we received and picked out some Pajamas complete with slippers. So Cute!!!

For Christmas Ryder received an Army outfit complete with Tent for "Buddy." We loved the Build A Bear experience. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!!!