Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day is my favorite holiday. It was not until I met my husband that I realized what Memorial Day was truly about. The small town in central Kansas where he was born and raised and we now live has an amazing tradition for Memorial Day. Here are a few pictures I took.

The Thielen cousins: Brooklyn, Garrett, Avery (standing on the ground), Hallie, Anna & Sam.



Sam

Anna



Garrett

Our featured speaker Major Russ Allen, US Air National Guard, US Air Force



American Legion Rifle Squad
My dad is the one on the far right, Joe is the third one from the right.



Major Russ Allen addressing those gathered at the cemetery.



Colleen Allen (Russ's Mom) and her grand kids Maggie and Austin. You can't see Emma, she is sitting on Colleen's lap.



Garrett, Anna and Hallie (my niece) listening during the ceremony.



Anna taking a break to read the program.



After the festivities at the cemetery and Legion we usually gather at the farm for a BBQ. The kids were hiding under Grandma's desk. Hallie and Anna are in the back. Brooklyn and Sam are in the front.

Faith Filled Fun

On the eve of Easter my parents joined the Catholic church. I am thrilled. I joined the Catholic church 12 years ago after I married Joe so it was great news when my parents made the decision to join the catholic church. They spent 18 months learning about the catholic faith before they joined the church during a fantastic Easter Vigil service. Below is a picture my Mom and Dad with their priest, Father Bill. I knew Father Bill when he was our priest in Frankfort.


The weekend after Easter we celebrated Garrett's 1st Communion. I am so proud of how he as grown in his own faith. He certainly makes his parents proud. It was another great service. Our priest, Father Hoover and nun, Sister Marilyn do a really nice service that is ALL ABOUT the kids. He really makes it special and memorable for the kids.
Garrett with his teacher, Mrs. Berger, Sister Marilyn, and Father Hoover.


Garrett doing some of his reading during Mass.



My parents have had a special guest staying with them for a few weeks. This is a picture of Garrett with Father McGovern from Ireland. My parents traveled to Ireland last fall and met Father while attending a Mass in Ireland. He later wrote to them and came for a visit. It just so happened he was here for both celebrations.



Easter at my parents. Sam (3), Garrett (8), McKenzie (8), Anna (5)




So, this is the best family picture we got for Easter.



A picture of Sam playing in Mimma & Papa's yard.


I had to throw this picture in b/c it is the 3rd time Garrett wore his tie in 9 days. We had to have a tie for 1st communion and we got some miles out of that tie. He wore it for 2 Sundays in a row (Easter & 1st Communion). He wanted to wear the tie to his Spring music program at school. I was a bit apprehensive, thinking he would be the only kid in a tie. But as you can see there are 3 of them wearing ties. Guess what? They all had first communion the day before and the boys had decided at school that day that they were all going to wear their ties to the program. Don't they look sharp?