2010 Holiday Festivities

Once again, Christmas has come and gone and we look forward to the New Year.  Despite the many snow storms that delayed much of our shopping and the many hours of photo editing to meet holiday deadlines for my clients, it was a wonderful Christmas for our family!  I treasure these photos...even though several are blurry and the kids have red eyes!  Seriously, I hate my point and shoot camera, but it's a pain to lug around my large DSLR.  Anyway...

After celebrating Thanksgiving with my family in Worthington, we made the trek to St. Cloud so we could attend the annual festivities in Nisswa, MN to kick off the holidays.  Although it was really cold this year, it is such a fun celebration and well worth the trip to get into the "holiday spirit" of things.  It's not everyday that people gather on the streets for sleigh rides, caroling, and street-side bonfires!  We love the hot cocoa and fresh mini-donuts too!!!  The kids were so excited to tell Santa their wish list and we were happy to see the line was short this year ;)

The following morning, we made Lefse with Jadee's parents.  Being Swedish, his family follows many of the Scandinavian traditions.

Jace also enjoyed one of his favorite things...dessert.

 I think he is praying for more in this picture!

Then on Christmas Eve morning, Jadee and I tried out my new aebleskiver pan, which makes Danish pancakes (another Scandinavian tradition).  We filled some with raspberry and cream cheese and made others plain.  A couple of them turned out a little messy, but it was fun and we look forward to continuing this tradition with our kids, as it is our own family tradition to do breakfast and Santa gifts with the kids every Christmas morning before getting on the road to travel.  After some more "practice," we look forward to preparing aebleskivers for our Christmas breakfast next year!  Yum!!!

 Of course, Jace had to share some with the dog too...but he loved them as well.

Due to a change in our plans, we stayed home for Christmas Eve again this year.  Although we do miss seeing many of our extended relatives, packing up and traveling 2.5 hours one way, then back home a few hours later, and then traveling another 2 hours the next day causes more commotion than Jadee and I prefer to endure during the holidays.  Besides, doesn't this look like way more fun???!!!  After church, the kids danced in their pj's while we made pizza.

I also put on my pj's and Alexis took a picture of me.  Enjoy, because this is the first and probably the last picture you will see of my pregnant belly!  21 weeks, HUGE, and counting the days!!!

 Jace wasn't too sure about ripping paper, but he thoroughly enjoyed pulling tissue paper out of bags.

 Alexis loves American Girl!

 And Logan loves his Spy Gear!

 Annie also got in on the action and tried to smell her way through her package of dog buscuits.

Later that night, the kids watched their e-video messages from Santa Claus, himself.  Jadee's parents made them and sent each of the kids their own.  The kids were amazed and felt so special.  It was really comical, too, when Santa opened his book identifying Logan with a picture and then when he went to his radar and pointed out Eagle Lake, Logan's jaw dropped and his eyes became as big as saucers.  Hilarious!

Jace also enjoyed his message and waved bye-bye to Santa as he disappeared from the screen.

 Before bed, we rocked the house playing a little Rock Band with the kids.  So much fun!!!

On Christmas morning, the kids awoke to find that Santa made his visit as promised.

After breakfast, we headed to Worthington for Christmas Day with my family.  We enjoyed steak and ribs, soup and salad, cheesy potatoes, garlic bread, and endless snacks and desserts!

 We also opened many, many presents!

Since then, we have been cleaning house and making room for the new toys and gifts...while the kids have enjoyed sleeping in, playing, and making messes ;)  Below, the kids are playing Dance, Dance Revolution on the Wii.  So cute how Jace joins the fun behind Logan!  He just adores his big sister and brother.