We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We will start the billion pictures from Minnesota! as always I took waaay to many pictures! and true to

form.. i am NOT a photographer.  so forgive the blurrie photos! and ignore the bad spellin as usuall!

G and I arrived in MN, after nearly missing our flight from Chicago to Mpls! a few days later daddy drover though the night and made it record time to MN!!

Anyone who grew  up in m Minnesota will tell you one of their favorite Christmas memories involves going to Dayton's (now Macy's)  8th floor Christmas display. So my parents and I took G downtown to see it! She LOVED it!! It was defiantly scaled back from years past, but even so, it was nice to continue the tradition!

The day Brandon arrived, my parents had a huge play date/brunch!!  With both of my godparents there, Brad and his (growing) family, my Friend Nelina (who i have known since we where 7 years old!!) and her three girls and Alyson and the kids! So much fun!!! G was a little overwhelmed by all the kids and all the snow, but had a blast!

I think one highlight for us was the night that Mark and Alyson surprised the family with a 2 hour limo ride around mpls/st Paul to look at all the Christas lights!! I was a little worried since a few nights before my mom and I took G to look at lights and G had a melt down. But she did great and had a ton of fun! From the glow in dark bracelets to the first ever sips of hot chocolate, she loved it!! as we all did! thanks again M&A!!

Later that night, we met up with (cousins) Stephie, Bryan and Dx at "our" spot, the Chanhassen legion hall! The last Christmas we where all back in MN (2 years ago!) We had such fun hanging out at such a  random spot. But i guess its not that random when you have 2 vets with you! True to form, we had a ball!! *NOTE*  the last time i was in Vegas i didn't gamble one penny... but with dollar pull taps at the legion< why not!? expecailly since B and I ended up wining $106!!!!! who knew???  pictures of our wining ticks and the shanghaiings that followed!!

Christmas eve started out with us taking G to the skating pond near my parents house to try out her new ice skates (she starts lessons this Saturday, fyi) G had fun only falling 4 times (without tears) and B was a traffic coach!

That night we headed off to  Brandon's parents church. on the way back to papa Dales house

the neighborhood put out tons and tons of luminaries!  SO pretty!!  We then opened gifts and had a wonderful night!

 Christmas morning we headed over to my folks place for a fun day!! that night  as with any good traditon we headed over to Derricks for "Dark Blue"  A game of (darkblue)  leftovers and many shanaaggiins ensued till wee in the morin'  *i  would just like to point out i was not the one that took the upside down picture of me and Steph! :) love ya girl!!!!

The next day we celebrated with the Arends family! It was so nice to see everyone!!

 Over the busy holiday  we had a chance to see (some) of my bloomies girls, John (whom B has been friends with since they where 6!) Dr. Ed, the fire flighter buddies and wives. G came with us as we grabed lunch with Julia one of my cosmetic friends!!

 The last night in town was spent  at Grandma Bevs, enjoyin our time as a family!!