A Minnesota Christmas

We were so lucky to have family come and spend Christmas with us in Minnesota this year.

Noah and Avery anxiously awaiting the arrival of Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Landon

The first thing Noah did was show Grandma which present he was planning to open on Christmas Eve

We spent a couple of days before Christmas at the Mall of America in Minneapolis.

The highlights?

Rides

(adults too - Avatar anyone???)

Good Food

Aquarium

Princess Tiana Barbie for Alex and Build-A-Bear for Noah

(Grandma spoils them)

and of course COUSINS!

My sister Michele, her husband John and their adorable kids Boston and Naomi arrived at 2:30am in the middle of a blizzard.

Alex couldn't get enough of "Meeome" and insisted on riding with her all day.

Group picture, except Noah, who is hiding behind my legs.

Shocker.

We headed home on Christmas Eve for a nice dinner, the opening of one gift each, and preparing cookies and milk for Santa.

Everybody loves Grandpa

Noah was so cute with his little cousins.

Except for when he shut Boston up in his room with him and taught him how to jump off of tall furniture onto the bean bag.

My sister probably didn't think that was so cute.

Sisters and their babies

Did I mention I was in bed by midnight on Christmas Eve??? Huge improvement from last year, when I was flying solo - oh it's great to have your husband home for the holidays.

Christmas morning arrived and we had a full house.

The kids are just getting started, but believe me, they provided all kinds of entertainment. Ok mostly just Alex. That girl is crazy-hilarious.

One of the favorite gifts this year was the trampoline from Santa

"I've never seen such a dolly as this!"

Naomi didn't have a clue what was going on but had plenty of presents anyways.

Lovin' their Christmas jammies

Um...Boston loves balls

Even Avery was happy as can be and all smiles

(finally caught on camera!)

Maybe it was that designer outfit Grandma bought for her.

Because, "Every girls needs at least one designer outfit."

Right mom?

Uncle Landon, snuggling the babes on their first Christmas.

Avery and Grandpa, all worn out

Another hit - plasma car for the grandkids

Alex just couldn't wait to watch her new Sleeping Beauty movie with her new Sleeping Beauty Barbie and her giant Ballerina doll

That night we all got to talk to my brother Tanner, currently serving a mission for our church in Mexico City. Once again, Naomi didn't have a clue what was going on.

The boys even managed to squeeze in some sledding - it was Boston's first time

Noah couldn't wait to show off his personal sledding hill

Did I mention how much fun my kids had with their cousins?

And this is the most snuggly baby ever.

Christmas day was great.

The next day we went swimming/hot tubbing at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel

Alex is getting brave (sort of)

The cousins enjoyed a movie (or a few) together

Sunday we all went to church together and enjoyed Paul's last day off

(He got 5 - sooo lucky).

And ate. and ate. and ate.

On Monday it was time to say goodbye. And it was hard.

Really hard.

So...not my most exciting post.

But a very exciting Christmas.

It doesn't seem like it from this post but it was a crazy busy 6 days. It felt like we were going non-stop.

Guess that's what happens when you put together 12 people, including 5 kids under the age of 6, lots of cooking and eating of way too much good food, holiday shopping, gift wrapping, staying up late and other holiday activities.

We loved every minute of it.

Thanks for coming everyone! It couldn't have been better.

(except if Tiff Randy and Madden had been there - we missed you guys!)