White Christmas

This year we were more than dreaming of a white Christmas, we were livin' the dream! (To the extreme...)

We spent Christmas in the Midwest for the first time since the kids have been born.  Until I moved to Florida, I didn't realize how much Christmas is associated with snow, sleighs, cold weather, etc.  So many of the songs and images of Christmastime are those types of scenes, but it had never struck me because that was what it actually looked like outside during this season.  I remember seeing a Christmas cup with a snow scene during my first winter in Florida and realizing that it looked so out of place because that's not at all what Christmas looks like here.  I still have a hard time getting into the holiday mood each year because it doesn't "feel" like Thanksgiving or Christmas. but I definitely have acclimated to the Florida climate.  I can't handle the cold anymore!

I was a little nervous when we told Joshua that he would get to play in snow this year at Christmas because while they usually have snow, you can't always count on a white Christmas.  No problems in the snow department though.  There was record snowfall for the month of December and great weather for playing outside.  We spent a few days in Minnesota first, doing Christmas with my family and playing in the snow, then headed to Iowa for Christmas with the extended Nettleton clan and more snowy fun!

Sledding in Papa's yard

 

Eating some tasty snow

Joshua had high expectations for the fun he would have in the snow and wasn't disappointed!  We played outside at least an hour every day we were there.  Brielle wasn't as into it.  She'd start saying, "Go inside" not long after we went out, but never insisted on it.  She went sledding and ate snow and all the other stuff, but seemed pretty indifferent.  I guess she's a true Beach Girl!

We also toured a model train museum and did a special Christmas light tour in Phalen Park.  Then we headed to Iowa for the rest of the festivities.  We woke up on Christmas Eve morning to a fresh snowfall of about 8".  Our cars were stuck and we almost couldn't get out of the driveway for the evening festivities.

We spent Christmas Eve at Joe and Lori's house eating our traditional chili and oyster stew (plus the delicious additon of lobster bisque).  Christmas Day was spent at Grandma's house preparing the turkey and fixin's and opening gifts...we ended up the evening with a lively game of Shanghai rummy and the next morning we were off to the airport to head back South!  We had a really great trip!  The kids traveled and slept really well and fun times were had by all!