11 years. That's a long time.
The last time this gal was home for Christmas. There have been many Christmas's past when I would visualize what Christmas looked like in the comforts of that cozy house I grew up in, the decorations that may or may not still adorn the top of the piano, picturing the infamous bubble lights that would cause me to daze at the tree with that glazed-over look in my eye. Mesmerized. I could see the wrapping paper and ribbon scattered in and around the living room couches and floor, just waiting to be tossed onto the top of my dad burying him in a sea of reds and greens and blues and candy cane stripes thanks to the anxious hands of grandkids. No more dreaming and wondering as listening to that classic holiday song echoing throughout the house, it's lyrics struck a more personally beautiful chord this year..."I'll be Home For Christmas!!!!" (Before going any further, I do need to state that I wasn't the only anxious and excited one to be heading to MN for Christmas this year. I'm married to a man who calls Minnesota his home, just as much as I do. And we have three boys who claim it as their second home just as much. Blessed.)
And it wasn't ok to just go home for Christmas. We needed to incorporate that devious surprise factor. My mom deserves an award for helping us carry out the delicate plan to surprise...even my dad didn't know! Now that's a faithful wife/mom/mother-in-law/grandma....or just plain old sneaky. But with a few...ahem...adjustments, and a very long 29-hour drive, surprises were carried out and Christamsing at the Carlson's was in full swing! And it was oh-so-worth-it.
So without further adue, let the onslaught of pictures of our 2015 Christmas in MN begin! I'll spare the sappy sentiments as pictures will do that well enough. ;) (and yes, there will eventually be a video adding to the sappiness....so just sit tight folks!)
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The boys were just a LITTLE excited when we told
them it would be a MN Christmas this year! |
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| Ready to go!!! Left at 4pm Friday afternoon. |
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| God's beauty abounds, even in Nebraska at 7am!! |
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| Hugs for Uncle Keith!!! |
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| Surprise!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Love you Auntie Karen!! |
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| My girls!! (minus one...) |
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| Carlson Christmas!! (guy gift time....) |
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| Love my Anna & Clara!! |
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| Camden with favorite Auntie Nenda! ;) |
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| Star Wars time!!! |
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| In 3-D of course ;) |
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| a night at Jim & Karlas! (with spoiling from uncle Jim of course...) |
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| sister time!!! The best!! :) |
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| Love my Kayla...and baby boy #2!!! Yay!!! |
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| Lots of game playing!! (and laughing...and more laughing....) |
Christmas Eve!!
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| Adding a few decorations per Grandma's request |
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| my gorgeous mama...and best friend! |
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| Love my Char!! :) |
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| Crazy cousins and buds!! |
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| yeah...that's more like it. ;) |
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| Christmas 2015!! |
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| Keith & Ruth & co! ;) |
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| SOOO much fun & laughter as we opened gifts from each other!! |
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| opening gifts on Christmas Eve! |
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| Warren loves his Star Wars |
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| The tradition of burying Grandpa in the wrapping paper lives on!! |
Christmas Day!
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| Christmas morning! |
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| I love that these boys get so excited over books! Our little readers :) |
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| Christmas morning :) |
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Mason woke up sick at 5am...but thankfully it passed quickly &
he was up and at 'em by later that afternoon!! A rather spread out
day of opening gifts and "chrstimasing"! |
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The traditional Christmas Eve pajamas turned into Christmas Day night,
and it was robes and slippers!! Even better I think. :) |
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| Stocking time before bed this year! |
More Minnesnowta Fun!!!
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| My Megs (who's having a baby girl in a few months...eeeee!) & Kay!! |
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| Issac with fav. Auntie Nenda! ;) |
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| Sledding fun with cousins! |
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| Winter Warmth |
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| Austin sledding! |
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| You gotta make snow angels.... |
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| nightly visitors |
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| chillin with uncle Keith during the Vikings game |
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| Farmer Morrie ;) |
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| Winter feeding |
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| Snow tubing on the farm!! |
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Pretty sure this is one of the most fun & craziest things my
sister-in-law & I have done...together that is. ;) |
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| It most certainly was!! :) |
And here's to 2016....Happy New Year!! :)
