Christmas in Minnesota-Outside Fun

The Friday after Christmas we finally decided we were going to travel up to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas with my family.  We left after later in the afternoon so we didn't arrive up there until later on Friday night.

Saturday we hung around my parents house.  It was a beautiful day and thought it would be fun to play outside so my dad used the snow blower and blew a pile of snow to make a little hill.  It worked out perfect!

You know it is a nice day in Minnesota when you are just sitting outside enjoying a beer :)

I wasn't sure what Elsie would think but she LOVED sledding!!!  

We all took a turn going down the little hill with her.  This little mound of snow was perfect for her!! 

Tally had a lot of fun playing in the snow too!!!  I think she could have been out there all day long!  

After some sledding we determined the snow was perfect to build a snowman.  

And of course I just had to post this video of Elsie.  Her laughter is contagious.  

Breakfast with Santa

On Saturday Dec. 14th we went to Breakfast with Santa in our community.  IT isn't the most elaborate breakfast or event but it supports the community I guess.  This was my third year going-the first time was when I was pregnant with Elsie and I went with some friends and their kids.  Last year we went with my parents and this year we got to go with my parents, John's parents, and my sister and her family.  They were all down for Elsie's birthday party.  

I wasn't sure how Elsie would do because when we went to visit him the first time over Thanksgiving it did not go well.  This time around she wasn't scared at all.  I couldn't get a smile out of her but there were no tears either.  I think it helped that Santa was walking around when we first got there and in fact, helped carry Elsie to the table as I balanced plates of food for Allie and Elsie in my arms.  

Piper wasn't too happy :)

Elsie was pretty interested in the little candy cane that they gave her.  

I was just happy she sat in his lap :)

Life in October

October was pretty eventful for us!  

Of course there was the new addition to our family-Tally.  You can ready about it here.  Although there are many challenges that come to having a puppy we really do love having her around!  

Elsie had fun picking out bowls and toys for Tally before we went to pick her up :)

We had to put up baby gates to block Tally off from certain parts of the house and Elsie thinks she is big enough to climb right over the top like Mommy and Daddy :)

We did quite a few Halloween festivities like going to the Pumpkin Patch, carving pumpkins and Trick or Treating downtown and down our street.

I participated in my last 5k of the year "Run for the Rose" and it felt wonderful despite my lack of running.  I ended up covering up my timing chip so it didn't register when I cross the line but I do know that I came in between 30.02 and 30.16 which means I did better than my 5k in September.  I still hope to do a winter 5k or two :). We will see... If you want to read more about the race here is the post:  Run for the Roses

We have had so much fun playing at home.  Elsie just loves to dance...

And play with her blocks.  I told her she needed to pick up her blocks because they were all over her room.  So she did.  She also picked them up by stacking them in the bag. 

Bath time is also a huge hit! 

We did a busy bag swap and Elsie has had so much fun with these activities.  I posted more about the sawp here.  They definitely keep her busy...

Both Elsie and I are super excited for our new jogging stroller.  Elsie couldn't even wait until we got outside to climb in.  She wanted to ride so bad I had to take her for a short trip around the circle before dinner and then out for a walk after dinner.  

We also used the new stroller for the 2013 Des Moines Race for the Cure. I wrote a separate post about that here.

Morning Snuggles :)

We decided to get tickets to see the Legend George Strait-Can't wait for April!

Hanging out at the shop during a house showing

Riding her tricycle once we got home...

We made one last trip to the Berry Patch for some yummy Honey Crisp apples.  I found out they will last 6 months in the fridge!  So we loaded up.

Elsie couldn't wait to get home to eat her apple.

Elsie's little apple bag...

This girl could eat apples all day long! 

More baking...

Pic from Tanner before heading to the volleyball game...

We also had a few playdates with some friends.  It is so nice to have friends with kiddos so close in age.  :)  I wrote a whole post about our playdates here.

I was lucky enough to have my own "playdate" :)  Girls weekend!! 

I posted about these wonderful friends here.