We arrived in Minnesota around 2:00 PM. Elsie did okay on this drive but we had to stop three times for her. Once for her to eat and twice to change her diaper :(. Oh well, we finally got to my Dad's family Christmas celebration. This celebration typically takes place the weekend before Christmas and is held at the Community room at my Grandma's Senior Living Apartments. It is a great location and is perfect for the large family. My Grandma has six children, 17 grandchildren, you add in spouses to those children and grandchildren plus the great grandchildren and you need a very large space to fit us all. So it works out great! Unfortunately, we arrived late so we weren't there for very long but it was still great to see family for a little bit anyways.
We stayed at my parents for five days and did a lot of Christmas celebrating. It was a VERY special Christmas because my brother was home from Idaho. Being in the military makes it hard for him to get away over the holidays and this was the first time in four years we were actually all together on Christmas.
Christmas Eve
For the most part, Christmas Eve was a relaxing day, we hung out at my parents, I did a little shopping at the outlet mall by my parents house, and my mom prepared a DELICIOUS Christmas Eve dinner for Elsie, John, me, my brother, and my dad. Elsie got to eat more of Grandma Bonnie's Krumkake cookies. She just LOVES them. This was one of her first "cookies".
After dinner, we put Elsie to bed and my brother, John, Mom, Dad and myself played a game of Phase 10. Of course I was the winner ;).
A couple years ago my mom bought this light up glasses so of course I had to use them for my drink this year.
Christmas Morning
Looks like Santa found Elsie all the way at Grandma and Granpa's ;) A bigger pink sock monkey to go with her two little ones.
All of the family stockings hung above the fireplace. All made by Grandma Bonnie.
Merry Christmas Little Elsie
Elsie checking out her presents from Santa. This year Santa brought her the book "Harold and the Purple Crayon"in her stocking along with the monkey and then she got Melissa and Doug Shape Sorter, Melissa and Doug Pound a Peg, and the Little Tykes Basketball Hoop.
A Christmas morning family picture-yes I had already gotten ready for the day.
Not sure what Elsie and Grandpa were watching but it must have been surprising.
Magda is in Poland right now so we were able to share Christmas wishes via skype. Maybe one of these years we will all be able to celebrate together.
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