JESS y JAMES: Christmas in Minnesota

Boy am I late on the get go with this entry. Just so much to get done around the house and just in general as James and I were getting ready to start another semester. But better late than never right? Right.

This past Christmas we were able to go to Minnesota and be with James' Parents for Christmas. Traveling was not very fun (losing our luggage, delayed flights, telling us our car-seat and stroller would be at baggage claim when they just unloaded it at the gate and yes, we asked three different people before we boarded the plane and they all said baggage claim) but once we got to Minnesota we were happy to just relax and visit with family. I was especially happy to have Janen spend some time with her Grandparents.

We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner and James' sister Rachel, her husband Lance and their two boys, Nathan and Sam, joined us. Then some presents were opened (pajamas) and Janen was quickly warming up to everyone.

Nathan was so excited and willing to pass out gifts to everyone and even offered to help some open their gifts. Silly kid. :)

Christmas jammies!

Not easy to try and get three small children to look at the Camera and smile. Nathan tried to hold Sam's head in place, but it looked like he was head locking him. HAHA!

Janen was so happy to see her cousins. Nathan was having fun getting her to laugh while he tickled her with this Giant Stuffed Monkey Sam got for Christmas.

Christmas came and we all got some great stuff. Janen got lots of cute clothes from Grandma & Grandpa Havican, including a beautiful lavender dress that G-Ma made that I still need to get pictures of. However, I think it is safe to say that Janen's favorite gift was her stuffed Reindeer that plays "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer" whenever you press the ear. She would just crawl to it and smother it with hugs and kisses. She loves stuffed animals so much.

We got to go on a few outings that were fun. One night we went to the Science Museum and watched a documentary film about the Hubble Telescope in the Imax Theater.Now that was some theater! The screen was huge! We originally planned to go ice-skating after but then nixed that idea because it was hard to find parking and I didn't dress Janen as warmly as I should've. So we ice-skated the last night we were there and it was free. Pretty cool huh?

Janen with Grandma & Uncle Matthew

Since I started up Yoga, I am taller than James. I am trying to convince James that he should do Yoga too, but he hasn't jumped on the band wagon yet.

One afternoon, James and I went out on our own while those back at home watched Janen for us. We went Cross-Country Skiing (my first time). We had traditional skiis and I can't say that I am a fan. I decided that I will try Cross-Country skiing one more time with skate-skiis and then formulate an opinion on whether I like it or not. There were parts that I enjoyed, like when I didn't fall on my butt, but it was too much work and was hard to just go forward without turning out my feet. If that makes sense. But nevertheless, here are some pictures we took to capture the memory.

We also went to the Mall of America and did some shopping where James got those Snowboard pants and I couldn't help but buy more cute clothes for Janen including the cutest pink coat you ever did see on a baby. (pictures of that to come later). It was fun to be in Minnesota to see family, but we were happy to come home and be in our own beds. Especially Janen. Apparently, she doesn't do well in rooms not her own. We are happy to have her sleeping better at night, but will miss seeing family.