The Hvass Family: A Merry Christmas!

We have had such a wonderful visit with Paul's family in Minnesota! This trip was Natalie's 8th (?) flight but the first time she got her own seat! She loved having her own seat belt to put on, take off, put on, take off, put on...... I was a HUGE fan of not having a large, squirmy toddler in my lap the entire flight ;)

When we arrived in Minnesota on December 17th there was snow covering the ground. Thank goodness! because for the next week they had unseasonably warm temperatures and the snow mostly disappeared. Here are the girls trying to figure out their gloves ;)

It was very, very fun to play in the snow!

But my girls are Texas wimps...they didn't last more than 30 minutes.

We did so many fun things over the 9 days we were in Minnesota.

Here are WAY too many pictures.....

Hannah baked sugar cookies with Oma!

We went to the Mall of America.

Hannah and Ashton spent a good part of a day with

Aunt Julie enjoying the rides at Nickelodeon Universe.

All of us enjoyed Lego Land in the Mall of America...

(I also got to take the girls into the American Girl Doll store which they both LOVED!)

We had a fun time opening gifts together and received so many nice things!

Hannah's favorite gift was this Cleopatra costume from Oma & Opa

Natalie received some costumes for Christmas also...here she is as a sweet ladybug :)

Oma made BEAUTFIUL collages for each kiddo...Ashton really loved his collage!

We celebrated Opa's birthday in a very special way...

First, we went to the cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul)

for a nice lunch and yummy dessert at Cafe Latte.

Here is a cute pic of Ashton (aka Ironman) and Hannah!

They are such great buddies!

(We only took Hannah & Ashton on this adventure because Natalie and Weston needed naps!)

Second, we went to a spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz

by the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

Here are Hannah and Ashton taking a peak at the pit orchestra before the show began.

Ashton and Aunt Julie

Daddy & Hannah....just waiting for the show to begin!

When asked about her favorite part of the show...Hannah said "Dorothy's shoes!" (of course!) She was a little nervous about the Wicked Witch (Ashton's favorite part!) and the Cowardly Lion -- she thought he was a REAL lion.

Third, we ended Opa's birthday with more dessert ;) YUM!

Paul's parents minister to students at Carleton College and live on the edge of campus.

It is so nice to have a track 2 blocks away where the kiddos could run off some steam.

Silly cousins enjoying the warmer-than-usual weather!

Snow angels in the grass (?)

Ashton, Weston & Hannah

The girls love being read to and enjoyed stories with both Opa...

...and Oma!

This was our first time in 6 years to spend Christmas with Paul's family and we enjoyed attending the Hvass Family Christmas Eve party again!!! We got to see LOTS of cousins and aunts and uncles! Here are Claire, Emily & Luke.