Ah, Winter in Minnesota. This poor reindeer outside our front door is nothing but a sad little head (he moves, too -- it looks like he's just shaking his head at all the snow!) It is the same reindeer Jason and Don set up in our front yard in July. What a difference 5 months can make. notice the mailbox in the background. It does not face the street anymore and is nearly buried. That is what a snow plow and 40 plus inches of snow in December will do.
For the next few pics, Jakey will demonstrate why it's difficult to take pictures of the boys these days. They are both madly in love with the camera, and set out to grab it the minute they spot us with it...
We started our Christmas activities in New London, MN, where we visited Great-Grandma Vivian at the nursing home on the 23rd (that's Jakey on her lap). Her face may not show it, but there was no one happier than she was to see the boys for Christmas! The boys' gifts to great-grandma were pictures of themselves, with recordings of their laughter attached to the frames. What a delight to see Vivian's reaction to this simple gift -- we'll carry that smile with us for a long time. The boys were also really excited to spend their first Christmas with Grandma Kathy and Great Uncle Gary. The boys greatly enjoyed their first experience of opening gifts - here's Robbie opening his giant snowman from Gary and Julie.
Next, our Christmas journeys led us to Atlanta for Christmas with the Chilsons. Bob's brother Mike and his wife Elizabeth hosted all of us at their home ("all of us" = Mike, Elizabeth, and their boys Drew and Ollie, Don, Amy, their kids Jack, Ella, and Elise, and Don and Jean!) On Christmas morning, we packed up the boys to take them on their first flight. Here they are at the airport. They were great little travelers. We were so proud of them (and relieved on behalf of all the innocent folks on the plane).
Here are the boys in their Christmas PJ's. Robbie crawling over Jakey is a common sight these days, much to Jakey's dismay!
We all took advantage of the hotel pool where the "Green Bay Chilsons" were staying. Our boys still love the water! (Daddy is SO happy about this). We're hoping for a great summer on the lake, so hopefully this is an indication of what's to come. When the boys dried off, they posed for a photo opp with Grandpa Don.
We arrived back home in plenty of time to ring in the New Year. Here are the boys celebrating New Year's Eve, Greenwich Mean Time (One hour before their 7pm bedtime!)
What a year it was - Hope you all have had a great start to 2011 :)
Jakey, as a cow.
