The night before we flew out to Minnesota, we had a mini-English-style Christmas dinner with lamb, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, pigs-in-blankets (bacon-wrapped chipolata sausages) and veg (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots). We shared a Christmas pudding for dessert, too!
We had such a great time in the States! On Christmas eve-eve, we watched Christmas movies and decorated a Gingerbread house to add to the Gingerbread village that Kelly and the kids had already been working on--it turned out great! It was Richard's first time decorating a Gingerbread house, and he got into it--know he understands why I've been so keen on this tradition!
The complete village--Charlie did the a-frame, William did the "outhouse" and Kelly did the tiny house (and touched up the kids' work, too!)
We watched "It's a Wonderful Life"--Charlie was a bit concerned by this scene, where George jumps in the river after Clarence. "What happened?!"
We went to the Swedish-American Institute with my mom--it's in a gorgeous castle in Minneapolis that was built by a Swedish newspaper owner
Tomte!
Such a gorgeous place--and it's so similar to the great houses in Europe that it was hard to believe we were in Minneapolis!
Mom & me in the conservatory
These ceramic tile stoves were amazing--they're designed to emit heat throughout the whole structure, so they're not just pretty, they're functional, too!
Trying on the Santa Lucia costume!
More Tomte in the garden
The conservatory
When we went to the Science museum in St Paul, we had a great view of the Mississippi River. It was so funny to see these classic showboats in the ice!
On Richard's birthday we went cross-country skiing at Elm Creek park
Neither of us had ever skied before, either downhill or cross-country, so it was an adventure!
We both fell over a couple of times, but once we got the hang of it, we managed to do the whole beginner loop trail
We had a great day for it, too--very sunny and clear, even though it was cold!
The park has slopes for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and a whole separate section devoted to tubing
By the time we made it back to the chalet, we had ice crystals on our eyebrows and face masks
The birthday boy! He got carded when he ordered a drink at dinner--not too bad for 35!
We had a great time with the kids--Richard and Charlie enjoyed playing with the Thomas trains
Pudd and I had a lot of fun, too, reading and playing and watching movies. When we watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", Pudd and I talked about the true meaning of Christmas, i.e. that it's not about the presents, and he said "It's about the love". So cute!
Charlie is loving the trampoline--both kids use it while watching TV, and it's a great way to burn off some steam while staying indoors.
Watching Toy Story with Buzz Lightyear
Richard built this on our last night, after Charlie went to bed. I think I know what to get Richard for next Christmas, lol!
So cute!
