NoDak Christmas

Ok, here it goes.....

Last weekend, after we went to the Llama Llama play, we did our Krump family Christmas with just the four of us.  We upgraded to the Hot Seats for the Holidazzle parade this year.  Why didn't I really know about these before the final year of the Holidazzle?  You get to sit in a tent that's pumped with heat, hot cocoa, and apple cider!  They literally sell out for every night of the parade within a couple hours of when they go on sale back in November.  I was too slow that day, but thank goodness for my friend who ordered a few extras, we were able to get our hands on some :)  Henry got to sit down in the front row with all the other little kiddos.  He loved it!  Lydia snoozed in my arms, as it was about 100 degrees in there.

We opened up a few gifts that night as well.  Gotta love this age - he really would be just as excited to open a present whether there was a pencil in there or a million bucks!

Then we took off for Jamestown the next morning.

We had to make a couple stops to eat and get out of the car seat.  Lydia even got her turn at the wheel :)

Helper Elf made the trip to Grandma and Grandpa's, too!

Yep, it was a balmy -22 degrees when we went to Bismarck the next morning, and that was just the raw temperature.  It was brutal!

We made a couple stops in Bismarck - first up, seeing my cousin's daughter, Hadley, as well as my dad's brother and sister.  

For lunch, we had a Christmas pizza party at my grandma's nursing home.  Henry was as pumped as could be to play with his partner in crime, Auntie Jackie.  Those two sure do love to get into trouble :)  She definitely spoils these kiddos!   

"Don't worry, I won't drop her.  I've had 7 of these you know!" says my Grandma.  

four generations 

all smiles for that Papa 

And now - Christmas Eve.....

Papa had the fabulous idea of checking out the fire station in the morning.  Henry got to sit in all the trucks.....

.....and pose with the Fire Chief!

We had to take Henry to the best sledding hill in town - Hillcrest Golf Course.  We braved the wind (yes, it was below 0 wind chill) and took a few trips down the hill.  We were the only ones there, which totally surprised me!  Apparently, we were the only brave ones out that day!

We could only take 3 trips down the hill before needing to head inside The Bunker to warm up and drink some hot cocoa.

Then after 3 more trips, we had to head home - too cold!

Henry sure was spoiled this year with Christmas presents from Grandma and Grandpa - lots of trucks and construction equipment, Legos, puzzles, clothes, and much much more!

This is how our conversation went at about 3pm on Christmas Eve.....

Me to Phil: "You have the Santa presents in your suitcase, right?"

Phil: "No, I thought you did."

Me: "No, I thought you did."  

Oops!  Thank goodness Grandma had a few extra gifts and we were able to borrow one "from Santa!"

Henry put his reindeer food out on the snow and his cookies by the fireplace.  When I was tucking him in that night, this is what he said - "Ok, Mommy, this is the plan for tomorrow.  I will wake up and go straight downstairs, turn the light on, wait, is there only one light or are there two lights?  Then I will SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT ME!  Then I will put his plate in the dishwasher for him.  And if he didn't finish his cookies, I will throw them in them in the garbage."  Ok, then.  He really did go right to sleep.  We've been talking all week about how Santa doesn't come when you're awake, and you have to go to sleep right away :)  

We headed back to MN on Christmas day.  That way, we had a couple more days of family fun before Phil heads back to work!