Christmas in MN

So one of the nice things about digital cameras is that I can keep snapping pictures until I get a good shot without having to print off all the trials. One the other hand, this also leaves me with tons of photos. The biggest offender was December- I have 715 photos & video clips in my December folder! So while this is a long post, I really did try to just include the highlights. We had a great trip out to MN to visit the Jacobson side of the family. We were there for a week and had lots of fun even though most of us were sick with either a head cold or the flu at some point during the trip.

We flew out Christmas Eve evening. The girls were very excited to get on the plane despite it being bedtime.

Hannah enjoying her first plane ride
Sophia excited to get to see her cousins, aunts, uncles, & grandma-in-the woods.
Reading the night before Christmas to try to calm Sophia down in hopes that she will rest (she didn't).
Keeping Sophia occupied with games/videos on Axel's phone
Hannah eventually took a nap on Mom, which she definitely needed
Sophia had a lot of fun on the moving stairways in the airport which is great because we had plenty of walking to do!
Gramma knit Sophia a stocking and gave it to her before we left. We didn't realize how big it would be when we were picking out the patterns but it looks great!
Christmas morning- after arriving late Christmas Eve and a bit of a rough night getting settled, Hannah thankfully slept in! It was very cold so Axel covered her up with his sweatshirt before the rest of us headed upstairs to start opening stockings.
Sophia digging into her stocking
Once Hannah got up Sophia was done opening her own stocking and had fun "helping" Hannah open hers. We did make sure that Hannah got to open a few of her own presents too.
Oooh look at what you got Hannah! play food (given to Hannah strategically so that they each have some for sharing)
Sophia's distracted and Hannah's getting a chance to open her own gifts.
Hannah & Emma opening presents with Auntie Steph
Auntie Steph was very patient with Hannah taking her time opening presents. While the other kids opened all of their presents right away, Hannah spread hers out throughout the whole day. Once she opened one she was content to play with it and wasn't interested in opening another.
oooh, a banana! forget about that wooden playfood, I found something to eat!
Christmas morning at Justin & Lisa's house
Hannah loved the tree and all of the pretty ornaments.
Hannah snuggling with Auntie Marie while Sophia tries out her new camera. We had our own personal paparazzi.
Hannah's a bit unsure what all this activity is about first thing in the morning.
Hannah found a kitty!
Sophia loves her new baby doll from Grandma
A new baby for Hannah too
Sophia sitting on Emma's lap watching home movies
fun on the exercise ball during home movies
Jacobson home movies on the bleachers in the basement. Sophia particularly liked seeing movies of Daddy when he was little.
Christmas day outfits- Sophia is reading Hannah her new book from Aunt Libby.
bundled up to go outside and see Daddy play broomball on the ice rink in the backyard
Dec 26- all dressed up for a family brunch

brunch was delicious but wore Hannah out!
family photo at brunch, we're just missing Aunt Lisa (home sick) and Uncle Nate (in Philippines)
cousins playing at brunch. They were done eating but thanks to phones with youtube they were occupied watching videos of funny cats.
Kierie trying to teach her younger cousins & grandma how to play operation. Good effort Kierie but the buzzing could be heard throughout the house. the patient did not survive this operation.
this is probably the best family photo we've gotten, even though Hannah isn't looking at the camera.
trying to get a group shot of the cousins before the Elwoods fly back to Georgia.
hoping for a nice shot of Grandma and her grandkids. The kids had more fun together than it looks like here.
Arts & crafts time with sculpy modeling clay
Emma worked for over an hour creating a snowman scene
Sophia & Emma playing in the snow with Auntie Steph
sledding
Aunt Steph's turn
Hannah did not like sledding- too much snow on her face

Hannah loved this kind of sledding- flat, slower and no blowing snow. We took the girls on a walk/ride to the park and did some minisledding on a little hill
Sophia & Emma had lots of fun together!
Sophia & Emma swinging on the rings in the basement
Axel playing Wii sports with the little girls
Fun at the Como zoo






Axel playing a game with Matthew
A trip to underwater world at the mall of america. the jellyfish were beautiful.

the glass tunnel provided amazing views of the animals. everyone enjoyed "touching" the animals.




Lunch at the rainforest cafe. I thought Sophia would love it, but while sitting in the gorilla section provided Hannah with lots to look at it was a little overwhelming for Sophia. Sophia spent most of lunch either clinging to Axel or begging to be taken to the bathroom (just to get away from the animatronic gorillas)

Justin, Emma, Axel & Sophia on the carousel at the mall of america
Axel, Sophia & Emma on the train. Auntie Steph bought each of the girls a ride ticket but since they didn't scan at the carousel the girls got to go on a bonus train ride.

Hannah was pooped from all the activities!
The day before we left, Lisa & I took the kids to Target to spend some of their Christmas money. Sophia & Emma both bought bath crayons and had to jump right into the tub to try them out. they had a ball!
Squeezing in a visit to Auntie Verna before we head off to the airport.
back on the plane, headed home

The girls were equally excited about this plane trip. Once again, Hannah eventually fell asleep on Mom and Sophia stayed awake playing & eating snacks.
Gramma picked us up from the airport and had a delicious dinner hot & waiting for us! We got to see Great-Gramma & Great-Grampa for a little bit before they left the next morning. We were sick the week before Christmas and only got to visit with them for a few hours but enjoyed having New Years Eve dinner with them.
home sweet home! Sophia making a snowman with Dad.