Christmastime in Minnesota with some of our family

Tim, Jon, me, Cody, Cooper, and Maggie piled (high to the ceiling) into the Sienna for the first family road trip. We left Denver with about a foot of fresh snow, and by the time we were in Nebraska, there was just dry land, no snow. It stayed looking that way until about Elk River, MN (30 mins from home) where we started to see white. But, it was a mini-white. Like the kind that if you look at the right angle, it looks like there is snow on the ground, but if you look from another angle, it's still green-brown. Oh well. We drove overnight which was a huge success. And by we, I mean Jon and Tim. They were rockstars. Cooper started to annoy Jon, so he was sentenced to a drive in the back with Maggie from around Council Bluffs, IA to Milaca. It went over much smoother than we'd all anticipated!

We arrived in the Milaca Area the morning of Christmas Eve, and took a rest at Tim's mom's house before we headed over to Mora for Christmas time with his dad's family!

Marie's idea for celebration this year was to dress up western.

Phil's idea of wrapping presents this year was the REI bag super-taped shut, or sticky notes. Nice.

Cody really hit it off with his cousin MaKayla! They're about half a year apart.

Grandma Gert came to join in on the fun and steal some of Corban's snacks for a bit :)

MaKayla, rocking it in her hat and boots!

Mama Love!

The kids... Cody and MaKayla wrestled and chewed on all the things on the floor together, while Jadon played with MaKayla's new toys (obviously bottomless), and Corban tried to run the show. Life as a kid at Christmas is great!

Storytime with Grandma Marie and all her grandkids!!!

After a good(enough) night's sleep and a lazy morning, it was time for Christmas day at the Swedin's.

Will's favorite Christmas present?

Will's more-likely favorites are actually Legos. Always. He loves Legos.

Cody opened presents from his first stocking.

Our Boy

Uncle Kevie and Linds helped Cody open his first present with wrapping paper!

Jon is special.

Our fam. Each sporting something received as a gift.

Brunch at Cody's Great Grandma Anna's house

3 Generations to LOVE

After all the excitement with Tim's side of the family, we spent some time with my mom and her family too...

Smooches from Grandma BeBe

loving the log cabin, and admiring the new cabinetry

3 Generations again.

4 Generations!

Great Grandpa George loves Cody, his 4th of 6 Great Grandchildren!

Holding Hands with someone who is 90 years older than you is pretty special!

Just Hanging out at Grandpa George's

We spent the 26th with my Mom and Ken for Christmas celebrating, and Her Birthday. Alicia and Joe treated mom--via us--to a birthday dinner in the grand city of St. Cloud. We took them to Mexican Village for delicious Mexican fare. YUM! Then we went to Grandpa George's for a visit.