White, Wonderful Christmas

Lots of snow and some records lows made for a beautiful white Christmas. Glad we were home for this one! We cooked lots of food, and had a slow steady calm holiday with food, family, and nice gifts mostly acquired on the USA trip, so there was no shopping frenzy to take us out into the world or on the roads. It was good to just stay close to home.

The red house looks so cute when the sky is blue and the sun shines and the white snow is piled high.

Nothing prettier in winter than tons of snow reflecting sunshine, the bright light makes up for the early sunset.

The latest pile up on the hammock

Burying the summer furniture and trampoline, they never got put away since the heavy snow came earlier than expected this year.

The 23rd we had to shovel a nice even path so Farmor could walk to the door through the 2 feet of snow. We enlisted help from our teenage nephew who lives down the street. The kids wanted in on the action!

Everyone pitched in!

And played, too.

The Toddler Winter Dilemma- If I wear my mittens, I have no dexterity and limited use of my hands, if I do not, I freeze.

Hmmmm......I will just ask to have them put on, then take them right off again every 5 minutes....

Christmas Eve is the main celebration day for the Swedes, so we headed to my sister in law's house a few door down on our same street and did the holiday Swedish way!

We arrived at 3pm so we could observe the sacred Swedish Tradition of watching Kalle Anka, or Donald Duck, a series of Disney cartoon shorts shown every year. We had glögg, pepparkakor, clementines, and cracked walnuts while gathered together for the cartoons!

Most of the Crew

SwedeGirl cozied up to her cousins, snuggled on the lap of teenage boy cousin, casually holding hands with her age mate boy cousin.

(Mission move to Sweden and get to know my husbands family- accomplished! )

We followed up by eating Swedish Christmas Dinner, called JulBord- pickled herring of several varieties, smoked salmon, eggs and caviar, smoked mackerel salad, ham, liver pate, pickled cabbage, Jansen's Temptation- Swedish Potato Gratin, and boiled potatos.

Swedish JulBord

Mother and Son

It has not been the best year for getting cute shots of the kids, who are always on the go, but they are cute none the less!

SwedeBaby in her fancy dress

Swedegirl Christmas Eve at her Aunts House

Dad and Kids

The Best Shot of Mom and Dad the 5 year old could manage

The Tree, decorated in red and straw on Christmas Morning

We have a tradition of keeping the cut made into the trunk when we buy the tree, and writing memories for that year's Christmas on it when we pack up the ornaments, and using it as an ornament in the future. Fun to see notes from Christmas past!

Christmas Morning Excitement! The stocking were full of surprises!

Excited Kids and Gifts under the tree Christmas morning

In the evening, we hosted the Swedes for an American Christmas Feast. Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing, Gravy and all the Fixings.

Licking a beater from the whipped cream for the pumpkin pie, a yummy holiday must.

Merry Christmas!

May your days be merry and bright.