We really weren't 100% sure whether or not flying on Christmas day and New Years day would be a good idea or not, but it seemed to have worked out well for us this year.
We enjoyed a beautiful, warm, relaxing Christmas Eve in Waco. We spent most of the day outside, in shorts and short sleeves which was odd, but fun!
We had a nice, grilled Christmas Eve dinner with our advent wreath on the picnic table outside.
After dinner we went to a candlelight service at our friend's church where we've gone a couple of other times. It was a really nice service which ended with the lights turned out and everyone holding candles singing Silent Night.
When we got home the girls eagerly sprinkled reindeer food and carrots in the front yard and picked out cookies for Santa. Ruby read us the Christmas story before snuggling up.
We expected both girls to be up late, and they probably were, but they did a good job of staying quiet in their beds so Santa could do his magic! They didn't get up too early either! Ada called for me around 6:15, but when I went in there I could tell she didn't really know it was morning yet, so I covered her back up and told her to go back to sleep. Which she did! Ruby tiptoed out to peek in the living room around 7:00am and then crawled in bed with us. We finally let her wake up her sister at 7:30 when she could barely stand it anymore!
It's funny to see how excited Ruby was about Santa coming even though Steve and I haven't said anything about him! I'm not sure Ada really understands the Santa thing, but she was happy with the candy and chapstick in their stockings! Ruby was thrilled to get her pottery wheel she asked for and Ada got a spin art machine too.
(They're wearing their 12 Days of Christmas jams!!! It was actually too hot to wear them to bed, but Ru put them on before she came out of her room, just to make her dear Mom happy!)
The girls also had a couple presents to open from us and a couple packages that came in the mail. Steve and I gave Ruby a fuzzy pillow (our sensory girl loves anything soft). Ada got a mac-n-cheese dress and necklace from us (she's obsessed). We tested out a bunch of our new toys and then got ready to head north!
We flew out of Dallas and had a layover which made for a long day, but it went pretty smoothly. We were excited to get to RF and see Gaga, Grandpa, Sam, Logan, and the white ground! There really wasn't much snow when we first arrived but we got a few inches the first night so Ruby and Ada bundled up right away and played outside with Sam and Logan.
We had several night hikes through the woods on the trail Grandpa Steve cut. Sometimes Grandpa pulled both girls on sleds and sometimes we all walked/ran around the loop!
We went ice skating again this year too.
Everyone did good.
Ruby will tell you that Ada was better than her because she only fell once and Ruby fell a lot. However, that's mostly because Ruby insisted on going a million miles and hour and Ada went nice and slow. Strange, usually their personalities are opposite.
Ada to Gaga, "Are you very proud of me?"
The Fredricks stopped for a bit on their way through River Falls. It was so fun to see them and we sure wish these girls could play together more often!
We woke up the first morning in Winona to Ada looking out the window and saying, "Uff-da. There's a lot of snow out there."
Gaga and Grandpa took the girls on some sled rides and they loved getting pushed down the hill. They didn't love pulling their sleds back up though.
Both girls love the kitties in Wisconsin and Ruby likes the puppies in Minnesota too.
Ada is always SUPER nervous about the dogs for a couple days and then warms up some as long as there's a grown-up nearby. Gaga got a new little puppy which the girls got to help name!
We ended up back in RF for the last day (since we fly out of Minneapolis) and Grandpa Steve was excited there was now enough snow to take Ruby and Ada on his snowmobile. It was pretty hilarious watching them with the huge helmet on!
Like I said on Instagram, we LOVE having the chance to enjoy a snowy Christmas each year, but we also kinda love that we only enjoy it for a week each year!
Skating and Sledding 2015 from
Steven Nelson on
Vimeo.
We had so much fun and loved spending time with both our families. On the way back to the airport, the girls were so sad to leave so I asked, "What were your favorite things about 'Sconsinsota?" Ada: "Umm... Gaga. Giving Gaga hugs. And giving Grandpa hugs." Ruby's favs included the puppies and snowmobiling as well as the grandparents.
This might be on my list.
It's a Licht family Christmas tradition!
We flew back on New Year's Day and didn't roll into Waco until about midnight. Shockingly, BOTH girls fell asleep on the 2 hour drive back from Dallas. Yep, you read that right... even Ruby fell asleep in the car. First time for everything. Seriously. It was the first time. Ever.
We were once again spoiled with Jesus' love, beautiful worship, presents, yummy food, attention, and lots of love this Christmas! Hope you all were too!
Loved having you guys here! Precious memories!
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