(Conrad, dressed for church and carrying his gift for Gr. Marge)
Christmas Eve day started with a yummy breakfast of french toast and fruit, then the boys went out to play while I straightened up and got everything laid out for church and visiting Grandma Marge. We left plenty early for church for two reasons - 1. nap (for the kids) and 2. seating is tough for that Children's Mass! As expected, the kiddos fell asleep before we even got on the highway. Once we got to the parking lot, I sent Tim inside to save seats and I sat in a quiet truck and read for nearly an hour. When it was time, I woke the kids up and carried both inside. (Norrie in her carseat, Conrad on my back - the looks I got from others were comical!!)
After church we asked Tim's co-worker to take our picture since this was the first year ever we attended church on Christmas Eve without other family. Norrie was extremely interested in the creche. And the co-worker wasn't trying very hard to pull her attention towards him either.
After church, we took a driving tour of Rochester looking for holiday decorations. Not many homes lit up, but the popcorn I had packed was really tasty. At Marge's house we had some more snacks and visited, opened gifts. The kids fell asleep on the way home which gave Tim and me some time to get the place warmed up and a few things put away before carrying them to bed.
Christmas Day
Here's where our best holiday memories occurred. At home, all day, great snow, little to no wind. During breakfast we had discussed several options and skiing seemed to be the favored course of action. While Tim and I cleared the table and changed our clothes, CW rushed out to play with his skis and wait for us. Shortly after I took this picture I peeked out at him again and I could tell he was growing impatient. He had pulled all of our skis and poles out of the rack and had them all lined up waiting for us to step into!
Unfortunately, just before I stepped out the door he was coming in saying his thumbs were cold and he had to go potty. Then before going out again he announced he had changed his mind, he didn't want to go skiing anymore. Ugh. I convinced him it was indeed time to play outside since the rest of us were already bundled up and going out. In the end, Tim took Norrie skiing so she could nap, and CW and I grabbed a sled and trekked to the other side of the valley to the sled run. It was great! After about an hour we were ready to go inside. Conrad and I had hot cocoa and a snack and then started prepping ingredients for chili. From across the way, I spotted Tim so took this picture.... 
By the time Tim and Norrie came in, Conrad and I had the chili simmering on the wood stove. We decided it was time to pull out the presents. Conrad enjoyed his first two gifts so much, we never even got around to playing the third one. Maybe during this upcoming holiday weekend??
It was such a quiet peaceful day. Finally the smell of the chili lured us to the dinner table and afterwards we geared up for another outside adventure.
This time we all agreed on skiing. Conrad was pretty tired and it wasn't long before he decided to join his sister in the chariot though.
Tim and I skiied up and down the driveway, through the cornfields and around the prairie. As long as the kids were sleeping, we didn't see any reason to quit. Until it started getting dark and a bit colder anyway. We stopped, took our skis off and I opened the chariot only to be asked if we could keep going. Conrad wanted to go back to sleep :)
The rest of the evening was quiet and we were all in bed quite early. It was great! The next morning we went to church again and then had brunch and Christmas at my parents house. Mid afternoon we shifted to Tim's dad's house to visit our friends from Duluth (who happen to be related to us now that her mom married Tim's dad!) And then home. Ah...good weekend!