We just returned from a great trip back to Minnesota and North Dakota for an early Christmas with Jessi's side of the family. Notice I didn't say Jessi's family. After over 15 years as an "In-Law", I consider them as much my family as anyone's. Our boys haven't spend any time in the snow since we moved to Arizona 8 years ago. You can tell by this first picture that Kaeden was taking it all in on our first morning when we awoke to a picturesque snowfall.
We were fortunate enough to be able to find this beautiful log cabin-themed restaurant that let us set up a family photo. I employed the bartender to hold the flash for us while we snapped five quick pictures. You can see how little Braiden is looking that direction. He must have thought the bartender was taking the picture because he is looking at him in EVERY picture. I thought that was very funny.
My wonderful parents (in-laws) live on a beautiful lake in western Minnesota and the lake froze over very smooth this year. We were fortunate to get out there and pull the kids around on a sled with the ATV one day. Even Grandma loves to get out there and enjoy the excitement.
This image shows a crack in the ice and you can see that its at least 10 inches thick. I have never been on a frozen lake like that before and I'll tell you that it is a nervous feeling when you feel the ice crack and hear the sound radiate through the lake.
This image shows Jordan and Kaeden trying to look through the ice into the lake. They couldn't really see anything but the real point of sharing this image is comparing it to the image after it. Not only did we get to experience a winter that we have been away from for 8 years but we experienced the third largest snowfall in a 24 hour period on record. You can see how much snow is on the lake when we woke up after the storm. I can tell you that it was simply beautiful.
The following pictures are from our trip to a Christmas tree farm. This was the day before the storm hit. It was very cold but we still had a great time. We were blessed with the most beautiful frost on the trees, a photographers dream.
Finally, I provide you with my two favorite pictures from the trip. This first one is of my nephews after opening a gift that they had no idea of what it was about. They tore open the wrapping paper with feverish excitement and then stood back and looked at it with... well, these expressions. It was priceless. I seriously giggle out loud every time I look at the picture.
This shot was of Dane after he came in from an extended below zero degree snow session. He had frozen eyelashes and I just wanted to capture it and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful light coming through the frost covered door window.
Merry Christmas everyone!!
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