Christmas in Minnesota

We traveled to Janesville for Christmas this year to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Garms and Great-Grandma Hultquist. Despite predictions for a "storm of the century," the weather managed to cooperate the whole way from Lakewood to Janesville. The worst roads we drove on were in Colorado on the way to the airport. Of course, the malfunction of windsheild wipers caused Travis to drive with his head out the window "Ace Ventura style" for a portion of the drive. Yikes!

Once we arrived in Janesville, it was like stepping into a time machine that magically transported me back to Christmas Past. The Garms household was decorated with all the Christmas decorations I remembered as a child and the smell of cookies hung in the air....well, it did until Amy and I ate all the sugar cookies! Charlie was the guest of honor of course as Grandma/Grandpa Garms hadn't seen him in quite some time and Great Grandma Hultquist had never met him. Charlie warmed right up them, reaching out for Great Grandma Hultquist and snuggling into her lap as all the rest of the grandchildren did during their childhoods. It was pretty amazing to see.

Santa did arrive, and Charlie again was the primarily beneficiary. Guess we all know who was good this year! There were so many presents that we had to open them in three shifts, crazy. Highlights of the gift wrapping included (i) a cell phone from Charlie's cousins in Washington that he liked so much he immediately put it in his mouth (a real sign of approval for the Chaz), (ii) Charlie getting a teddy bear from G-G Hultquist (just like his dad did 33 years ago), (iii) Mom getting a veggie brush that I think was meant for Coco, (iv) Charlie getting a walker that makes some really annoying noises (that charlie plays with nonstop), and (v) Dad getting a t-shirt from Amy that has a squirrel on it. You will have to ask Denny about the shirt. The picture included is of Charlie with all his presents, as you can see, he is pretty happy about the whole thing.

Too much else to include in one post, but overall it was a phenominal time in Janesville. Despite the weather, Charlie managed to get outside to make his first snow angel. It was really Dad doing the work and Charlie wondering what on earth was going on, but we captured it on video for Mom and Dad to watch for years to come.