Visiting the Land of Cold

If you didn't hear, Colorado had a freak cold-snap for about a week last week.  Not just "cold"... but COLD.  Highs of 3 degrees.  That is unheard of here. Brrrrrrr.....

But Matt had to head to Minneapolis for a work training, so Benjamin and I bundled up and headed with him for a few days.  And it was even colder there!  What?!

 
Thankfully, Benjamin traveled well on the 7am flight - no meltdowns for us!  Maybe it was the whole traveling in PJs thing...

 

 
As soon as we got in the car, he passed out.  Riding on planes is exhausting!

Seeing Auntie Emma when we arrived at the Larsons'!  He loves his Auntie Emma, he even wore the hat she sent him just for the occasion. :)

Shortly after we arrived, some of us headed to Bethel for the Festival of Christmas concert.  Jacob's last one!  It was beautiful of course!

Afterwards, some of the cousins met up at the new Surly brewery/taphouse.  It is always great to see the cousins when we're back... just wish we could see them more often!

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the Walters' residence, but I apparently forgot to take pictures! Oops!

The next day Mimi and Papa took Benjamin to church while Matt and I slept in for once :)  Apparently BWL even slept during the service which is unheard of around these parts!

So happy playing with Papa!

We had some of Pam's family over for a tasty lunch and to celebrate Matt's birthday!  Benjamin fell in love with his second-cousin Emma (not to be confused with 'Auntie Emma', whom he also loves dearly)... and he followed her around and wanted to play with her the ENTIRE time.  It was cute (and a little obsessive)! Too bad we can't see her more often!

only Emma was allowed to put his slippers on...

I missed the actual kiss...

if you can't tell, he's in heaven

singing happy birthday to Matt!

moooooommmmmmm!!!!!

And later that night, the young folk went out to the Lyndale Taphouse for trivia night.  It was a blast!  (Even though we barely missed coming in 3rd place...)  Oh yeah, and it was COOOOOOLD.

My last day there we had a lazy morning with Suzie and Sara coming over to play. Sara, Matt, and I even got to sneak away to catch Catching Fire (finally!).  (PS - it was really good!!)

 

 

 

Movie time!

After I left that evening, Matt headed to work for a few days while Benjamin spent a lot of time hanging out with Mimi!  They had a blast, of course.  And they all got to see Santa at the downtown Macys!  Lucky little boy!

love this pic with Auntie Sara!

 

Sara told me that he went from terror, to uncertainty, to high fiving Santa.  :)  Wish I could have seen it in person!

 

Calling mom to say hi!

We love our time in Minnesota!!  Now we just need our MN peeps to come visit Colorado ;)  Hint hint.  {As I type this, at 4pm, it is currently 55 degrees in Denver.  It is 1 degree in Minneapolis... just sayin'.}