Yuletide celebrating begins

Christmas was a nice, quiet day for us.  It was decided that since we are moving back to MN, and closer to the grandparents, at the end of the month a trip back just for Christmas wasn't really needed.  So, instead of going all the way back to MN and spending a week, we drove to Bismarck and spent a couple of nights in a hotel.  The kids got to play in the pool and I got to enjoy two days of not cooking at all!  The trip was actually an attempt to get Christmas shopping done.  And it was a great success.  Before that weekend we had not purchased a single gift.  Eric and I had some ideas of what we wanted then did all the shopping in one day.  It went surprisingly well.  Both of us were able to make quick decisions and we went to the mall right after it opened so the crowds were smaller. 

Here are a few pictures from the trip. 

Pizza by the pool

Train ride at the mall

Distracted from dinner by the action in the pool

Chugga chugga choo choo!

The kids had a great time, we got some much needed shopping done and our dog Lila got to come along.  The short trip was so much easier than the long trip back to MN and we were able to spend a lot of time together.  My parents and little brother even made an unplanned stop to see us for a couple minuets on their way to my sister's in Colorado.  Before we know it, it will be the end of January and we will be celebrating Christmas again with family in MN.