Thanksgiving in Minnesota -2012

We haven't been to Minnesota for Thanksgiving in many many years. Normally, we have the Turek's in town as they winterbird down to FL from Detroit. This year, we mixed it up a little bit. And to top it off, our Johnson Family also joined in on the festivities with us which made it all the more exciting :)

Here are some highlights of our trip:

• Flew into Minneapolis and Auntie Julie picked us up. We got some good quality bonding time with her on the drive back towards home.
• Pit stop in Hinckley to stay over in a hotel so we could go swimming! :)
• Bon fire in the woods on Papa Dan & Grandma Con Bon's lake property. The bon fire is where Will broke out his "air guitar" skills listening to Pandora LOL
• Haircut by Grandma Con Bon. So cute. He was shaggy Will before the haircut, that's for sure!
• Spending quality time with all our relatives. Love everybody!!
• Throwing rocks in Chub Lake which was almost froze over. The rock would slide on the ice and then plop into the lake.
• The weather was so mild. We even hit 50!
• Rough housing with the Male boys is always a good time!
• Playing "Restaurant" with Grandma Con Bon. A very fun time for Will. My Mom pulled out this box of dishes and food from her storage in the garage. Will had a GREAT time fixing and making food and then serving it to us. :)
• Will and Annika running their first race --Gobble Gallop in Duluth MN. 1/4 mile which is actually a pretty far run for a little one. When the countdown for the race start was happening, TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN and so on.. poor Annika got scared and started crying. Never fear! Uncle Ricky T scooped her up and started the race running with her. Will took off like a speeding bullet. We actually had to "try" to catch him! In the beginning of the race, he stopped to pick up a stick in the street. LOL About half way through the race, he started to get out of breath. "Daddy. I need some water.. Daddy. I need some water." He made it the entire way running all by himself. So proud!
• Running the Gobble Gallop and not believing that my brother who didn't train, beat us all. Seriously? But Rick and I both ran our fastest 5ks EVER. We ran a 8:08/mile.
• Thanksgiving celebration at Grandma Con Bon and Papa Dan's house who hosted the entire Johnson clan. It was very special and awesome. THANK YOU Mom and Dan!
• Snocross. THANK YOU JULIE!
• UMD Hockey game. Another first for Will, a hockey game. He had a blast. There was a blue youth snowmobile there on display in the lobby as an advertisement. Will was THRILLED to go and sit on the snowmobile. We could barely peel him away from it. When we finally got him to get off and start walking to the car he says to me, "Mommy. I'm gonna buy you that for your birthday." :) :) :)
• Bentleyville --looking at all the fantastic Christmas lights in downtown Duluth. Largest light display in the state. The Santa line was too long so we opted to see Mrs. Claus instead. Cute picture of the cousin boys, Braedyn Male, Will & Braxdyn Male.
• To top off our trip, we got about 3 inches of snow, starting Thanksgiving afternoon. It didn't stop snowing for 3 days. We had a ball! How do you plan for better weather?? 50s in the beginning of the trip where I could run outside in short sleeves and shorts. Race happened about 40 degrees that morning. Who woulda thunk it?? Then when the party starts, its a blizzard!