Christmas Road Trip

As I mentioned in a previous post, we opted to road trip to Minnesota this year for Christmas.  We had perfect driving conditions the entire way there and back (so perfect, in fact, that there wasn't even the slightest snow cover on the ground Up North ... which actually wasn't perfect for me, but none of the natives were complaining about the sunshine and warm temps).  Stops to visit Kansas City and Ames made our trip complete. 

Plaza Lights in KC

 As soon as we made it to MN, Sara got cozy watching "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown" with Grandpa ...

 ... and "Tangled" with Grandma.

Steve and Adam got to work on what turned out to be one of the hardest puzzles in family history (and we've done many puzzles together over the years).  We snapped the last piece in the night before we had to head back to Texas.  We were glad to get it finished, and I'm pretty sure my mom is considering leaving it together forever.

 Sara loved helping Auntie make cookies.  She rolled, cut, and decorated.  This was all really fun until she decided she needed more flour on the board and made her point by throwing what flour she did have all over me.  All I can say is: three ... she's three and good at it.

 On Christmas morning Sara peaked to see the tree.  She knew that Santa would be coming when she went to sleep on Christmas Eve, and all of the excitement must have made her tired because she was the last one up on Christmas morning!  When she finally rose, though, the good times rolled.  I think Sara has a future working for Hallmark because immediately after Christmas was over, she started letting us know what she wants for Valentine's Day.  This kid is a holiday junkie.

 This trip we were able to gather all of the Wenck cousins, which is a miracle of all miracles.  Our lives are going in so many directions, and we're rarely all in MN at the same time.  It had been years since the eight of us had all been together, and we had such a good time catching up.  Still some of the greatest people I know.

 Other highlights included (but are not limited to):

Singing carols on Christmas Day while people in the audience pretended to be impressed ...

 White Castle for lunch on Christmas Eve, courtesy of Steve and Adam.  We had El Loro enchiladas for dinner that night (regret, regret, regret - but, oh, so good) ...

 A celebration with the Merhars, minus Tim & Toni, who are now stationed in Delaware ...

Visiting Auntie's "big kid school" ...

A trip to the 5-8 Club for Juicy Lucy burgers (as seen on Man v. Food and Triple D) ...

Outdoor ice skating in the beautiful weather ...

 

 

 And Sara's beautiful Belle dress, made by hand and given with so much love from Grandma and Bonnie (you'll be seeing more of this dress, I promise) ...

We had such a wonderful non-white (insert little pout) Christmas in Minnesota.  Memories to last a lifetime.