Holidays

December 7, 2019

Gingerbread Wonderland

Our first visit to the very impressive Gingerbread Wonderland at the Norway House. My vote for best went to Glensheen Mansion. 🇳🇴

Gingerbread replica of Glensheen Mansion lit from within, decorated with icing icicles and wreaths, under blue display lighting

Gingerbread model of Dayton's Downtown Minneapolis store with white icing details, lit windows, wreaths, and a Santabear plush in the entrance

Gingerbread model of Bryggen in Bergen Norway, a row of colorful illuminated buildings lit by purple and white lights

Large illuminated gingerbread house with glowing yellow windows, white icing details, and holiday decorations under blue light

November 30, 2019

We made our first trip to see Winter in Bloom at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum tonight. The fresh snow made all the lights look especially nice.

Illuminated lotus flower sculptures with pink, green, and blue LED lights glow against fresh snow at night among bare trees.

Snow-covered evergreen trees wrapped in white lights at night with colorful holiday light displays in the background

Snow-dusted trees framing a building decorated with green and teal Christmas lights including snowflakes and a star at night.

Illuminated lotus flower sculpture made of white lights surrounds a snow-covered sphere in a snowy winter garden at night

November 30, 2019

We went to the Excelsior Christkindlsmarkt Annual German Christmas Festival today. It was cold and sleeting but we still had a great time checking out the crafts and enjoying some market snacks.

Large nutcracker statue in a red uniform stands beside a snowy outdoor Christmas market with white vendor tents and shoppers.

Snow-dusted Christmas trees with warm white lights at an outdoor winter market with vendor tents and people browsing in the background.

Snowy outdoor Christmas market with white vendor tents lining a slushy path, shoppers in winter coats browsing crafts and food stalls

November 29, 2019

Family tradition to watch Elf the day after Thanksgiving! What a great movie! 🎬🎄

Man in a green elf costume with yellow tights, curly elf hat, white fur trim, black belt, and curled black shoes, hands on hips

November 29, 2019

Got the Christmas Tree up. I love the memories from the ornaments over the years. 🎄

Two penguin figurines hugging on a Christmas ornament reading We Said I Do in 2002 Jamie and Tammy July 27th, hung on a tree.

Glass Santa ornament holding a keyboard next to a computer monitor, hanging on a green Christmas tree

Personalized family Christmas ornament from 2013 with four penguin figures labeled Tyler, Dad, Mom, and Mazie hanging on a lit tree.

Glittery Santa Claus pilot ornament riding a green and blue biplane hanging on a Christmas tree with white lights

November 28, 2019

This is my first year making the Thanksgiving Turkey. Looking good so far!

Roasted stuffed turkey in a stainless steel roasting pan with rack resting on a gas stovetop in a white kitchen.

November 28, 2019

From our family to yours — Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Family of four smiling together in front of a brick fireplace, dressed in warm autumn colors

October 31, 2019

Trick or Treat! Happy Halloween! 🎃

Jack-o-lantern with a jagged carved face holding a sleeve of crackers in its mouth, sitting on a wooden porch

Carved Halloween jack-o-lantern with cat face features including ears, whiskers, and toothy grin, sitting on a wooden porch

Halloween candy bowl with M and Ms, Reeses, and Twix beside a black pumpkin bucket and Hersheys variety pack boxes on a wood bench.

Time for Fourth of July barbecue! Pork butt on the Big Green Egg! 🔥

Two pork butts coated in dry rub smoking on a Big Green Egg kamado grill in a backyard with a playset visible behind it.

Happy St Patrick’s Day! ☘️ I searched LAX extensively but could not find a Guinness. I finally settled for a Fat Tire Ale. Cheers! 🍻