Up to the north!

We went up to the north of Minnesota, to Duluth, on a mini vacation. We stayed at a very nice hotel with a great view from the top floor restaurant. The restaurant was spinning so we got to see the whole town while we had our breakfast.

The buffet was not bad either! I especially liked the waffles with strawberries and whipped cream. Off to the scenic highway 61 for a tour along lake Superior. First off we stopped at Two Harbors. Mom and dad stayed in a lighthouse there a few years ago, but it was fall then and not so cold. The view was still beautiful they all said, but I was sleeping in the car so I didn't get to see this place.

Then we went to Gooseberry Falls; so pretty, but all the water was frozen. They had a great museum shop were we bought some hot chocolate and warmed ourselves up in front of the fireplace after the tour to the waterfall.

The Splitrock lighthouse was beautiful too. What a view!

Here I am with grandma Grace and dad.

In the evening when we got back to Duluth we went to the Bentleyville light festival.

Very, very cold out, but the lights were beautiful!

There were even tunnels made of christmas lights.

Taking in the view.

Next morning was sunny but even colder than yesterday.

I went swimming with mom in the hotel pool this morning.

Waiting for breakfast is quite boring, and it took soooo long for the food to arrive!

In the chocolate factory I got a goodie to bring with me home.

I slept most of the way home to Minneapolis. It had been a good trip!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day in the morning; Mom lined up all my Christmas gifts on a table and asked me to say "cheese"! OK then, mom, but just this once. I have a lot to do today, playing with all my new toys and books. First off, the domino game from Bella (yesterday night I already tried out a few of my new books. Alfons is my sure favorite!).

3PM we had guests coming. Mom had made scones and tea. Our guest brought cake with them. Yum!

My new friend Amanda and I had a lot of fun playing together!

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas my friend Bella stopped by. She had made cookies for me, so nice! And I got 2 gifts as well. Wow, I wonder what could be inside. I also gave Bella a gift and a bag of chocolate covered almonds.

In the morning of Christmas Eve there were so many presents under our tree!

In my stocking there were 3 little gifts that I could open right away.

Wow, I got a pair of socks with Barbaskön på from my grandma Ingela! I love them! All day we were so busy. Mom and I went downstairs to Bonnie and Tom and gave them gingerbread cookies and chocolate, and then we went next door to Jacqueline's place and we gave her and her husband some goodies too. She has a cat that is really cute and I got to play with it! Then we went out for lunch and to buy a few last minute things we needed.

In the evening we had prepared a great Christmas meal. We had everything from potatis gratäng to ribs and turkey.

I however mostly just wanted to eat the avocado and cucumber although I did try the meatballs a little bit.

And then, jultomten (Santa) came! How exciting. I was not afraid at all. The Santa had a very deep voice, but didn't he look a little bit familiar too?

Oh, how fun to open all the gifts! I was so excited by each one that I wanted to stop and play with it and not open the rest. It was a very fun evening. Tomorrow, I will tell you about everything I got. Sweet dreams and Merry Christmas!

Advent is coming to an end...

Advent is coming to an end and there are only a couple of little gifts left on my advent calendar. Today, it's the 23rd of Dec. and I opened the next to last gift. I have really enjoyed opening my calendars each day (psst...I have one with chocolate inside too, and I love opening it and EATING the chocolates, but I'm not allowed to do it before dinner).

Now, what could be in this little gift?

Oh, it's another play-doh, an orange one. Lucky that I have my baking tools ready to go!

Santa Lucia!

13th of Dec: It's Lucia and mom dressed me up with glitter in my hair, white dress and red satin band around my waist.

I was mostly excited about running to the gingerbread cookies so it was a bit hard for mom to catch me on film!

Listen to me sing Santa Lucia, and, ahmm, eat a gingerbread cookie...

Cinderella

On the 12th of Dec. we went to see Cinderella at the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis. We went with my friend Bella and her mom and dad. Bella and I had a lot of fun together, both before and after the play.

Well, here I am, program in hand, eagerly awaiting the play to start.

Poor Cinderella, she had to work so hard. Her stepmom and stepsisters were not nice. I said: "That's NOT OK!"... although I have to admit those stepsisters were quite funny!

At one point a cow fell down from the ceiling! Can you imagine how surprised we all were! Even mom and dad who knew the Cinderella story were not prepared for this one!

In the end Cinderella got her prince and it was a very happy ending! I loved Cinderella so much and I sat through the whole 2 hours, excited and amazed by the performance. Mom, dad, when can we go again?

Macy's Santaland

The second week of December we went to see Macy's Santaland. I was there last year too, but I was so little then that I don't remember what I saw. I eagerly anticipated the display and it was just delightful!

I saw little house-maids cleaning the house for Christmas....

...and the animals in front of the decorated little house....

...and Santa visiting to give out presents to the kids in the house...

...and of course Santa's workshop and all the elves! Wow, I wish I could have played inside the displays!

Holidazzle Parade

At the beginning of December we went to see the Holidazzle parade on Nicollet Mall street in downtown Minneapolis. It was cold, but not freezing yet, and I was very excited waiting for the holiday parade to arrive.

We went there with my friend Bella and her family. They sat next to us on the street waiting, and then the parade finally started passing by!

It was so beautiful, every train was lit up with colored lights. I loved it!

Each train was more beautiful than the previous one. I wish it would have lasted longer!