The Ross Family: Catching Up Part 1: Aunt Cat Visits and Minnesota!

Wow, it's been so long since I've blogged, I apologize! The last couple weeks have been so busy and really just got away from me. I've missed blogging but at the same time it was nice to have a little blogging vacation too! I'll try and catch you up as best as possible, it was a busy time!

Last Tuesday (the 19th) we had a special visitor: Aunt Cat! Aunt Cat (Catherine) is Brian's younger sister and my kids just absolutely adore her. We hadn't seen her in awhile and she was gracious enough to come hang out with us for a couple of days and then help us drive to Minnesota. Her flight didn't get in until late Tuesday night so the kiddos loved getting to stay up late, put their jammies on, and go the airport!

Just in case anyone was wondering who the ninja turtles guy was looking for.

Aunt Cat was such a good sport...running around the backyard...

bouncing so, so high

at the trampoline place,

snuggling and watching endless kids shows,

going out for froyo,

and building tents in the living room.

We seriously spent like 2 hours in these little tents

I guess holding the phone means you frown?

And we also got our first snowfall! We had some serious fun and it was so great to spend time with her, she's a pretty great aunt and sister-in-law! :)

On Friday we brought the kids to a gym to run their energy out as much as possible and then we hit the road for Minnesota.

5.5 (surprisingly not too horrible) hours later...

and we were enjoying a home-cooked meal with Nana and Papa

and my parents too at my parent's house in Eagan

My kids are seriously so lucky to have all 4 of their grandparents, especially since they're all pretty cool. The kids were in heaven if you couldn't tell by their faces!

Saturday morning we took the kids to downtown Minneapolis to go see the Macy's 8th floor Christmas display. This was Brady's first time in a skyway and that could have been our only activity, he was pretty impressed.

The Christmas display- Brady, not a fan. He was terrified of all of the elves mechanically moving around. Not that I can really blame him. The more I think about it, it is kind of creepy. But all of the lights were neat and it was fun to say I took them there. This used to be a tradition we did when I was a child but I have to admit it was way better done when I was younger.

After the display I left the kids with Gramma and Grampa and headed to a local bar to go watch the Gopher/Wisconsin football game with some of my old college roomies and my bestie from elementary school who is an honorary Gopher alumni. This is Alex and I, she was my roomie starting freshman year.

And Sharday and Laura. It was fun just getting out and being in Minnesota watching the game and not having to watch a Nebraska game!

Think they missed their Gramma a little bit?

The next day we went up to hang out with Nana and Papa. Uncle Danny and Aunt Dana were in town too so we got to spend some time with them which was fun!