Surviving a Minnesota Winter...

The MN Climatology Working group is calling last week's weather "Extreme Cold." When natives use these words, it translates to "unsurvivable cold" to most mere mortals. According to these experts, "many Minnesota observers are reporting the coldest January since 1994. At least 8 Minnesota communities have seen temperatures of -40 degrees F or colder this month. "

And it appears there is no warm up in sight. If the Twin Cities stays below 32 degrees for the rest of the month, this will be the first time in thirty years where there hasn't been a January thaw and only the forth time this has happened since 1891.

But here, nothing really shuts down except for a handful of schools and people simply shrug and say, "What do you expect? It's Minnesota." Last week, the low temp on 1/15 was 21 below with -40 windchill. White Bear Lake did NOT close schools. Mahtomedi did, so preschool was cancelled on Friday.

The long weekend gaveus a chance to clean the house and start getting ready for Ethan's upcoming birthday party, which we are hosting at our house, at Ethan's request. The highlight will be the pinata, which has become a party favorite at our house. We got creative for this one (all part of Mom's master plan to prevent any more candy from taking up residence in our kitchen) and purchased larger non-candy items, which Ethan labeled for each child. So, come the 31st, we'll see how matchbox cars, stickers, pom pom socks and gum fare when the pinata cracks open. Hopefully, no one sustains any matchbox car head injuries.

So here's a recap of our month so far. After New Year's, we made our annual trip to the Wilderness Resort waterpark. This is a key trip for Mom, as we all get out of the house for 3 or 4 days and swim, play and expose our skin to some natural sunlight under the water dome.

Mary Kate is overjoyed to shed all her layers and soak up some sun.

3D Black light mini golf was a new activity the resort added...which was good, because it was too cold for snow tubing. Ethan wore his 3D glasses the whole time. I emerged from the golf experience fairly nauseous, despite removing my glasses after the 3rd hole.

After we got home from the waterpark, we attended a Sesame Street Live show called Elmo's Green Thumb. We got to the Target Center with lots of time to spare, so first we found our seats and were instantly bombarded with food vendor appeals. We got popcorn and Dad snapped a shot of the eager popcorn faced fans.

Then we took a walk down to the stage to check it out.

The show began and MK really got her groove on. She danced through 80% of the show. Ethan was looking really tired by 8pm, but did stay awake until the show ended at about 8:30. It was a quiet van ride home with both kids out cold before we maneuvered out of downtown Mpls.

Last week we completed Ethan's child of the week poster for preschool. Here's Ethan with the finished project, which is now proudly on display in his classroom.

I also started spring semester classes...Life Span Developmental Psychology and a chemistry class. Both are going well. I also finished up and submitted my application to St. Kate's Post-Baccalaureate Nursing program, which is a BSN program for people who already have a BS in another area of study. Getting in to this program is tough...St. Kate's accepted just 26 applicants last year out of a pool of over 150. So cross your fingers and toes for me!

Happy New Year, the Ice Fishing's Great!

Although we're a few days late, we'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Ethan and John went ice fishing on New Year's Day with some friends. Mary Kate and I took a nap, then painted her nails.

Ethan was the only successful fisherman in the group of 5. He pulled in this Northern on Big Marine Lake. It was E's first ice fishing outing and he loved it. I have a feeling there will be a few more trips in store for the guys this winter.

Our Christmas Vacation

We've had a fantastic Christmas vacation. John used up some vacation days he had accumulated and was off work from Christmas Eve through today.

This year, we waited to put together the annual Gingerbread House until Dec. 23rd because Ethan really wanted to eat the house and we didn't want the kids eating one that was a month old. I think he got the idea from the bakery we visit on Sunday mornings...they were selling amazing houses this year and customers would come in and comment on how great the houses were...and how tasty their kids/grandkids said they were. We got a Wilton kit this year, it was the best one yet by far. Mary Kate decided she'd rather just eat the candy decorations instead of put them on the house first. We let them taste the house on Christmas Day after supper. They both each about 2 bites and then asked for cheesecake. Next year, I think we'll go back to making the house right after Thanksgiving.

On Christmas Eve, we celebrated at church and the kids opened up a few presents before leaving a note, milk, and cookies for Santa. This year, wrote his entire note by himself, with spelling help from us. He asked Santa if there are polar bears in his back yard.

On Christmas morning, Ethan was up at 6 am. He was thrilled by the guitar Santa brought and has been playing it a lot, accompanied by Mary Kate on ukelele. Santa brought MK a new vanity for her bedroom and she loves sitting at it and brushing her hair.

E on guitar...

MK takes her new scooter for a spin. Thanks, Uncle Jake!

MK received a play doh ice cream factory and the kids played with it for a couple of hours on Christmas day. Here they are showing off the tower of play doh cans they built together.

MK and Dad with her new twin babies from Nana. Thanks, Nana!

In keeping with his tradition for all of the grandkids, on the Christmas they are closest to age 3, Grandpa Grilz gave MK a Barbie Jeep this year. MK hit the jackpot, as Jeeps now come with real working radios. The kids jammed out to Christmas songs while Dad and Grandpa put the Jeep together.

Thanks so much to all of our friends and family for all of the wonderful gifts. It's been so much fun playing with new scooters, construction sets, games, babies, books and toys and enjoying Christmas treats.

And Happy New Year to everyone!!