Life in Minnesota....

....is a little cold right now. This week we have learned to celebrate small wins, such as reaching 8 degrees yesterday....but, with the 35 mph wind it felt like -15. Truly, we are excited on days when we reach zero degrees. This is a new adventure for us. Mom and Dad figured out that there have only been a handful of days this past month that reached 15 degrees as the high. They were thrilled on those days because I could bundle up enough to go outside for a little, and I mean LITTLE, bit. Small wins, see? Anyway, did you know when it's below zero mom and dad get tons of house work done. They say if we can't go out, we just as well be productive inside. So, we've experimented with cooking and baking new things. We have almost completed the basement facelift/renovation. It looks totally different and mom promised to share photos soon. We no longer have 3 different textured walls.....the textured wallpaper, pretend brick and paneling...yup, all different/gone. Like my favorite mermaid Aeriel says, it's a "whole new world" downstairs. Luke and I have been a great help with all the home improvements. Really, we could start our own business soon. Mom and dad aren't on board with multiple demo/reno homes. They say doing this with 2 little kids is a bit challenging. Okay, back to my updates. So yes, it's cold outside so Luke and I are keeping busy. Here's a schedule of our week. Monday is daycare. Tuesday is daycare and preschool. Wednesday is daycare and swim lessons (Luke and I love them). Thursday is daycare and preschool. Friday (the best day in my opinion) is daycare and gymnastics. I love gymnastics. Mom says I needed to start before I "hurt" someone or something attempting it on my own at home. Dad said I needed to start to use my extra energy since we can't go outside and play. I asked mom the other day if we could go for a run or ice skating. She said it had to warm up a bit. I think she's a whimp. Mom and Dad had some good laughs this week as people informed them the frigid temps usually last 3 weeks at sub zero.....yikes! and we can expect snow through the month of April. Mom says she now knows why the university does most of their hiring in the summer months.....no one is crazy enough to move here in the winter!!!! Until later - Madeline

It's a little cold...

- it's supposed to be a high of -2 degrees on Monday....that's cold. People keep asking, where are you guys? Gosh, where haven't we been. It's been a fun month. Let's see, the last time I updated you all it was early December. Luke and I loved Christmas this year. It's a good thing I was here to help open presents and teach Luke the art of tearing paper. Luke really liked standing on the boxes. Yes, Santa did find us. I still don't know how he got that bike down the chimney, but yes, my Pink and Purple Minnie Mouse Bike was waiting for me Christmas morning. I was very, very excited. Too bad the weather has been so cold and crummy I can't use it outside. Oh well, hopefully Spring will be here soon. Everyone was sick around Christmas. Mom had a little cold, Dad got something nasty that they said was a bug, Luke was teething (which means mom and dad get no sleep) and I had strep throat. IT was fun.

Since Christmas mom and I have been busy. Mom has this saying, "when in MN, do as Minnesotans do." She said you should take advantage of all the "stuff" when you live somewhere because you never know if you'll have to relocate again. So, Mom decided I needed to learn how to ice skate. You see, people in MN are a bit nuts (you have to be though because it's so COLD in MN). We went to the used ice skate store and got skates for mom and me. We've been ice skating a ton lately. It's really fun and I can do it all by myself....not super well, but last time I only fell once. So, I think I'm pretty good.

Anyway, Luke is well. He likes to climb, alot. You see, today we caught him standing on his little rocking chair on the arm of it. Mom almost had a heart attack. She and dad are taking bets when he will have stitches or a broken limb. The little guy is "all boy" they say. I agree.

What else? Oh yes, in December Isabel, the elf, came during one of my naps and make cinnamon rolls. I don't know if I told you that. But, anyway, I still tell everyone about that because I really like cinnamon rolls and we are almost out....I sure hope Isabel comes back sometime. Okay - mom says it's past my bedtime. Madeline PS. Mom and Dad are still pretty crazy. They have now updated 2 bathrooms, the entire basement bedroom/living area (which previously had 3 different kind of walls, and installed appliances. Yes, they don't sleep much. Mom says in a previous life she was a painter. She doesn't think she has ever painted this much, even if you include childhood paint by number. ha! Dad, he loves his hammer and screwdriver now more than ever! They have had good use lately.