We made a quick trip out to Mont du Lac to ski today. We got some fresh air, exercise and lots of sunshine. It was a perfect February day for skiing. Although we haven’t had much snow this year, the hill was in pretty good condition from the snow machines. We packed a cooler with snacks and beverages and took a break outside on the deck about halfway through the afternoon. Sebastian and Sophia tried skiing moguls for the first time and did very well. Knowing my own limits, I stayed away from the moguls and black diamonds and stuck to easier skiing. Mike gave Sophia pointers on skiing techniques that will help her when we all go to Vail…or maybe just Spirit Mountain. We could not have asked for a better day – no injuries, no complaining, no cold fingers or toes and lots and lots of fun!
Top Of The WorldSunny DayBottom Of The HillReady For Some SkiingLook At Me!
Mike is the black spot in the background behind Sophia.
Moguls
You have to look hard, but Sebastian is the tiny spot on the left of the chairlift doing the moguls.
We probably won’t get a chance to get out to Mont du Lac again this year before the snow is gone, but look for us back again next year!
Friday nights are traditionally pizza nights at our house. This means I am off the hook from cooking. Mike picks up Papa Murphy’s pizzas and we enjoy a movie or game night with the kids. After a long work (or school) week, it’s something that we all look forward to.
Pizza Night
Tonight’s Game of Choice – Mario Brothers
Sophia recently learned how to play Mario Brothers. Now that we have a third remote for the Wii, the kids along with Mike are able to sharpen their Wii skills to conquer Mario world. I’ve never actually played the game myself. I’m a little too intimidated since they have nearly mastered the game.
Mario Brothers
Before pizza and game night, we took Daphne for a walk around the neighborhood. Even though it’s only early February, the melting snow and warm temperatures make it feel like spring. Daphne was busy smelling all the new scents that have appeared. She seems to have the energy of a puppy even though she’s seven years old. Or maybe she has spring fever like the rest of us.
Daphne - How About We Go For A Walk?When The Sun Goes Down
We aren’t planning a winter/spring vacation this year, but will instead spend an overnight at a local hotel so that the kids can enjoy the pool, hot tub and an awesome continental breakfast the next morning complete with Belgian waffles. We won a gift certificate during a silent auction fundraiser last fall and thought it might be a good time to use it. The hotel we will be staying at also has outdoor fire pits for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. It’s only a mini “staycation”, but we are all looking forward to it.
We will also spend a night in Minneapolis to check out the Twin Cities Auto Show. After over 13 blissful years with our SUV, this is the year that we are going to have to say goodbye. With a leaky sunroof and leaking oil, along with small spots of rust starting to appear, we plan to find something more fuel-efficient (and cool). With two growing kids, a dog, a small boat to tow and winter driving in Duluth, a new four-wheel drive vehicle is an investment we really need to make later this year.
Preparations for our Super Bowl party are underway. I was supposed to spend the day cleaning, grocery shopping and prepping for the big day. The party is pretty low-key with our fellow fantasy football players and friends, along with their kids. Everyone brings something to share. Mike suggested earlier in the week that we go skiing on the weekend and I politely reminded him that we will be hosting the party at our house for the first time. He and the kids made promises to help with everything – cleaning, shopping and cooking – if I would agree to go skiing. I couldn’t turn down a warm, sunny day and ended up playing hooky from my chores to hit the slopes. I have no regrets, but am left with a big to-do list for tomorrow. I hope everyone in our house gets a good night’s rest tonight, because tomorrow is a work day!
I’ve been MIA – busy with the holidays, cleaning up from the holidays, an unexpected trip to the northern-most part of the state, Sebastian’s invention project, the kids’ ski races, getting back to work and the kids going back to school, along with a side project/job that I’ve taken on for a friend. Although our holiday break took some unexpected turns, we did have quality time with both sets of parents (grandparents) and a short visit with the Sullivan cousins. We found time to see a movie, play some games, enjoy our new Christmas gifts and spend time together as a family. Now that we are back into the craziness of work and school, it was nice to stop and enjoy a couple of beautiful sunrises this week. I neglected to bring my camera with me on my drive to work both yesterday and today, but borrowed my company’s point-and-shoot to capture these images this morning.
January Sunrise
Painted Sky
Here’s a family photo taken with Sophia’s new camera at our traditional New Year’s Eve dinner destination – Famous Dave’s. We spent some additional time next door at Adventure Zone playing games, winning tickets and exchanging tickets for two stuffed monkeys, two tops and a few other plastic trinkets. Fun was had by the kids and the parents. 🙂
Happy New Year!
The kids spent the earlier part of their New Year’s Eve at Chester Bowl participating in the ski races. Mike and I were busy trying to stay warm at the bottom of the hill, but eagerly cheering on both of them. Sophia had two excellent runs that put her in the middle of nearly 20 kids in her age category. Sebastian outdid himself by placing second in his category. Here are the YouTube clips of their races.
M. Sullivan Photography 