Catching Up!

Quite by accident I have taken a long-ish blogging break.  So we've got some catching up to do.

First, there is a new occupant in our garage.  Yes, finally, John has replaced his 2003 Saturn Ion that rattled when it drove and bought this beauty.  What a change!!  He is thrilled....  Amelia liked his old car, she just thought it needed to be cleaned up a little! 

This weekend we made a quick trip to Minnesota to see our family there and, as always, had a wonderful time.  Friday night John and his brother Brian went to a Minnesota Timberwolves game.  They were able to get excellent, nearly court side seats to the game and were visited by Crunch!

Saturday morning Hilary and her sister let me crash their usual Saturday 7 mile run.  I know we've had a very mild Winter, but it still was January in Minnesota.  Here we are all bundled up, ready to go!

After 7 great miles!  It was such fun Hilary and I went out the next day for 4.5 when there was some new snow to run through.

We've had so little snow in Iowa that the girls were excited to get to finally put their snow gear to use.  Here's Amelia all bundled up with her very favorite panda hat!

Saturday night we made the trip to downtown St. Paul for the Winter Carnival.  It was very cool and also very cold.  Here Ava poses by one of the ice sculptures.

Me and John, an iPhone self portrait.

After warming up with some dinner we took the kids to the Minnesota Children's Museum. Ava and Mattie, striking a pose!

Ava next to the "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" display....

Miss Amelia, the tree hugger!