Filed under: St Paul
New Year’s Eve we drove through the light display near Lake Phelan. It was pretty cool. They set up the lights as a big fundraiser. People outside of Minnesota might not appreciate how events where you can stay in your car are very big at this time of year. It’s cold here!
We have some fun pics and video.
After the light display we went to the annual New Year’s Eve party at the house of our friends Maeve and Liam. There were loads of people there although it wasn’t rowdy. The kids watched movies upstairs. It’s always a fun party in that you see people you know and we always meet a couple of new people.
We were home and in bed before midnight – not much before midnight – but definitely before. It’s amazing to me how kids who don’t sleep in their own house can whine away at someone else’s house until you finally leave.
Filed under: Minneapolis
After Como Zoo we went to meet up with the cousins – The Treay’s. It was a really nice night. The bonus is that we went out to Blaine so we got to get the car washed at $3 Car Wash – the best car wash in Greater Minnesota. OK, maybe Coon Rapids doesn’t qualify in everyone’s book as Greater Minnesota but it seemed pretty far to us.
Filed under: St Paul
What’s the best thing to do on a cold winter day when the ice had killed the sledding hills? Go to Como. It is pleasantly hot and humid in the tropics room and the conservatory. Plus it’s super cheap in. The suggested donation is $2 per adult and $1 per kid. And that’s only suggested!
We saw the sloth. He did not move. The big highlight was the mice running around in the tropics area. It was gross. We found the mother lode. Better at Como than in my kitchen I guess.
We saw several weddings. Como Zoo is the perfect place to run around a little on a super cold day.
Filed under: Minneapolis
For Christmas we all took ourselves to Children’s Theatre to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We see the Christmas show every year. It’s fun. Last time we saw Frog and Toad, which was a little slow moving for some of us. It’s big on character development – light on plot. I think those of us who are also light on character prefer the plotty shows.
LWW was not light on action. It was actually pretty scary. A girl behind us really screamed at one point. Luckily the move had been on TV on Christmas night and we all watched it then – I think that helped some of us keep up.
They did a really good job moving between the two worlds in LWW. The White Witch was particularly good – very scary. She even came out during the curtain call glaring at kids in a very scary way. The girls decided that some of the actors were a little over the top. The sounded like Patrick critiquing the show; I suppose that’s good.
After the show we heading to Bonfire Grill on Grand Ave. Kids can make their own pizzas and sundaes – parents do not have to help. The food is good; they even have a full bar. What could be better?
Filed under: St Paul
Christmas Even we had my parents over for an appy party. On Christmas we opened presents – somehow Santa managed to score a Wii, even though rumor has it that Santa doesn’t always shop as early as you might think.
Christmas day we hung out at Grandma and Grandpa’s. On the day after Christmas the Lynches arrived. So the party could begin. The kids were very excited to see their cousins.
I’m trying to remember if the kids went sledding before or after opening presents. Grandma and Grandpa live on top of the best sledding hill ever, except that there are a few bushes. Usually if a dad can blaze a trail then the going is pretty smooth.
I forgot to mention that the family had gone sledding earlier in the week – including me. I don’t’ actually have winter boots or a winter jacket so I was a little cold, but it was fun. We saw some ride their bike down the hill. I know there are bike-skis but I’m pretty sure that this was someone on an actual bike. It was impressive but I noticed he only went down the hill once.
Back to Christmas, everyone had a great time opening gifts and we had spaghetti for dinner.
Filed under: St Paul
I’m behind on the blog – again! I’ll do my best to catch us up and try to be better.
We had our big Christmas party the Sunday before Christmas. It was fun to get ready for it after taking last year off. We had 60-70 people stop by – so that’s always fun. I think I have a picture or two. I’ve had more if I could figure out how my brand new camera works.
A couple days after the party we went to see A Christmas Story at the Riverview Theater. Our friend Josh knew about it, went in advance to get tickets, and saved us primo places for the show. Everything was 50 cents – the tickets, the popcorn, and the drinks. We saw some neighbors there. But mostly it was fun to see a Christmas favorite in the cinema.
I hadn’t seen a movie in a theater in probably 2 years. It will probably be 2 years before I see another movie in the theater – but it was fun.
Filed under: St Paul
Here’s a short video from Lily’s Christmas pageant. She made me promise not to bring my laptop – but I was allowed to bring the FlipVideo.
Filed under: St Paul
On December 14, we all went to Kate’s recital with the Center for Irish Music. Kate started taking tin whistle this fall. I have to say if you have a kid thinking about an instrument – go with the tin whistle. They are cheap. We didn’t have to buy a book. It’s easy for her to carry her own instrument. And she can already play a couple of songs!
Aine was also invited to be in the recital as she took a singing class at the CIM too. So we have a video of both performers.
Patrick and Lily have decided that they are going to learn to play the bodhran after New Year. (The bodhran is the big round drum.)
Filed under: St Paul
On December 13 the girls and I went with Grandma to see the Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Stepping Stone. Stepping Stone is a theater where shows are done by and for kids.
The show was very cute. We had primo seats as we were early enough to be the first people in the theater. A first for us!
Filed under: St Paul
My best hour of December was getting a massage from Emmy Vadnais. Why don’t I do that more often?
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