To Be Santa Claus

Why I Want to be Reincarnated as Santa Claus

Reason 1: I would get to visit the North Pole. I have never been to the North Pole but I am certain it would be a fantastic experience.

Reason 2: I would get to eat everything I want without feeling guilty. (This reason alone justifies wanting to be Santa Claus!)

Reason 3: I would be able to stop time and fly around the entire world in one night in a magic sleigh with reindeer.

Reason 4: I would get to work with actual elves. Possibly making me one of the taller people in my immediate world. This would be a big change.

Reason 5: One of my favorite colors is green and I have three red-headed children. Obviously it was meant to be!

Reason 6: I’d be able to go down chimneys. I’d even be able to go down the chimneys of houses without chimneys. This would be interesting.

Reason 7: My entire life would be devoted to giving and making children happy. What could be better than that?

Snowing Inside My House

What do you do when it's really cold outside but there is a fresh snow fall of 14 inches?

You bring the snow inside, of course!

A great friend posted on her blog that she had brought buckets of snow inside for her children to play with. I thought it was a FABULOUS idea, so I followed suit and to color or bling things up a bit, I gave the children several bottles of cookie sprinkles. It was so fun!

More Minnesota Winter

Minnesota Winter

I have a general rule of thumb concerning Minnesota winters.  If you willingly choose to live in Minnesota, you are NOT allowed to gripe about the eternal, frigid, bone numbing, painfully long winters that tend to feel as if they last at least NINE MONTHS.

However, I am contemplating breaking my own rule.

It's been quite a challenging year.  On an average year, we receive about 9 to 10 inches of snow in December in Minnesota.  We receive approximately 11 inches of snow in a regular January.

Last month, our city received the following larger snow storms:
December 3-4th with 8 inches
December 10-11th with 17 inches
December 15-16th with 3 inches
December 20-21st with 5 inches

So, not that any of us are counting... but that means we received a minimum of 33 inches of snow in December.

HELLO?!?!?!?!?!?!  Anyone listening?!?!?  


THIRTY-THREE INCHES OF SNOW!!!


I like to (NOT) shovel as much as the next proud Minnesotan, but seriously?!  SIGH.

Record-setting December snowfall totals were common across southern and central Minnesota - with many Minnesotans seeing roughly triple the historical average. Widespread, heavy snowfalls occurred on at least five occasions somewhere in Minnesota. Snowfall totals of eight or more inches were common. In some events snowfall totals exceeded 12 inches, including a 17.1 inch total on December 10-11th! This was the largest December snowfall on record for the Twin Cities, and was largely responsible for the collapse of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. 


Which, by the way, have you seen the amazing video of the Metrodome roof colllasping?!  Check it out...




So, now I will stop complaining, because I really had no point to my ramblings -- other than venting.  Enjoy the great song below from a fellow Minnesotan who makes funs of all of our crazy weather.

If you'd like to read more about the plight of those stupid, er... brainless, ahem! BRAVE souls (like me), who continue to survive and thrive Minnesota winters, please read THIS hard to understand, but informative article about  Minneapolis/St. Paul winter trends.




P.S. This was my mini-van AFTER I HAD ALREADY SHOVELED IT OUT ONCE the same day...

Snowy Cuteness

No theme for today's posting. I just like these pictures of the precious children in their winter gear.

Unamused!

When I woke up yesterday morning THIS is what I saw outside my window...
To say the least, I was highly UNamused. Yes, I am aware that I live in MN and I am very aware that it snows in MN. However, it was only October 10th. The kids were beside themselves with exuberant energy and excitement.

I had not planned on digging out their snow boots and snow pants and gloves and hats and all that other cold weather JUNK yet.

I haven't even had a chance to bring the kids to the multitudes of fall activities that I LIVE to photograph!!! We haven't made it to a single apple orchard or jumped in raked up leaves or drove to the fall harvest festival at the farm in Litchfield. Jeepers!

I am seriously peeved here, People! I want to know where to file my complaint with Mother Nature. I am telling you! That lady is going to hear from me...

The ONLY Reason to Live in MN

Is there anything better than a fresh, snowy day?!

Daniel thinks there is...

He was NOT happy with the cold, fluffy white stuff.

Pulling The Cart

Holy canned creamed corn dogs do I hate winter. (Well, doesn't that just sound like a hot mess of something you don't want anything to do with?) Really, I try to be optimistic about it... BUT it is always at the end of this shortest month that I begin to feel itchy in my skin -- cabin fever!

While the days are shorter than the summer says I am craving they still feel endlessly long and tiring. My brain ceases to function and I'm always moody. My family suffers due to my attitude as does my soul (Isn't that dramatic?). I lose motivation and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and read a good book. In a sense I just want to hibernate.

I want to be outside but when I get out there I want to flee back into the warm, ice-free indoors. My attitude is much like a light switch being flicked on and off, continuously creating your own personal strobe light effect. Wheee!!! Isn't this fun. Um.. no, not so much.

Yesterday, I felt in control of things. I got things accomplished and felt rested.

Today? Not so much. I awoke this morning feeling night of the living dead tired. An industrial-sized bottle of children's chewable vitamins being shaken in my face. G's newest obsession. The girl is healthy, I'll give her that. I had been up no less than three times last night and I felt like I was back in some sort of sorority pledge hazing ritual.

I find myself day dreaming about long hours of uninterrupted sleep, warmer days and actually having the motivation to herd us all out into the yard to run off energy (obviously their energy, not mine.) I hate the way I feel right now and yet without the key component of a GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP I don't feel as if I'm ever going to get better. Sleep is a carrot. I'm the dumb ass who is pulling the cart. I'm constantly walking ahead trying to grab that juicy carrot and take a big bite.
I pray I get to take a big bite soon!

Top 10 Reasons to LOVE Minnesota Winter

10. There are no mosquitoes.
9. You're so busy worrying about your car not starting, you don't have time to worry about anything else.
8. All the sissies leave for Arizona.
7. If you carelessly leave meat in your car, it will freeze and stay fresh.
6. It's not as bad as a Manitoba winter.
5. There's always the thrill of skiing downhill or unexpectantly being totally out of control as your car slides down an icy road.
4. Bundled up as they are, kids can fall down 3 flights of stairs and not get hurt.
3. There's ice fishing in a -50 degree wind chill, knowing that someone, somewhere is flabbergasted at how hearty we are. (Translation: STUPID)
2. Anything is better than a humid Minnesota summer.
1. Knowing that the rest of the country is looking at us in total amazement, saying, "Why in the world do they stay there?"