There was an ice bar that was serving drinks out of glasses made out of ice. Sadie looks a little less than thrilled, but she was sitting on a chair made of ice. I can't imagine that being too comfortable.
Skip to this past Sunday, the National longtrack speed skating marathon was held on lake Bemidji. Seeing speedskaters going around and around on the ice wasn't all that thrilling, but we got to drive on the ice and park and watch from the inside of our car. Eli has been waiting to drive on the ice since he saw his first icehouse out on the lake. I don't think he was thrilled as he thought he would be.
The tap shoes. Sadie LOVES the tap shoes and who can blame her? Now she has some real clippity-clop shoes. If only we could get her to master the shuffle step...
What does Eli do while Sadie's dancing? He takes pictures. He took most of these pictures (and about 100 more). Oh, and guess what? This dance studio does exercise classes during the day for moms and offers FREE daycare. Rock on! It seems like we've been spending more and more time there lately...
They each took a turn and driving too!
How could we go to logging days and not use a saw?
Of course we had to take a picture with the miniature Paul and Babe.
We had such a fun time and the weather couldn't have cooperated more. It was sunny, no wind and in the mid-twenties. An all-around perfect day for a family event!
Zoe used a wide array of candies:
Sadie spent most of her time eating candy and licking frosting. I'm surprised anything made it onto her house:
For lunch we made pita bread pizzas.
Then we went outside and went sledding to work off all of those calories and the sugar high!! We hope Zoe comes back and plays again soon.
Eli and Sam are playing trucks which are not in short supply at their cousin's house. Man, looking at this picture, Eli and Sam could be brothers instead of cousins. 
In my jammies, making hummus for dinner guests that night. Very messy kitchen.
Making something for supper
When the hearts have cooled you hang them on the window. When the sun is shining, the light comes through the wax drops and has a stained glass effect.
Eli just drew this picture today when I was scanning in the previous picture. He wanted to have one scanned too! Usually in the pictures he draws we have little mounds of spiky hair on the top of our heads.
These steps were built by the CCC in the '30s and lead from Frances road down to the lake. It's crazy when you leave the road and go down the steps, it's like a little secret magical kingdom. It's pretty cool.
Once a week, the kids make soup. Each child brings an organic vegetable and they all chop the vegetables and add them to the soup. Sometimes there are some pretty crazy soup combinations. Eli still doesn't eat his vegetables but I do notice that he says, "I'll try it because maybe I'll like it this time."
When I showed Eli this picture he said, "I was playing a really beautiful song and all the kids were dancing with the scarves to my music."
A little ball playing:
Eli and his favorite friend, Leanna, who he claims is going to be "his Valentine."
The gathering drum:
Outside candlemaking:
A budding Picasso:
The weather has been beautiful by Minnesota standards so we braved the sledding hill. My commentary isn't the best, but I wanted to show a little bit of Northern Minnesota Life. I show a bit of the lake which is covered with ice houses and looks like Bemidji's little shanty town. I just love it. Minnesota is starting to feel like home. I love how active everyone is even when it's 30 below. People here just enjoy being outside doing whatever it is that they do.
We had four family's over to our house last night for potluck and I was thinking how blessed we are to have met some really awesome friends already. Friends for us and friends for our kids. We couldn't ask for anything more!!
Eli asked Santa for a hockey stick and puck for Christmas. Mom and dad got him the helmet so he wouldn't have to wear his bike helmet on the ice anymore. He's a pretty proud skater now and getting more and more confident each week. Sadie, on the other hand, would prefer to sit in the warming house!
"It's cold in Minnesota" has been our mantra since we moved to Bemidji in July. Well, it's actually quite true. We've been hunkering down, wearing lots of layers, and staying inside the last few days to stay warm. I forgot how cold it can get in the north country. The good thing is that I don't have to fight with the kids to wear their hats, mittens and boots; when it's minus 31 the kids want to wear their hats and boots and long johns and sweaters...
On December 28, Dennis and I celebrated anniversary number 7. I must say it's been a good 7 years. Here's to the next 43!
