minnesota winter

minneapolis really knows how to celebrate the winter season. we went, we partook, we winter partied.
but first, we stopped by the cozy becker house to see the best people and kitties in minnesota.

the snow and the playful dog are both pretty perfect too.

the weekend was sunny and chilly--a perfect day to watch the us national pond hockey tournament (i think it's the biggest in the u.s. or the world?, but i'm probably wrong, and really don't know what i'm talking about, but i saw a movie about pond hockey and about this tournament once and it is epic.....


anyway, these guys are pretty awesome in their old north stars jerseys, waiting for their game to start...

tournament (one of many many hockey rinks)

zamboni cruising right through the crowd

and my friend eric hitting the ice with his team right there in the red pants!

these two have their chairs on skis and their priorities straight

and these two are adorable

and these two are wild.

later david and i hit up the always awesome theodore wirth park for some skiing,

then made it back to the becker house for birthday presents,

cake,



and a boot warm up.

and just when the kids thought they'd get a break, we bundled them back up and carted them downtown st paul in the dark evening to skate at the winter carnival, 

in the glow of the ice palace.

happy skaters

sort of happy hot chocoloate drinkers

and finally, cold tired kids posed in front of the ice palace, just begging to go home. (and me, always looking over my shoulder for those horrible guys that i remember from childhood. the vulcans, men with 5 o'clock shadows and aggressive hugs, rubbing their prickly beards on women's faces. i didn't get it then, and i don't get it now, but i think they're not part of the winter festival anymore thankfully...).
BUT anyway, these kids put those smiles on their faces at a moment when they most wanted to scream and cry, so after this picture, we relented and took them home and put them to bed.

good times in minnesota, always .