Even warmer winter fun!

We spent the entire weekend outside. It ended up being such a warm weekend that Willa went sledding with bare arms!

She also found a new way to ride to the sledding hill:

We made potions in the snow:

We went skiing:

 

We went skating:

We made a snow lady:

We played in the park:

 

 

And ate a little snow too.

 

 

A great weekend!

Movement in Art

We took the girls to Family Day at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts where they learned all about movement in art. They splattered paint like Pollock, crafted mobiles like Calder, and created zoetropes!

Little Pollocks.

Mini Calder 1.

Mini Calder 2.

 

Willa's zoetrope of a bucking donkey. Jia drew her own featuring a ballerina (a lengthy process which she'll need to finish at home).

Exploring the Art Cart!

Holding their prizes: wind-up robots! They received them after they completed the movement-themed art scavenger hunt.

 

Warmer winter fun

With a slightly warmer temp, we were able to some outdoorsy winter recreation: skating and sledding!

I finally relented to the girls' requests for me to skate with them. It was the first time in many, many years and wow, was I wobbly! But hopefully it reinforced the fact that it can be fun to try new things, no matter how old you are!

We then attempted to buy new dresses for Lunar New Year (five stores and nothing in their size). We wrapped up the day with Cambodian food, boba tea and checkers! Yum!

Polar Vortex

We've had some very frigid weather here, as in 25 below with a windchill of minus 50. As such, we've spent a few days inside. Staying inside to keep warm has included homemade cinnamon playdough, regular playdough, books, jump rope, Chinese jump rope, gymnastics, roller skating, snow ice cream, maple snow taffy, playing with balloons, kids as DJs, and tossing a pot of boiling water into frigid air to make it snow.

And some videos!

 

Dog Show

We attended the Land O' Lakes Dog Show. Willa got all decked out for the occasion.

This big sheepdog was very interested in Willa's little sheepdog.

Kicking back with Grandpa.

 Corgis!

Many, many corgis!!

Hello Masterpiece

The girls were introduced to great works of art by Hello Kitty at Hello Masterpiece at the Burnet Gallery in Le Méridien Chambers Hotel downtown. 

Hello Haring.

 
Hello Frida.

Hello Munch.

Hello Van Gogh.

Hello Warhol. Hello Kitty has a beauty mark too!
 

Hello Last Supper.

Pretending to be models.

We followed with fabulous desserts at the new Glam Doll Donuts. They sell all sorts of fun varieties of donuts including a chocolate one with caramelized bacon. We tried a peanut butter donut drizzled with sriracha sauce, a strawberry cheesecake donut, and others.

 We enjoyed all the vintage furnishings.

An awesome night.

Happy New Year!

On New Year's Eve, we had our traditional fondue with many dippers.  This time we also made a yummy chocolate-drizzled almond pastry for dessert.

Happy New Year!