Cold Cold Weather and Growing Boys

The view from the front of our house
From the deck

The boys helping mommy with some vacuuming, they have a facination with the vacuum

Luke in the bathtub

Happy Liam with Luke looking on

Like much of the United States, Minnesota has had some very very cold weather this week, the coldest weather here in five years. So cold, in fact, that.....

1. You can throw water into the air and it will freeze instantly and dissipate.

2. You can freeze a banana outside and then use it to hammer a nail into a piece of wood.

3. You can get frostbite in less than 8 minutes.

4. They leave the school busses running all night so they will start in the morning and be warm enough to carry a load of kids.

Yes, that is COLD. We have had temperatures less than zero all week with windchills hovering around -20 or -30 degrees. So, when I hear from people in other parts of the U.S. and they are talking about it being cold with temps in the 20's-30's, it all seems relative. You do adapt here to the cold and 30 degrees feels like shorts and flip flops to us. We are surviving and finding things to occupy our time with playdates and indoor activities.

I have also been asked many times how much snow we have on the ground. I took a couple pictures from our house this morning so that people can get an idea of what it looks like here in January. It is hard to say how much snow we have because the snow never goes away! That is one thing John and I had to adapt to was the fact that once it gets cold and snows in November or December, then it really does not melt until spring. We have learned to enjoy the snow and even enjoy running in the snow as it is very peaceful and beautiful.

On to the boys...they had their 1 year appointments today and both are doing very well. Liam is still on the small end and 6 pounds less in weight than his brother. The doctor was very impressed with their lack of stranger anxiety and how much they both love to babble, particularly Liam. I have already told John that if all of Liam's babbling turns into words in a few months, then we are in serious trouble because he talks nonstop. He is always in constant motion and always talking, which is probably one reason he is so small. Luke is getting about 4 teeth on top to add to his lonely two teeth on bottom and Liam is starting to get a molar already! Not suprising considering he has 8 teeth. I am posting their stats below as well as some random pictures from this week. Enjoy your weekend and hopefully some warmer weather!

Luke: 30.5 inches

24 lbs. 6 ounces

48 1/4 cm head circumference

Liam: 29 inches

18 lbs. 3 ounces

47 cm head circumference