Brrr....its COLD outside!

  Finn actually went over to the hockey bag and pulled out Liam's pads and gloves to put on.  He is also wearing the tiniest skates we own (size 6-7).  All of the big boys wore these skates, albeit very briefly!

Luke (top middle with ball) in action on the basketball court while Daddy and Aiden coach the team

Liam receiving his medal after the final basketball game

The whole team 

He may look innocent, but there goes the puck stealer right there (in the footed pajamas)

Dry land hockey practice

He wanted to wear a helmet AND gloves

Liam as the goalie

Liam and Aiden are celebrating because they won the Stanley cup!

Ahhh....I have been trying to get in here the entire time.  Now, I have all my pucks!

The temperature and landscape in Minnesota have changed significantly in the last week.  After raking leaves and mowing grass one weekend, we were shoveling snow 24 hours later.  Last week, we were blasted with several inches of snow and temps dropped to daytime highs in the 20's.  Based on the 10 day forecast, I would say it is going to be a long winter.  We generally don't have temps quite this cold in November.  The snow and really cold stuff is more typical of late December or January.

Nonetheless, it is cold so we have gotten an early start to all our typical winter activities.  The backyard ice rink was installed last weekend and John worked on filling it with water throughout the week.  We have a dry land hockey rink set up in the unfinished basement to burn extra energy although the games are becoming so competitive that we really need helmets and maybe pads too.  Finn loves to play hockey with his brothers and wouldn't even consider being left out if he hears them downstairs.

Luke and Liam had their final basketball game over the weekend.  They began playing basketball  in September and have practiced and played every Saturday.  They have really enjoyed it and John has enjoyed coaching them.  It was a fun season and I am really hoping they pick basketball over hockey in a few years; unfortunately we are not exactly headed in that direction.