the best winter weekend in MN

Loppet xc ski weekend extravaganza - races, bike races, xc skiing with your dog races, snow sculptures, kids carnival, 1200 ice candles around Lake of the Isles Saturday night...we are so lucky to live here. Boys were in their first xc ski race and they are hooked.  I love all the hardy folk around here that get out and celebrate. Granted many Minnesotans never spend more time outside in the winter than it takes to walk from your car to your house, but this weekend we got to watch thousands of Minnesotans ski race right in front of our house. 

Our friends Dave and Betsy came with us on the moonight event this year to see if they could warm up to the idea of playing outside in winter. They had fun but wanted to go inside even before the boys did!

 and these last 3 pics are from when the superbowl started and I spent a few hours snowshoeing. Look close at the picture above! It was a stunning sunset. I love love love winter.