Back to the Winter.

After six weeks of the positively balmy temperatures in Phoenix, it was time to return to the somewhat cooler climes of the Twin Cities. We were a little intimated by reports of the weather reaching lows of -37 while we were away, but hoped the worst was over. Snow was forecast, which here could only mean one thing: its warming up! (I know, weird to think of snow as a sign of things getting warmer). But we Saxtons are adventurers .we were not going to be deterred by mere minus signs. We can take cold weather; seriously, how bad can it get? pretty ice
So we decided for a day out we would go to the St Paul Winter Carnival. In 1885 a New York reporter said described St Paul in the winter "another Siberia, unfit for human habitation". St Paul Chamber of Commerce were so annoyed that they set up a carnival to prove the journalist wrong. The carnival lasts for a few weeks and hold art exhibits, kids events, ice Scupltures and even a half marathon
i think this was an elephant once
It took us about 45 seconds to work out that it was absolutely freezing. But we were determined. So we checked out a few ice sculptures.They were pretty amazing in places, but the recent "heatwave" had melted a few here and there. We looked around to see what else was around -we and checked out an indoor exhibit, and watched people ice skate. Then Tia went for a pony ride. The pony's name was Spanky - which to me felt wrong on so many levels. I mean, Spanky.
And it kept slipping on the ice, which is understandable except when my daughter is riding on it.
Tia riding on the unforgettably named Spanky.
Soon enough, Tia's ride on Spanky (so many levels) was over and we dived into Starbucks, to thaw. We spent about 30 mintuess there which brought the total of our time spent at the Winter Carnival ( including parking the car, sorting the kids and on departure paying for our ticket in the parking lot as we left) to 1 whole hour. It was too cold to hang around! I'd love to tell you that that's how\bad its gets, but it gets much much colder than that. Much.

I will only smile on the condition that you take me somewhere warm. Now.