Minnesota in January 2001
So, we were off to Minnesota for Monica's Birthday, the Winter Carnival and some skiing. Skiing in Minnesota you say! Well read on.
Saturday we took Katie
to the Winter Carnival Grande Parade 
Note that she was bundled up in her new finery even though the temperature was
warm for Minnesota winters - in the teens. That made perfect weather for
the ice sculpture competition. 
(That's a bear with an ice cream stand if you are having trouble making it
out.)
Next stop was the
Regnier's for Monica's birthday dinner - sweet 16. She and Katie got along
famously 
as Katie continued to be fascinated by "Teenagers," Monica
entertained Katie pretty much non-stop with some help from her dad, John. 
We had a great dinner courtesy of John the chef as can be seen by the contented
after dinner poses while we awaited the birthday cake. 
Sunday was the start
of the 240 mile trek to Lutsen 
with "4 mountains and over 800 feet of vertical rise." It was a
great time to go, weather was super and there were probably only 30-40 people in
the whole area! But first we made the almost mandatory stop in Duluth for
lunch and visits to the train museum and the harbor museum. 
Monday morning brought
a gorgeous sunny day. We gave Kaite her first ride in a gondola (here
shown with her buddy, Abby) 
Katie got enrolled in ski school and had her first lesson on rope tows and
turning around on skis. 
That night we had a great dinner 
courtesy of the cooks. 
Never kids to pass up an opportunity to experience the great outdoors, her they
are clustered around a portable DVD machine. 
Tuesday brought some
great skiing - here are Abby and Andy on the chair 
and Chris and Abby ditto. 
And the whole bunch looking pretty professional at the top of Moose Mountain. 
We convinved Jami and Renee to take the gondola up and join us for lunch at the
deli - notice Lake superior in the background. 
Tuesday night was the sleigh ride 
The white dots are snow. We had a fire, hot chocolate, roasted marshmallows
and a couple of great Belgian draft horses.
Wednesday was wrap up
day. Katie was skiing well enough to ride the chairlift, so we all went up
the mountain and skied down with her and the instructor. 
We ended the trip with
a nice dinner at the Lutsen Lodge and the discovery of a new "Best Known
Method" for keeping Katie quiet in public places: 