Winter Minnesota Culture

This Parker climbing a snow drift.


This is me in front of a snow pile after one of our "really big snow" as Parker calls them. This piles remain in the parking lots as they only get bigger as snow continues to fall.

So, here we are in Minnesota for our first and I think only winter, and it is an experience. As you will see by the pictures, we have gotten a lot of snow and cold. Addison hates the cold, she cries if the wind blows on her and is just miserable being outside if it's too cold. Parker on the other hand loves it! He's always loved to be outside, and the snow and cold doesn't seem to hinder him, except when it was -28...then he was a little whiny about it.

So here's a list that I'll keep adding to of things that stick out to me about Minnesota....

1. Shoe etiquette.....since it is winter out, whenever you go in a building or house from outside, you are bound to track in salt, snow, water, and dirt....so you have to take of your shoes as soon as you go in the house....now since you don't take your shoes off when you go into Walmart or wherever cuz that would be weird, their entry ways are constantly being cleaned and look dirty! But, I have it interesting how quickly kids catch on....Parker for example knows that when you walk in a house, you don't go past the rug before you take your shoes off, and you have to take off your coat and hang it up. He has of course learned this at home, but it carries on to when we take him to a friends house, he does the same things...stops in the door way so no one else can enter, wonders where he should sit to take off his shoes, and takes off his coat.....hopefully remembering to hang it up on the coat rack we hung right at his level and not leaving it on the floor to be picked up by mommy later. I've observed this same behavior from other kids...they walk into a house, sit down and take off their shoes before even greeting someone.....

So, since you are now at a a stranger's home without your shoes/boots on....you might want to bring your slippers/house shoes or at least that's what I've seen people do here. Now I know some of you take your shoes off in non wet places summer and winter when ever you walk into your home, which is fine and normal too....and great for your clean-up! But I never thought of having to bring my slippers with me when I go to someone's house on top of myself, my kids and all their stuff and whatever else I might have brought! But you really might want to....the ground is cold, thus the cement your house is built on is cold, thus your floors are probably cold, and therefore...where slippers so your feet don't freeze! (When my dad came to visit, he noticed how cold our floor is...so he bought us a thermometer to put on the floor to see how cold it really is...it's around 60 or less!)

2. Check your coat please. When you go to a church or really large public place that you have sit down in....there is most likely a place to hang your coat in the entry way! Which makes sense, if all of us brought in our parkas to church service, our coats of ourselves and our children would take up the rest of the pew!

3. Car Washes. So when it snows they salt...which helps melt the snow and ice...but then gets on your car...so you have to wash it frequently. Giant chunks of ice also accumulate under your car and wheels because while you are driving they get wet, but when you stop, it never gets warm enough to melt, until you drive again, so ice and snow build up...well the car wash has a garage door that opens and closes on each side! So when you go into the car wash, the exit is closed, and then you close where you entered. This makes it warmer when you are washing your car in 10 or 20 degree weather...and I imagine helps keep the car wash from turning into an ice rink!

4. School delays and closings. This winter has been frigid cold and we have gotten tons of snow! Well, I expected this, but I didn't expect to see that school would be delayed and closed so often. And when school closes other things are cancelled as well of course. But, it snows and is cold every winter....so why are they cancelling school? I mean at this rate, the kids will be going to school until July! And the city schools haven't been cancelled so much as the surrounding areas...but the city activities would be delayed or rescheduled...So, one day I asked a local what this was about. I mean I know it's cold waiting for the bus, but I don't think the low is getting out of the single digits anytime soon. She is said that it's not because of the cold so much but because the smaller communities are made up of lots of farmers....their roads aren't plowed as efficiently as our city, and so they can't get out safely on the gravel roads that lead to their home and ultimately the highway they need to get to to catch the bus. I don't know what you know of Minnesota, but I was surprised at how much was farming...there are corn fields everywhere, and driving to Minneapolis you see tons of old and new farm houses and farms...it's really kind of pretty to see the rolling hills of white snow or green grass, with the giant barns and farm houses.

Cole's at NMNI

Well I have lots to blog, but I wanted to put this one up right away so family could see some pictures. My nephew Cole is attending New Mexico Military Institute, and he just finished his first 28 days.....it's the first period of "boot camp" you could say and adjusting to being away from home, to a new school with high standards, and lots of physical training. He seems to be doing well, and enjoying it. I hope he sticks it out and continues to see the benefit of this opportunity and experience!


The whole family, my brother Paul, Cole (nephew), Wendy (sis-in-law), and Bailey (niece)
Hmmm how did Cole get so tall, or maybe Paul just got so short!

Wow, what a shot!




Cole doing the obstacle course

The Zoo and Science Museum in Minneapolis

This past weekend we decided to take a trip to Minneapolis just for fun. We went to the Science Museum, mostly to see the dinosaurs as Parker's loves "Rarrrrrsss" as he calls them. We also like to look at all the science experiments. Parker loves to try and figure it out and see what happens, but I'm not sure he knows what he's doing yet! Then we went to lunch and then to the Como Zoo. We had tried to find this zoo on a previous trip to no avail....but it was a great zoo to go to. It was small enough to do in a couple hours, which is what we wanted...and the animals were all awake and having fun in their winter enclosures. The monkeys were especially active. They were swinging all around back and forth. Addison wanted to be as close as Parker to the window, and would yell until we got her right up close. She is really wanting to be in Parker's business these days. The seals were great also. There was a big one and a much smaller one...they were playing. The big seal seemed to be showing off. He would talk...and it was quite loud. He or she, I'm not a seal expert, would come to the glass right where Parker was and talk to him and show him the ball he was playing with, dive down, and do the same thing. It was like they were playing with each other. Parker loves to play ball, I'm sure he would have been so ecstatic to play ball with a real live seal! In the summer they have sea lion shows, so we'll have to go back again then. We did see penguins, lions, jaguars, zebras, giraffes, reindeer, gorillas, sea lions, a giant tortoise...a real one too, not just the one you see below, and some other's I'm sure I'm forgetting...It was a great trip to spend as a family. Parker soaks up so much and watches everything. He seems to remember everything he wants to....the next morning when he woke up he asked me if we were going to the zoo.

Parker checking out the triceratops fossil.


Parker, Addison, and Daddy listening to stories on the phone about dinosaurs. Parker couldn't seem to comprehend putting it on his ear...he always wanted to have the mouth part up. Really, it's funny he knows how to use this kind of phone!

Addison is kind of bright in this picture, but she liked exploring the exhibits just as much as she could!


The was at the zoo. Parker and Addison were riding a tortoise! Addison has to do everything Parker does, so of course she got up there with him, and he gladly held on to her.

Parker and Addison checking out the tortoise before climbing up on it.

My handsome Parker

We tried to take a family picture with the time....kind of good.....at least we tried!

Micheal had Vetern's Day off, being a federal employee now and all, so took a family day. We decided to go to this place here called House of Bounce. It's a giant warehouse, filled with tons of bouncer things....Parker had so much fun, as you can see. They had stuff for toddlers all the way to adults....Parker of course went on all of them. Look how tall that blue slide is! The picture doesn't even get the top or bottom of the slide...this is just the middle section! He would crawl all the way up there by himself and slide down! (the first time daddy went with him, this calmed all fears he had, after that, it was solo) Addison just hung out with me and watched, until she was so tired she fell asleep.

It was nice to take a lazy family day in the middle of the week. Parker loves to get out and doesn't prefer to stay home all day. He's a busy boy! We then went out to dinner....Addison tried more foods than Parker did...I think she ate potatoes, bread, yogurt, pudding, carrots, key lime pie....the list could go on...she will put anything in her mouth that you let her. She loves to eat. Parker on the other hand at that age, would gag if I put something "foreign" in his mouth.

Parker loves music and his daddy!

Daddy, I love you!


Parker is 100% boy most of the time. He loves to run, play, and attack! He's become quite the climber and is fast, he can climb and attack you anytime, so be on the look out. Sitting on the floor, on the couch....he does know to stop though, so that's good, but he loves to rough and tumble with daddy, boys will be boys I guess. Addison is just hoping to stay out of it and be a spectator.



Parker loves music. He dances when it comes on TV, and has figured out how to set up a band. He sets up his xylophone and drums and sings loudly to us daily. He also has a harmonica and a tambourine, and a some maracas....he puts them to good use, singing, dancing, and making a beat. Addison is kind enough to clap along, as she has figured that out this week.

Just a virus

This past was a long week. Addison caught a virus of some type. I knew it wasn't H1N1, but it was something giving her a fever and making her just not feel her happy little self. After a day of fever, I took her in, in case she had an ear infection. Everything was normal, so it was just a virus, a couple days later a rash broke out, just like the one Parker had at that age, so I wasn't worried about it, and knew it was just part of the virus. We stayed home, missing story time, Bible study, etc, so she could rest and not expose other babies. Addison weighed a whole 15 lb. 3 oz. That metabolism is fast! She loves to eat. Now she is feeling better, and off to explore again.

If there has to be a best part about Addy being sick, it was that she was so cuddly. She usually just tells us she's tired, we put her in her crib, and that's it...she puts herself to sleep, good I know, but part of me still wants to rock and cuddle her to sleep. While she was sick, she would cuddle and fall asleep and stay asleep in our arms. But, now that she's better, she's not having any of that cuddling, she will squirm and squirm til you put her down, and that second she closes her eyes, and she's out.

Beauty Shop

Parker decided that he wanted to do Addy's hair like I do his. I normally spray it down with water, as I'm letting it grow out for the cold Minnesota winter from his buzz cut he had for the hot Texas summer. He generally screams and says no when I do this, and then rubs his hands over his head to mess his hair up, only to make me determined to start over until his hair is combed. I'm going to groom this boy into a gentleman somehow!

This Addison checking out what coming up behind her, Parker is smiling so innocently and proud of himself.

This is Addison reacting to being sprayed by the water bottle! Am I mean by letting this go on? She needs to learn what's going to happen with an older brother at an early age.

This is Parker combing it into his style, doesn't she look pretty so far!?

First snow

We got our first big snow this month on October 23. They say that it is early for the snow, but I don't know, it is the end of October, I really expected there to be snow stuck on the ground by November. All this snow already melted. Parker wasn't sure of the snow at first, but once Micheal showed him how to ball it up and throw it at me, he was quite happy. He has his snow boots, snow pants, gloves, and a Pistol Pete hat, so he is set for winter....Bring it on! We'll build a giant snowman, and perfect little snow angels!

Addison is 9 months old!

Addison is now 9 months old! It's amazing how fast time flies. She's healthy as can be, and doing well. She weighs a whole 14 lbs. 9 oz, which puts her at the very bottom of the weight chart, technically every baby is bigger than her in weight at this age. She is 26 inches tall, which is in the 50th percentile. Addison learned how to use her car walker to walk across the living room all by herself!!!! She can stand alone for a few seconds at a time as well. Can she crawl? NO! Does she have teeth? NO! but I bet in a month she'll be walking pretty much all by herself!

October Activities

October has been a fast and fun month. We did lots of activities as you can see in all the blogs. The kids continue to grow and grow and grow. Addison is showing her little personality more and more and Parker is learning how to think things through and verbally express himself better and better. They are so sweet and such a joy to be home with everyday. I wouldn't trade this experience now with anything. I truly love staying at home so far and being with my kids each day. To get to know them and watch them as they interact, grow, and learn is amazing. I'm able to show them God's love and teach them first hand about the glory of God. I have so much more want to do with them, and each week is so fun. We go to a toy store weekly for story time still and I go to a Bible study each week as well. Even going out twice a week minimum is enough to keep us busy....it's a lot of work to get them ready in the cold and carry them out and about! We did the Pumpkin Patch, a trip to Oklahoma, flu shots, had our first snow, and skipped out on Halloween, too much effort for us when they are still too little.

A good shot of Parker. He loves staying at home and not having to get up and go, on the other hand, there are times he doesn't want to come home. As soon as we pull into the driveway, he'll say "No home mommy, no home." It sounds very sad. But, he just wants to keep playing and exploring. He can say church now, and since we go there twice a week and he gets left in the nursery to play, he requests to go to church.

Parker rides his tricycle in the house sometimes, on this day, he wanted Addisy (what Parker calls her) to ride with him. He let her have to front seat, and he rode in the bucket in the back. She of course had smiles of fun doing what Parker does.

Parker took this photo of Daddy, he's learning to become a photographer...he's getting really good and aiming and shooting I think! Daddy's head isn't all the way cut off, and it's not a picture of half a leg or a thumb!

So, Daddy and Addy playing on the floor....they played so much they could take no more!

Parker saw his swimming floaties in the closet, guess I didn't hide them well enough. Well, the pool's are all empty for the winter, besides the fact that even if they were open, it is way too cold to go swimming. Parker talked daddy into blowing up his floaties, and I was talked into letting him take a bath with them! At one point, the arm floaties, the beach ball, and this floatie were in the tub. I guess this is what you do for fun in the long winter in Minnesota, and it hasn't even really started!

Addison is so ready for teeth...if only they would pop out! Some how, the two of them were in these spots, and I check on them and she has a Taquito in her hand! I don't know if Parker gave it to her or if she took it, I wouldn't doubt either....and she is just sucking away on it. Now I grind up whatever we cook for dinner for her, she loves it, and has become a baby food snob.

Look! I'm eating a biter biscuit, man I wish those teeth would come!

We were eating dinner at the table....Micheal and I were paying attention to Addison, we turned back around to look at Parker, and he had fallen asleep with his head propped on the wall behind him! He was so tired. Parker gave up his nap a few weeks ago, fighting me more than it's worth to take a nap. Usually he makes it through the day until bedtime unless we get in the car between 4 and 6 pm...and then he'll fall asleep...

A sleeping angel. She become very attached to this bear...which is hers...but Parker remembers it being around before Addison was born, so he thinks it's his. You should her scream at him if he takes it, or if she sees it and can't get to it. She definitely gets his attention!

Parker and Addison were sleeping together in my bed. They had the whole california king size bed to spread out, and here they lay, entwined with one another....bear included!

Addison learned how to use her car walker all by herself to walk across the living room!!!! She can stand alone for a few seconds at a time as well. Can she crawl? NO! Does she have teeth? NO! but I bet in a month she'll be walking pretty much all by herself!