the sound of me sticking out my tongue

hmm..more frequent posting, not happening so much huh?
here's the non-news from Minnesota, or how we spent the weekend...
Friday night our neighbors had a little welcome home party for us. It was small, but the kids played friendly together, including a lively game of Snap! and the American Girls Game 300 Wishes. Adults ate truffles, taco dip, and mushroom pate while catching up and playing Apples to Apples. We arranged to have monthly game nights so we will keep in touch during these cold dark winter months.
Saturday morning Orin went out and played broomball with some friends. My hands are so dry and cracked and hurting and bleeding I decided to pass on the opportunity to expose them to more cold and injury. I took the boys over to a friends house whose husband was also playing, and has a little girl between Silas's and Emmet's age. So we spent the morning catching up and entertaining the kids. Saturday afternoon, Orrin realized that he had injured his wrist somehow. Between playing broomball, going bowling with his group from work, and taking out the trash; it was asking to much for poor little out of shape Orrin. Ireland has made us soft in many ways, I guess.
Still the minor injury did not stop him from replacing the leaking faucet on Sunday. We also took a short walk down to the park by the river. Emmet loved the swings and Silas raced up and down the slides like lightening. Snow pants make you fly down the slide, as we discovered. He also talked me into going down a vertical tunnel made from tires strung together on a chain. I barely fit through the diameter of the tire, and of course I got stuck at the bottom because I couldn't bend to get out. So I had to wiggle my way back up to the top, getting snow all down my pants. I don't think we were there more than 10 minutes, but it was nice to get out of the house anyway.
Monday, Orrin was able to stay home with us due to the MLK Jr. Holiday. We went to The Works Museum in Edina. It was a small place, but Silas enjoyed it. There were K'nex cars to be built and raced down a ramp, gears to be turned, pulleys to help you lift a load as heavy as your own mother!, robots to program, light and prisms to play with. Silas's favorite was the marble run blocks. My major triumph was building a round tower of large foam blocks around Silas, having him run out the side, and it remain standing. Now with a door out the side. We can go for free by "checking out" a pass from the library, so I'd say we'd probably go again.
We test drove a Honda minivan. But are we any closer to making a decision about a second car? No, we are not.
We have pictures and videos to share, but I'm not sure where the cables are, or if I even have a way to get the pictures and videos out of my phone. Yes, I have a camera phone now! I feel like an idiot using it, but I am determined to get the hang of it.
So, I hope to share them soon.