In 2010 I ... attended the year's first Baby Shower

Everyone is pregnant. Honestly, everyone.

Okaaay, maybe not everyone. But it sure feels like it. And with pregnancies come baby showers, the first of which was this Sunday ... a strange pre-Super Bowl activity.

Pregnancy #1 goes to Jenny, 1/4 of a great group of friends from high school; of the group, 1/2 is pregnant. (I hope that's the most math, pregnancy related or otherwise, this blog ever sees.)

So we celebrated Jen's upcoming addition with gifts, games and talk of times when no one owned a home, was married, or starting a family. Conclusion: we're old. Age was some assistance, however, as my new mom friend Jennie was able to offer great suggestions as to the best items to purchase for this Jenny (which I'll likely be repurposing for Stacia soon, too).

This posse is getting heading up north for a short weekend hiatus next Saturday, and we realized it will be the last time we'll be able to take the trip together in one car. I think I'll be sure to stretch out a little bit further on this drive ... before the car seats and diaper bags won't allow for it.

In 2010 I ... went to Lake of the Isles Loppet

What to do on a chilly winter Saturday in MN? Be outside on a frozen lake, obviously.

After bundling up with Diana, Bryan and Bryan's friend Max (and warming up with a pre-event beverage) we trekked the two blocks from Diana's to the City of Lakes Loppet luminary event. It was gorgeous. Night + snow + ice luminaries = so pretty.

I had zero expectations and no idea what all went on at Loppet, but I think we were all pleasantly surprised to find it was really fun. A big ice pyramid had been stacked out of these really clever ice rings (I selfishly wanted to decorate my entire patio with them for the rest of winter) to stunning effect.

Beyond pretty, there was a crazy group of hippie flame throwers willing to actually burn for their craft. The crowd was loving it, though:


We finished up Loppet with a hike past the row of snow sculptures and I think there was group consensus that this guy was our favorite:

Clearly all this admiring and photo taking worked up a serious hunger, so we ran off to Dulono's for pizza, beer and live bluegrass. I can't believe I've been living just blocks from this delicious square-cut pizza goodness. It's definitely going to be on the next family-visits-Uptown to-do list.

It was so refreshing to actually be outside for longer than the time it takes to run from the door to the car, and really nice to see so many Minnesotans making the most of the season. But honestly, after today's snowfall, is it spring yet?