Minnesota – we love it here! Or least we have a mug with that motto and try to have that attitude. Sometimes attitude is what fuels our fortitude to make it through January.

So yesterday we embraced the frozen tundra and wrapped up January with a fun trip to the local ice castle. Yes, Elsa, Anna and Olaf were all there. And yes, all the ice was real.

It was 27 degrees outside, and I joined Olaf in daydreaming about summer.

Despite the warnings I’ve read in The Snow Queen and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I let my darling children ride off in a sleigh with a complete stranger. This ended much better than it sounds, probably because no one offered them Turkish Delight.

The ice slide was a little slow, but fun.

Next, we took a quick break to go ice skating nearby and grab some hot chocolate and snowflake sugar cookies.

At dark we returned to the ice castle to see the lights.

With lots of twirling torches and fiery stunts, the fire show was captivating, too.

Happy February from Minnesota!