While It Was Cold. . .

Fans, it is still cold here in the North Star State, but it was warm enough today that Joe's school reopened after its winter break and being closed these past two days because of the extremely cold temperatures. So the bambini were back to their regularly scheduled programming today. But Monday and Tuesday found them at home with Ted. Target encouraged its employees to work from home so Ted did while the bambini amused themselves with various activities.  They worked out with Ellen who is referred to like a close friend of the the family.  The bambini work out with Ellen in their bathing suits, which was ironic on Monday and Tuesday given the temperatures outside.  In Birdie's case, working out requires a number of wardrobe changes.  (Really anything is a good excuse to dispense with one ensemble and create another.) Working out segued into dancing for Clara.  You can see a brief snippet of it here. (Doesn't Berenice seem jazzed to have nearly everyone home with her still?)

The bambini also wiled away a fair amount of time watching some Berenstain Bears movies which they love because there are no "scary guys" in them.  It's always amusing to see which of the several 20-minute vignettes on a DVD will captivate them the most.  On the DVD we currently have out from the library, they are especially taken with an episode in which Papa Bear keeps getting hiccups because he's eating too fast: "When eating your food, remember to chew. It's not just good manners, it's healthy for you!"  Pearls of wisdom in rhyme, Fans.  Can't beat it.

Joe read to Clara a bit--Amelia Bedelia, Fancy Nancy--and onTuesday, Ted and the bambini came to St. Paul and took Julie to lunch after they poked around Julie's office and charmed a few of her colleagues. Fans, as you know, the bambini love a rock. Most rocks and pebbles are buried under the snow right now. Julie was amused to see them make a beeline for the various rocks she has around her office that she uses as paperweights.*

So it was a little of this and a little of that and here we are, looking forward to double-digit temperatures north of 0.  Apparently they will be here tomorrow.

*Our Little Red Sometimes Resident Fans maybe interested to know that three of her rocks came from the beach at Orient Point by the ferry. Practical Ted asked Julie if she was really going to pack rocks on their return home. Yes, yes, she was.   And she did.