“Great Moments…

…are born from great opportunity.”* I’ve always loved the movie Miracle, and the day we got the acceptance letter from Carlson, I went out and bought it. I’m sentimental like that. After all, ice hockey is the official state sport of Minnesota. Spend a winter here and you see why – every rec center field, neighborhood pond, or back yard could be turned into a hockey rink. 

Dave plays a couple times a week with fellow students from around the complex, sometimes in sub-zero temperatures, but they don’t seem to mind. Anything for their hockey fix! Myself, I require at least double-digit temps, in the positive, before we show up to cheer. 

A Saturday in February was just such a day: 20 degrees, a soft snowfall – perfect for winter festivities at the park.

Riley and Joe love watching “the hockey skates,” although their cheers need some work:

“Yay! Hockey skates!”
“D-A-D...gooooo Dad!”
“A, b, c, d…can we go sledding now?”

Being active in the winter is a game changer. And if you can find ways to be active because of winter, bonus points to you. I personally prefer indoor soccer to hockey or skiing, snowshoeing or snowboarding, but a good sledding day is for everyone! And the local recreation centers often up the ante with s’mores, cocoa, and popcorn along with sledding and ice-skating events, all free and family-friendly.*

Really, you don’t have to look hard for ways to keep yourself and loved ones active and happy during the long winter months – Minnesota has that art perfected.

*Family skate/sled nights are listed here during the winter season: https://www.minneapolisparks.org/
*Herb Brooks’ pregame speech for any time you need motivation, delivered by the cutest messenger ever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI