Gotham's Finest

When we were up in GR for Christmas, we found out that Mike's sister and family were not doing the Polar Plunge this year, which meant we were off the hook. A few weeks later, we were talking and both mentioned how we were strangely disappointed to not do the plunge. So we gathered our neighbors Mike and Katie and my co-worker Brad and his step-daughter Kayla and all agreed to dress up like Batman villains (the three of us who had plunged before already had villain costumes) and jump into Prior Lake.

We had such a blast and raised about $1700 for Special Olympics. We were also really impressed how well run the event was and how smoothly they moved 500+ plungers through the line. And we are glad that I snagged us an early plunge time!

In case you are wondering what goes through your mind when you decide to jump into 33 degree water on a 25 degree day, read on ...

First, you "warm up" at Buffalo Wild Wings after leaving five children with a babysitter (who made bank for the day so don't feel bad for her at all). You wonder if it is sad that your big "date day" is to jump into a frozen lake. But you move on.

When it's your turn, you walk up to the ledge and feel significantly less sure about life choices than you did when you were nice and warm in BWWs. But you're still like "we got this."

Thank goodness for the MC's countdown. Although at this point, you are wishing for the magic Instagram Boomerang feature that would land you back nice and dry on that ledge.

This right here, ladies and gentleman, is why you wear bikini bottoms under your costume skirt!

Full team cannonball. Which felt like thousands of shards of ice stabbing every part of your body. Good times. And yet, it really is good times. Before we were even in dry clothes, the three newbies on the team stated they would totally do it again. In a year.

When your hair is soaked and sending ice cold drips down your neck. And you realize that your mask and the dozens of ivy leaves in your hair are completely tangled together and you can't get anything out. Or you are just damn cold.

Don't let anyone know that super villain identity. Don't let anyone know that super villain identity.

When you are done by 1:00 but you have the babysitter until 2:00. So you decide to go to the bar with the neighbors. But Catwoman accidentally locks the keys in the house and Riddler and Joker legit break in. Because babysitter and bar.

If you have ever considered plunging, do it! I guarantee we'll be back next year. We may need a new theme though.