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Japan Family Trip - Part II: Exploring the Shrines and Wilds of Nikko

We had originally planned on taking the bullet train down from Tokyo to Kyoto for a day or two. While being epically fast, it was a bit spendy for the four of us.  After talking to Brooke's coworker we settled on a two day trip to Nikko and its World Heritage Sites to break up our week in Tokyo. This turned out to be an amazing decision. The town is teaming with beauty from ancient shrines to epic waterfalls and some of the best meals we had on our trip. Kyoto didn't seem all that appealing to me when I started researching which location to go to. I too am glad we chose to head north to Nikko.  When we booked our Tobu Nikko Spacia X tickets I upgraded to the premium seats thinking that we'd be sitting facing one another. Instead we ended up with 4 individual seats, two in the first two rows and two in the last two rows. It turned out just fine with the kids sitting in front of us in two groups. Meadow and I were seated at the front of the car. Once in awhile we'd pas...
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How Many Cottage Visits This Summer? Well, This Time We Went to the Vilas County Fair

  You probably thought: "You guys can't be going to to the cottage again? And you already went to a fair!" Well, you'd be wrong. After a delayed return from Utah, we headed back to Three Lakes. After missing the turn to get on 35W north we found ourselves on 94 East and decided to keep going that way. Since we'd be on 29, you know we had to stop at Marieke Gouda again. This time we could browse around.  We got some cheese for up north and the kids and I got ice cream cones, again. The water levels had really dropped.  Much of the Upper Midwest was in deep drought to end the summer. Even the pond was dry. Well, at least the lake was mostly full. Straight to the water with these kids. Theo and I were at the farmers market earlier this week and Theo said he wanted corn on the cob. I told my dad to pick some up at the farm stand on the way up to have for dinner. What a goof. This view never gets old. With swimming lessons now completed, Theo has been become quite the...

Willow River, Ben Comes to Visit and a Quick Work Trip to the Wasatch Valley

Saturday The kids and I stopped at the Uptown Farmers Market the other day. And much to our surprise was a bakery selling Japanese Milk Bread. Of course I had to make our favorite breakfast.  For this weeks farmers market run, the kids and I tried out the St Paul Farmers Market. After hearing about it for years we finally made the trek. Getting here and finding parking was an adventure in itself.  Well, that's because it's not located in a car sewer. Love all the pretty colors.  Popcorn for these kiddos. I'm not sure how you all aren't sick of popcorn. We also got okra, cucumbers, cauliflower, spread cheese, green beans and potatoes.  Then we stopped at a Hyvee to get food for a picnic lunch, camp meals for our upcoming trip to Ontario, and school snacks.  Then to take advantage of our new Wisconsin State Park pass, we went to the uber popular Willow River State Park . All the picnic tables were in use so the ground it is.  The only other time we have been ...