Honeymoon But With Kids: Cottage for the Labor Day Weekend

As we did 10 years ago, we ended this trip at the cottage. We cleaned out our car and shared stories from all of our adventures with mom and dad.

The kids were excited to show them their souvenirs.

They got some really cool stuff.

We were excited to see Daniel come along with Blake this time, even if he doesn't like getting his picture taken.

Since playing checkers the kids are obsessed with bored games. Theo was beating everyone in Snakes and Ladders.

Or is it board games?

Day 16

Scott and I were still in the hiking mood. We convinced Blake and Daniel to join us at Franklin Lake.

Well that was after Blake and Brooke couldn't come up with a place to hike. We hadn't been on this trail even though we've hiked in the area before.

Well that's because the guys had a long kayak adventure the day before and didn't want to do another big adventure today.

The trail had numbered markers but there wasn't anything explaining what they meant.

Blake and Brooke wanted to hike 10 more miles. Daniel and I were OK with a nice short hike.

I could have done the whole Butternut Lake loop but Daniel was done adventuring.

Later I read it's 12 miles, so I guess maybe not.

Team Daniel for the win.

We couldn't figure out what this random stone building was for. We might have to go the ranger station to see if they have a booklet.

Back at the car the informational display called it a mystery building. That did not solve the question.

Back at the cottage the kiddos were enjoying a lazy day by the lake.

Then we went for a pontoon ride. This is my, "I'm pretty sure you need to check your focus," out of focus face.

I really want to canoe here.

Like, do we get towed here first?

No silly, you get in at the boating landing on Lower Ninemile Lake.

I was happy to hand the reigns back to Mr. Mike. I didn't realize we were going all the way to the dam.

We added a bunch of stickers to our car on this trip.

Looking better than ever.

We'll see if the stickers in the forbidden spot last.

Day 17

The lake was covered in a fog when I woke up. I guess we also missed the Northern Lights last night here, too.

Before we headed back to Minneapolis the kids played on the new cottage playground.

G.G. spoiling her grandchildren.

We were pleasantly surprised to come home to green grass and lush gardens. Everything was dried out when we left.

Apparently the two weeks we were gone were the only time it rained all summer (and fall).

Comments

Chicago Chrismukkah + Michigander Xmas

Before heading out on our trip we let the kids open their Christmas gifts from us. A knitted sweater for Theo and a kitty dress for Meadow (I fixed the straps for her) both made by me. I wanna a sweater. Scott got them new compact sleeping bags. We all got smaller sleeping bags this year and we'll now have a lot more room in our car. This year we had talked about hosting my family at the cottage. Then meeting up in Milwaukee, then meeting in Chicago. But in the end we made stops in Chicago and Lowell this Christmas. We left on a Sunday which was nice to have a few days to prepare. On the way down to Chicago we stopped at our favorite roadside restaurant, Foster Cheese Haus. We had plans to break up our drives so we didn't have to rush like we normally do. We had made it just before the cheese haus was set to close for the winter. Just not enough folks stop here in winter and snowmobile season is becoming shorter and shorter this far so...

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 1 Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19 precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month. I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Since we were near Fergus Falls we had to stop by the abandoned state ho...

Work Trip: Carlinville, Illinois and a St Louis Walk on the Hill

Every few shoots for my main client I end up somewhere I'd never heard of before. This time it was Blackburn College in quaint Carlinville, Illiniois. Apparently famous for it's chili factory and its parlor. The family friendly chili parlor faces the town square, meanwhile the Anchor Inn faces the street behind it where the chili is also served alongside beers and rail drinks. I was informed the chili comes with a kick and that was no lie. Knowing this fact I went with the chili mac and I'd do it again. Even though Carlinville is much closer to St Louis, the Anchor is definitely a Cubs bar. This town rules. After my shoot at the tiny Blackburn College I drove back to St Louis, where I'd flown into, for dinner. Well, one of the inner ring suburbs that's more urban than parts of Minneapolis. Anyways, Balkan Treat Box may have been the best meal I've had all year. After dinner I drove over to the Hill, an old Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. I don't know wh...

Search This Blog