Northwoods NYE 2024 - Wild Ice Edition

After our stop in Dunbar for lunch, we drove the last hour to Three Lakes for Northwood New Year's Eve. When we arrived we were greeted by Rudolph. 

I love the addition to the Christmas decor this year.

It was time for Second Christmas after all. 

Grandpa must like playing with fire. Theo will not lose even if he lost.

Deer pancakes for our first morning at the cottage.

At least for Theo. The rest of us just got plain old pancakes. I'm not sure why, but they're always better when Grandpa makes them.

I recently read that you should take a 30 minute walk after eating. Scott and I didn't bother getting dressed and headed outside.

That was just my sister talking, but oddly I think it makes my reflux worse.  

Another New Years with no snow.

There was a tiny bit in the shade.

Theo got to cut down the tree this year.

After a little help from Grandpa this year's Second Christmas Tree was harvested.

He even carried it out of the woods himself.

Back to Trig's the greatest little grocery chain in the Northwoods. Their Smokehaus meats are the best.

First course was taco dip.

Brooke doesn't remember or care, but it was for the Packers game. This ended up being dinner. Sadly the Vikings held on to win. At least Daniel was happy.

After the game we opened Christmas presents from G.G. and Grandpa.

More Picasso Tiles for this building loving kid.

Uncle Blake got Theo a magic kit.

Daniel had me this year and got me a National Park trivia calendar and car detailing attachments for our shop vac.

Looks like Blake got an ice fishing pole.

Blake got mom a floatie shaped like a wine bottle.

Meadow hit the jackpot with a big wooden box of markers.

She had to mark each color on a checkoff sheet for some reason.

It's a chart so you know what all the colors look like. 

Breakfast hash for everyone the next morning.

Then it was cottage Santa time.

Marble Run for Theo dude.

Coffee for Daniel.

A new lazy Susan for Blake. 

My goods this year.

I got some good gifts, but nothing better than the Pocky super pack.

I had been looking at pot holders for Theo recently so we were glad to see he got one.

I think the Wind Bots wound up being his favorite of the bunch.

Meadow got some more art stuff and cool bike lights.

King Cake time.

I take too many dumb pictures according G.G. So, I have to get a few cheesy posed shots.

The temperature actually dropped enough overnight that it refroze the lake.

It couldn't have been more perfect.

Yeah, we miss the snow, but wild ice this good is a huge win.

Theo did pretty good keeping up with us.

Theo mostly got sad that the big kids weren't waiting for him.

At first we stayed close to Dog Lake.

Grandpa kept himself busy with tip ups of course.

I hope this toad is just hibernating.

Pretty sure the sun baked him.

We ended up traversing the entire east bank of Dog Lake.

We went back inside for some hot chocolate and chilling before more skating.

It was probably just the beautiful sunset, but the ice was possibly even better at dusk.

A lone ice fisherman packed up his gear and ATV for the night right when we go out.

I kept hearing a snowmobile in the distance. Once we discovered where it was coming from they were done for the day. Would have been cool to see it race on this track. 

For some reason Meadow put on our ice cleats and ran around the ice.

We stayed out on the ice until the sun finally set. Best cottage ice skating ever?

Mr. Mike checked on his tip ups and then we all called it a day on the ice.

The big kids headed out to a holiday party at the Eagle River Historical Society. We came near the end and got to eat what was left of the potluck.

We checked out the exhibits and then got some more snacks for the road.

The party ended too quickly and we thought the night was still young.

We got some drinks and caught up at 32 South Bar & Grill. No, we also can't explain the name.

The next day the lake had froze a little more. 

Even better skating than the first day.

With no snow the Beaver dens were out in plain sight.

I spy a few lilly pads. 

This time we skated the entire shore of Dog Lake.

And on to Deer Lake.

There's a strange inlet that looks like it could've been manmade, but there are no docks along it. We skated back into it, but it was a tad bumpy.

This is when Daniel was supposed to propose to Blake.

Instead Theo had fallen and bumped his head. We really should get him a helmet. 

We had skated 3.5 miles on our two lake loop.

Theo was ready to warm up inside.

Later Scott and I tried to skate down crystal creek but it wasn't totally frozen in some spots so we turned around. 

For New Years dinner this year we convinced mom to try Blake's friends family's restaurant.

Funny enough its the same friend who runs the Eagle River Historical Society. Bartolotti's Cin Cin out by the airport in Eagle River.

The kids kiddy cocktails came in a fancy glass.

The kids got buttered noodles. Should've asked for spaghetti and meatballs.

Mike's salmon.

Daniel's scowl.

Definitely one of the more refined restaurants we've been to on NYE.

Last years Asana Suka was pretty fancy too. 

The night was just getting ready and after having fun bowling last year we thought we would try it again.

We're going to do this every year and G.G. is going to claim we've never done it before it.  A new tradition.

After a snafu getting a lane, all engines were go.

I was surprised when we we got there that no one was bowling. I guess there were special reservations at 10. We had to wait to see if there would be a lane for us. 

These kids are pretty good at bowling.

Theo's first time without a kids bowling ramp.

We made it back within seconds of midnight.

We were about to go to bed when we remembered Meadow's monigote.

And no one told me. It's a piñata-like creation that you burn at midnight on NYE in Ecuador. 

I would've stayed all week, but alas, Brooke had to work.  

When we finally arrived back home the kids had their last presents to open. More Picasso Tiles from Chelsea.

USA pillow for Theo and purple fuzzy leg warmers for Meadow from Santa.

And we were spent. Just 360 or so days until my favorite weekend of the year.  

Our New Years Goals for 2025

Brooke: Walk 1,000 miles

Theo: Beat The Legends of Zelda: Echo's of Wisdom

Meadow: Finish reading the Warriors Series