Our Yearly Tradition

Ever since I was about 10-ish years old, my family would always head up to Duluth for a long weekend every summer in August. Those would turn into some of my best childhood memories. There's something about the north shore, no matter how old you are, that puts all of the day-to-day stresses to rest. There were a few years in there that I broke away from that tradition, but when Donny and I started (seriously) dating, we jumped back into that tradition with my family, and are now carrying out the tradition with the girls in tow. It's always filled with giggles and chaos, but an absolutely priceless time we get to spend up there with my parents, sister, and her family. Here's some pictures from memory lane: 2016 (I think it was too chaotic, we didnt get a picture of the four together)

2017

2018

2019

2020

This year, we decided to lengthen our journey up north and we went up to Beaver Bay, just the four of us, for two additional nights. We stayed at Cove Point Lodge. It was wonderful! They have their own little private rock beach, and a beautiful cove to walk out to and enjoy. The lodge was incredibly quiet, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The kids (all three) loved climbing boulders (As my anxiety is thru the roof watching them conquer those huge boulders with nothing but a 20 foot drop into the lake underneath them if they would happen to slip or step wrong). They (again, all three kids) loved exploring anything and everything... and questioning anything and everything. We had to inspect and name every rock, and make rock families (two identical little rocks, a mommy rock, and a daddy rock to create the 'family')... and then find a special spot for them. Their imagination ran wild as they played Elsa and Ana when they saw big waves coming up to the shore... and the floor is lava as they jumped from boulder to boulder with the lake underneath them. We did about a 2-1/2 mile hike at Tettegouche State park... where we had to stop at every mushroom sighting and say 'hi' to the fairies living inside of them. (Side story, for documentation purposes, the end result of the hike was absolutely breathtaking... but there are no pictures, because I decided to have a complete panic attack while walking across a bridge that I had NO idea was called the 'suspension bridge'. I thought we were plumeting right into the water under us. I absolutely hate bridges anyway, and this one put me over the edge, literally. Hike and fun was over). We visited Split Rock Lighthouse... they were pretty unimpressed with the lighthouse but LOVED the rock beach, and I took full advantage of photo ops. I think our favorite places were Black Beach and a little waterfall off the side of the road in Beaver Bay, it wasn't full of tourists, off the beaten path of sorts, and they girls were able to climb and walk on rocks until their hearts were content. Sleeping was a bit rough. If you remember in past blogs... sleep has always been an ongoing issue, so when we switch up their routine, no one gets much sleep. But, we had a great time... and the memories these girls made I hope stick with them for a long time.... and if they keep up with the memory they have, they definitely will remember for years and years to come! Some pictures from our adventures. Enjoy!

Well, Hello There!

 Where should I start?  

This precious little blog-diary that was completely ignored for nearly four years.... Four years gone, and I have no documentation of it...just packed away in my memory (until that starts failing me, too).  

That's okay... I'll just pick up the pieces from here.  

I went to my cousin's baby shower a week ago, and my cousin's wife struck a chord... She mentioned this blog and how she loved reading our journey.  It's something that never came to my mind... someone following our journey and feeling connected to us... and it not just being my own little drama-filled diary.   I know we had a lot of people reading this to follow along our rocky beginning of parenthood, but when she said she felt connected to us thru this blog... that stuck.  Thanks Jessica for bringing it up... it's exactly what I needed to hear to give me a kick in the... to dust this blog off!    

So, we're back.  It's the perfect time too... because we're about to embark on a HUGE milestone.  KINDERGARTEN... during a pandemic!!   

I'll keep this one short since it's my 'first' (2.0?) post... but man do I have some catch-up to do! I'm finally in a position in life where I actually have time to do this now (and the set up).  I'll do some reminiscing along with updates on the girls journey thru Kindergarten.  

I'll leave with a picture of these grown up girls from this past weekend during our little family vacation up north, where they conquered an amazing hike without a single complaint!   💗