North Shore 2012 - Part 1 (Duluth)

We survived, we survived!  North Shore 2012 is now just a memory, some good and some bad.  Would I recommend taking a 3 year old resistant to potty training on a hike when it's 85?  No.  But we did it anyway and live to tell the tale.  Lots of picture people.....here we go! 

High noon Wednesday we arrived in Duluth for our one-day stay.  

After lunch we headed down to the lake walk, threw some rocks in the lake, and watched a big ship (below) come into the harbor.  We've never experienced a ship coming in before, so that was fun.  The blowing of the horn was SO loud, causing Ella and the other small kids watching to freak out (I jumped a mile out of my seat I think!)

Ella with the Moose during our short but sweet shopping trip:

Snacks on a stroll:

We rented a bike buggy along the lake walk which was super fun.  Ella thought we were racing the other people who left the rental shop at the same time as us!  She kept looking back and telling us we're winning!  When we arrived back at the shop to return the bike, Ella told us all (including the bike shop staff) that we won!  Hurray!  HA!

Who can resist S'mores along the North Shore?!

We also got our swimming in at the hotel pools!  They had an indoor and outdoor pool, which was so nice since the weather was beautiful!

Ella was SO excited to "swim"  We really need to get her in swimming lessons I think so she can do more things and feel more comfortable in the water.  Her favorite thing by far was walking in and out of the pool using the steps!   

It was a fun filled day in Duluth, but the real vacation couldn't begin until we headed up Hwy 61 to Tofte!

A "Developmental Milestone"

The past few mornings Ms. Ella has been up by 6 a.m. (lovely).  Yesterday morning she headed right downstairs to hang out with Daddy while he was eating cereal.  Jay made her a small bowl of cereal with milk too - and apparently (I didn't witness) she ate it all.  When I came downstairs, Jay told me all about it and was all proud, telling me this was a big developmental milestone for her!  HA!  That made me laugh.  Then, he found her a straw so she could get every last bit of milk.  Hilarious.

So, congratulations Ella on reaching this developmental milestone!

Ahh...summer time

!

Friday afternoon after an impromptu trip to a barn sale a few miles outside of Farmington (super fun!), and because Ella kept her promise and sat on the potty (and actually went!), we headed to the park to celebrate and enjoy the weather.

I have found a new fabulous cookbook!  The Back in the Day Bakery cookbook (this will link you to it on Amazon).  I love it!  I don't own it yet (it's on loan to me from the library) but there are so many delicious sounding recipes.  This weekend I made Blueberry Buckle, which apparently is a Southern staple on the Sunday brunch menu.  It was really good (my lame picture below).  Sunday night I made something from the cookbook (can't remember what it's called) but similar to a pot pie filling and then it has homemade biscuit-like topping.  It is SO good!

And, the following made me laugh out loud.  I noticed this yesterday in the garage when I got home from work.  Note these are not just "fragile"  These are "VERY fragile"  My husband is such a dork.  I still don't understand the fascination with having a shot glass collection, when the shot glasses are never used, nor are they even out anywhere to see (thank goodness actually)!

The Potty Saga continues...but we went to the fair!

It's been a LONG few weeks still trying to get Ella to grasp the potty training concept.  Her newest tricks?  She will bargain, and I mean BARGAIN her way to not have to go potty but will promise to go after {something}  For instance, Saturday was the longest day in history in our house.  Everyone was crabby.  I told Ella we weren't going to the Dakota County Fair unless/until she went potty.  Well, I started repeating this mantra to her starting about 9 a.m.  Hours passed.  It was then 4:30 p.m. and she still hadn't gone to the bathroom.  She'd been sitting on the potty chair but wouldn't go.  I was so frustrated!  Ella starting telling Jay that she would go potty AFTER the fair.  A million times she said this.  I wasn't going to give in.  Jay did.  So, away we went to the fair, which was fun! (even though I was worried about her lack of bathroom activity for the day and slightly annoyed that my 3 year old runs the household).  Pictures will follow of our adventures at the fair, but let me tell you this: we got home, walked in the door, got Ella cleaned up from the fair and she sat on the potty and she WENT!  Holy balls.  She really followed through on her bargain!  This girl amazes me every day.  She's too smart for her own good (ALREADY!)  And, after weeks of telling Ella that she can go in her "Dora Pants" (these are the Pampers easy ups) trying to persuade Ella not to hold it for so long, she's now taking us up on this and we're going through Dora Pants like they are going out of style!  OH NO!  I can't decide if this is good or bad.  She's going whenever she wants & doesn't want to sit on the potty because she tells me "Mommy, my Dora pants will catch it" (which are the exact words I tell her).  People, this is never ending! 

 Ella brought her camera to take pictures of the animals!

 Eating a fried peanut butter sandwich with Daddy!

 Her favorite animals - the cows!

Posing with her prize from the fishing game in the Midway

Smores & Workouts

A few phone pics from the past few days:  Sunday night smores and Ella's workout get-up.  HA!

Where we've been....

**Alert: Quite possibly the longest, full of everything random post, ever!**

We have been in potty-training pergatory since my last brief (ha!) post.  Tons of issues with Ms. Ella.  She's gotta be the most difficult child ever to potty train.  She holds it...and holds it...and holds it.  FOREVER!  Anyway, less talking, more pictures.  Hope everyone is doing great!

Few weekends ago - Annie's bachelorette party in northern Wisconsin.  WOW - have you ever been?  I don't think I can do it again.  Very interesting peeps.  This random picture makes me laugh - it's Lizzy & Debbie getting the rental pontoon.  I have NO idea why I thought this picture would be incredible.  It's clearly very random. I guess that's what cucumber infused vodka will do!

On a pontoon....

Ella after her very first dental exam.  They counted teeth, "painted" her teeth with cherry flavored flouride and gave her all kinds of goodies.  It wasn't easy by any means, but she's been much better about brushing now.

 Showing off the pearly whites.

Ms. Ella giving us some attitude, which is becoming more prominent now that we've entered the terrible 3s. I'm sorry but who decided that a 2 year old was worse than a 3 year old?!

Friday night Twins game 7/27.  It was a gorgeous night for outdoor baseball.  We had a great time and the home team even pulled out a win!

Annie's Abbas family bridal shower was on Sunday 7/29.  Tara & I were the hostesses.  A few pics from the shower:

Dum Dum sucker centerpiece for the large table.  I saw this on Pinterest a while ago and thought it was adorable!  I also made these marshmellow wedding cake pops.  How cute are they?!?  Love them.  Again, Pinterest. 

I was in charge of games - here's one of the games I put together.

Who has the Groom? I think it turned out cute!

I made a coffee filter wreath tinted yellow as part of the decor. 

Loving it!  I need to make one for my house now!

We celebrated Jay's birthday on 7/31.  I made a special request pie, which was delicious!  Sort of like a Snickers bar.  It was fun to make too!  I haven't made a pie forever (well, since apple pie last fall)!

 Birthday dinner at Houlihan's. 

Ella & Jay after gift opening.  A few weeks ago, I asked Ella what she wanted to get Daddy for his birthday. She kept telling me she wanted to get him a teddy bear with pink on it. I searched and couldn't find one so we drew him a pink teddy bear instead. :) 

  Here's Ella trying to swipe Jay's bday money!!

Pedicure time again - it cracks me up how she totally gets into the relaxing part when her feet are in the bubbles!

Making a bulletin board with Daddy at Home Depot on 8/4. 

She did some painting and hammering this time!