Seven Years - 8.27.12

Yesterday was our 7 year wedding anniversary!  We try to be up north or on vacation, but this year it wasn't going to work out.  But!  We did get to go out for dinner together (w/o Ella) and enjoy each others company and conversation without being interrupted 80 million times.  :)  We headed to Enjoy! in Apple Valley.  It was really good, and we even got dessert and champagne compliments of the restaurant!  See?  It was SO good!  (But we forgot to have the waiter take our picture together)  Boo!

This year the traditional wedding gift is copper or wool.  I gave Jay a handmade copper wallet insert with words from the song from our first dance at our wedding etched onto it (I love etsy) and a pair of Smartwool socks.  Jay gave me a handmade copper bracelet and necklace (also found from etsy).  I forgot to snap pics of the gifts!  

This week will be jam packed with pre-wedding happenings.  Annie's big day is Saturday!

North Shore 2012 - Part 2 (Tofte)

North Shore 2012 trip continued in Tofte.  This year we rented a townhome on Lake Superior just north of Blue Fin Bay (our fav spot on the North Shore).  Although the townhome was new and modern with a great view of the lake, it just wasn't conducive for small kids.  Lots of stairs and no easy access to the beach area was kind of a bummer!  Here are some pictures from our days up there.

The townhome (kitchen)

Of course we went to World's Best Donuts and Java Moose in Grand Marais!!

Spent a lot of time at the shore in Grand Marais

Ella loved these friendly little ducks

The lone hike we did on Thursday - Oberg Mountain.  Ella starting complaining about 20 minutes in, and she continued to cry/whine/complain pretty much the remainder of the hike.  Kind of made it hard to enjoy the tranquility of the whole thing, but whatev!  We still had a good hike, and we got to see deer (first time we've ever come upon animals in the woods)

The next morning, we did a stroller walk along the Gitchi Gami Trail.  It was HOT!

And our last night up north, it was so warm out we got ice cream!  Ella's fav - chocolate!

It was a fun time!  But....next year, it may just be an adults-only vacation!  :)

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!