Up North Camping Adventure

This year, Jon and I decided to continue our camping tradition. You may remember our crazy story from last year... Well this year was not as crazy, but just as much fun... and I would venture to say, way more relaxing!

All last week, we were pulling out our camping gear, organizing, and reorganizing making sure we had all that we needed so we would be ready first thing Thursday morning when we set out for our adventure. We arrived at Tettegouche State Park by 2:30 or so and started to ready the campsite. The weather was wonderful - sunny skies and not too much wind. We opted to hang out at the site and around the campfire for the evening and just take it all in. Although Eko was a little uneasy about being tied up and not knowing what to do, Brianna knew exactly what she could do... play with the rocks and wood chips around the site. She was a great little camper. As we were setting up the tent and our bedding, she was content to just play inside and help. Here she is filling one of the two little holes of the barricade with rocks.

As opposed to our shorter trip last year where we didn't bother cooking at the site, this year we went full out camping. I love the take-along booster seats so you can contain the little one while you prepare and eat meals. It was a little chilly that first night and morning but we were prepared, plus it warmed up pretty quick.

 

Here we are on the way to the bathrooms to shower. Brianna did a wonderful job driving and turning the wheel. That is, until she realized there were window buttons within reach. Those are always more fun! By the way, I do not recommend showering a 17 month old when a 1 minute push button shower never gets warm, and her whining/crying echoed throughout the entire bathroom. I felt like an awful parent.

After we were all ready Friday morning, we set out for our first hike. We had done the first half of the hike (to High Falls) a previous trip, but this time we went a little further to Two Step Falls. It was a beautiful morning and fun to explore the new terrain.We ate lunch back at the campsite, then headed out again for another hike to the cascades. There must have been a landslide at some point, because the trail had been washed away. Pretty amazing to see the magnitude of something like that just take out trees and everything in it's path.

Before heading to our favorite pizza place in Grand Marais, we made sure to go down to the lake. We know our dog and knew he would want to jump in, so we were smart enough to grab a towel specifically for him. Glad we did because he could not wait, he was so excited. In fact, he laid right down, as if he purposely picked that exact spot so his head would lay just above the water. Jon reminded me that if he pulled too sharply to just LET GO of the leash; I came close to going in a couple of times, but I managed to stay dry.

On our way home, we made a pit stop at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth. You might be able to notice the very wet walkway and road in this first picture. It ended up raining off and on again all day, which made us glad we packed up when we did. The Aquarium was more of small exhibits than an aquarium but we enjoyed getting out of the car, and I know Brianna had a blast looking at the animals and walking from here to there and everywhere!

Can't wait for what next year has to offer!

As Her World Turns

Brianna realized that she could turn in circles... and that it was fun - kinda.  Not in this video, but a previous time, she turned so much that she got pretty dizzy. Maybe I'm a bad mom for just watching all of it unfold, but I just lost track of how many times she turned herself around (I thought it was cute). She got so dizzy she didn't know what to do with herself. First, she fell over, as most people do, then tried to pick herself up but couldn't do it, she kept falling over. Shortly after she stumbled the second time, she must not have liked how she felt because she started to whine a little. I consoled her and told her gently that this is what happens when you turn and turn and turn around like that. Then what does she do...

Please note the hand in the jacket pocket!

Brianna Cuteness

I've caught Brianna in the act of a few cute things the last month. Here are some pictures to document.

 We were stuffing diapers and she took a handful into the kitchen... and I guess she got tired!

  At one of my last Dr. appointments she found something and somewhere to lay her sleepy head. She's doing that a lot lately. Anywhere softer she can lay her head down, she pretends to go to sleep.

We were hanging out with my sister, Margaret, and she insisted on taking her ponytail holder out. Nice hair!

She loves Eko. Just yesterday he was laying down and she tried riding him like a horse. Of course, he just laid there.

Working Birthday

As I mentioned in the last post, we were able to get some much needed prep work done on the basement prior to our new carpet being installed. It always seemed pretty dark downstairs and we thought a painted trim would help lighten the feeling. Here is the time-line: Monday we determined we would be installing carpet that coming Saturday; Tuesday evening consisted of clearing out everything from in front of the walls; Wednesday was sanding all the trim and a coat of primer; Thursday was the first finish coat; and Friday was coat number 2... and 3. Although it was A LOT of work in a short amount of time, it was one of those, "this was well worth it" moments. We are so happy with how it turned out and how different it feels, even to just walk down the basement stairs - huge difference. Thanks to Jon's dad for coming over that Friday and lending a much needed hand to help paint and pull up old carpeting.

It wasn't a typical birthday, but I had fun. Plus the outcome of a transformed basement just keeps giving and giving and....!

B's Weekend Getaway

The first weekend in May, which was also my birthday weekend, mother's day on Sunday AND the weekend we decided to recarpet our basement, Brianna took a trip with Gammie and Gamfie to their trailer for a little camping adventure. From the pictures my mom took (all 120 of them) and the way they described her all weekend, she loved it and loved hanging out with them. More and more, she loves to be and play outside and just get dirty. It worked out perfectly, for us anyway. We were able to get some much needed prep work done on the basement Friday night before the carpet came Saturday morning. Plus we went out with friends Friday for a little birthday celebration. Thanks mom and dad for being willing to take her, even though you just had surgery on your hand and you hadn't been out there yet to clean up. I know she had a blast!

Love the laid back attitude!

Can't help loving and laughing with Gamfie!

Our Second Easter Egg Hunt!

Playing a little catch up...

On Easter we headed to Jon's parents for lunch and another fun Easter Egg Hunt. By this time, Brianna had gotten the hang of it and was set on doing most of it herself. It was fun to see her get so excited about the eggs. PLUS, she realized there was something special inside each egg, that she was even more eager to partake in!

 

 

 

Here she is with a mouth full - her first extended taste of candy or should I say, sugar!

Our First Egg Hunt!

Thanks to my sister, Michelle, for hosting a fabulous Easter Egg Hunt and lunch (and dinner for family). We had a great day playing with all the little kids and searching for Easter eggs. Brianna caught on pretty quick to the concept. Too bad there weren't a thousand eggs, because I think she could have gone all day! Here are a few pictures of our search:

I didn't get many pictures at that moment because I was also trying to capture the moment on video. Maybe we'll be able to get that up at some point too. Right after the hunt and when all the kids were inside, she found the metal bucket of all the Easter eggs. She didn't want to go inside quite yet so we stayed and playing with the eggs... and the toys from the little sandbox. How can you resist!

 

Margaret was even kind enough to capture an adorable picture of Brianna and a good family photo. Thanks Margaret for the sweet pics!

Lounging with Daddy

On the weekends, it seems Brianna just gobbles up all the time with her daddy. It is so fun to watch her snuggle up beside him on the couch or lay down next to him, just to be close to Jon. He is a great dad, and I know Brianna adores and looks up him! I mean the laughter he can get out of her is amazing... and contagious!