Freezing in July (Vacation Outings #3)

Well... not quite freezing, but it was sure cold!!


We took a day trip up to Duluth, Minnesota.  It's just a few hours from the cabin and it's been a tradition ever since my sister and I were little.  We wanted to show Jacklyn the oldest working lift bridge and let the kids feed french fries to the seagulls.  There's also a huge wooden playground that the kids were/are finally big enough to enjoy!


The thing is, we were used to 90-100 degrees - at the lowest 85.  We know that it's always a bit cooler in Duluth because of the air off of Lake Superior, but we didn't figure it would be too much cooler.


We were wrong.


It was 57 degrees and windy COLD!  I talked to Joe on the phone shortly after we arrived at the playground and it was 107 in Wichita - a 50 degree difference!!!!


Speaking of the playground - it had changed quite a bit!!  It used to be a HUGE wooden playground that looked like castles all connected by ropes, bridges, bars, etc.  Well, they've updated it.  It's pretty cool - just made me feel old. :)


I tried to get Avery to take a pic with me to send to Joe... she was cold.

Malachi enjoyed the playground (for the few minutes we were there).

Yeehaw!

I love my Mom... so much.  This is one reason - she never hesitates to jump right in and have fun with the kids (or even just by herself). :)

Malachi and Grandma Bubba

Gpa pushing Avery, who so badly wanted to swing, but was also SO cold.

I love this picture.

As we headed down the boardwalk towards the lift bridge, I don't think Avery was too happy about the weather.  I am glad I picked up a cheap stroller for the outing - at least I could bundle her up.

So normally we would be out there with the seagulls... we would walk down to the lighthouse... we would even wade in the shallow water on the shore.  Not this day - we just took in the view from the lookout at the museum. :)

After that we headed to the Great Lakes Aquarium.  Some indoor entertainment was calling our names!  Avery was, well, still cold.

The kids (and the adults) LOVED the aquarium!  So many things to see and a lot of hands-on activities for kids!

The aquarium had birds, too.  This bird and Avery had a "screeching" conversation back and forth.  It was awesome... though I missed the best part.  I only got video of the very end.  Oh well.

I took this pic on my phone and sent it to Joe to make his day.  He despises snakes.  I mean has an awful fear of them (which he says he will conquer...).  Avery was so excited to see the snakes - she kept asking to "pet" them. :) I like snakes, so I was proud.  Ha.

Some more cool fish.

That was our (cold) day in Duluth.  It was worth it - we had fun and it makes for great stories/memories!

Vacation Outings #2

Joe was only able to vacation with us for one week at the cabin.  The next two weeks he hopped around speaking at camps and performing weddings. :)


My mom, sis, and I left the kiddos with Gpa and Aaron while we took Joe to the twin cities airport.


Before we parted ways :(
(btw this was at 26 weeks along)

The only "good" thing about leaving Joe at the airport was that we picked Jacklyn up just a few hours later!  (Those few hours were spent at IKEA, btw...)


We accidentally happened upon the Mall of America.  I'm serious.  I looked for a store in my GPS and that's where it took us... I had no idea the airport was only 5 minutes away from it!  Visiting the MOA is was on Jacklyn's bucket list, so we had to check it out.

One of the first things we saw after walking inside... the amusement park INSIDE the mall.  Crazy!!

I took this picture for Avery... every now and then she still asks to see "the biggest Dora EVER".

The more you look, the more rides you see.

It was overwhelming!

I didn't get any other pictures of the mall... but the rest of our time consisted of a LOT of walking.  My sis and I were exhausted preggos by the end, but it was fun. :) It was nice to have a gals getaway - and it was really nice of Aaron and Gpa to watch the kids!  We've decided the 3-hour drive from the cabin is totally worth making IKEA a yearly girls trip. :)


Now a couple of random pics...


One evening in town we got ice cream before heading back to the cabin... Avery even got her own little cup (since she loves chocolate and her mommy doesn't :))!

I thought it would be fun to take my 27 week belly picture WITH Avery... what I didn't think through was doing it after the sugar from the ice cream set in. :) This is the best one we got!

Now I'm only a month behind... whew! :(

Random Belly Pic (again)

So hop back to July 6th real quick... I'm glad my mom took a pic that day because otherwise I'd have a few weeks in-between belly pics.  Sigh.


Avery loves hugging and kissing my belly.  She tells the baby good morning every day.  Multiple times each day she will grab my belly between her hands and say "Hi baby! I love you!" and "my brother or sister is in there".


We recently switched Avery to a BIG girl bed (pics to come) and we had been telling her about sharing her crib with the baby.  She climed up in her bed and said, "now that I'm grown up, the baby can use my old bed."  I cried.


Anywho, this is a pic from July 6th - about 25 weeks along.

I know, I'm big. :)

and thanks, mom, for taking a pic. :)

Vacation Outings #1

We did venture away from the cabin a few times...


We found a new favorite restaurant in town... not only because the food is AMAZING (they have the BEST potato salad - with no pickles :)), but they also have a real stuffed bear that the kids like to visit. :) Avery liked to give it hugs...

The same restaurant caused Avery and Malachi to act silly...

Our next outing was to take a train ride!  With Avery and Malachi loving trains, my parents saw an advertisement for a dinner ride and couldn't resist.  The kids were SO excited!

Honestly, the best part ended up being anticipating the arrival of the train...

Waiting as it finally pulled up :)

We found our tables - the kids gave an enthusiastic wave (ha).

It was exciting... for the first few minutes.
There was really nothing to see... except trees.
And it was a 2-hour ride (with two 2-year olds).
The pizza was good.

There wasn't room for the kids to really move around, so we tried to keep them entertained in their chairs and on our laps.

Good thing mom always carries a mini deck of cards :)

Malachi didn't feel like having his picture taken... so this is the best of him and his mommy that I got:

We made the best of the ride and enjoyed each others' company.  We went and got ice cream afterwards, then let the kids play at a park to get some energy out.

It was a fun outing, and it makes for a good story!

Around the Cabin

When we're at the cabin, we spend most of our time by the water.  We did, however, have a few stormy days... and we have to come in to eat and sleep, I guess. :)


Here are some of our "around the cabin" pics from this summer. :)


Malachi and Avery chillin' with Joe :)

Avery liked to "swing" on the hanging chairs :)

Trail mix was a favorite vaction snack...

Daddy and Avery reading a Bible story before bedtime... melts my heart.

Avery gets so excited for her Bible story each night... I love it.

The stool was way more fun as a horse :)

So... as I was packing, I remembered Avery's favorite blanket and all the animals that she has to have to sleep with... but I failed to pack a baby doll.  Avery enjoys baby dolls at home, but she doesn't have a favorite, and she's way more into playing with her animals.  So it slipped my mind.  Bad Mommy.  A few times the first week we were at the cabin, I found her cuddling with, singing to, rocking, and putting to sleep... blocks.  Yes, blocks.  Like this.

I did end up buying her a little baby doll when I went into town next.  She was SOOOO excited.  That baby doll didn't leave her sight the rest of vacation.  Lesson learned. :)

Avery has a bit of an obsession with sunglasses... and she kept trying to put both of my pairs on :)

Again with the sunglasses... but anywho, most mornings after Malachi and Avery woke up, they'd come up to our bed and watch something together.  Pretty sweet.

Malachi and Avery decided to host a party one day.  They said all their friends were invited - even us!


Avery was the hostess and the talent...

Malachi had to set out the plates for everyone.

Avery made sure our cups were in order.

Then the dinner party turned into a jumping-on-Bubba-and-Gpa's-bed party.  Good times.


Malachi and Avery sat here last year to brush their teeth.  They're much bigger now...

I had to document a bit of what life is like with these two 2-year-olds right now.  I love them so much.

Avery enjoyed her first corn-on-the-cob. :) Now that's the only way she wants to eat corn!

A pic of all the gals on vacay... 3 of these 5 are pregnant, too!  Crazy!  From left to right... Meagan (my sister's husband's brother's wife - did you get that? :)), my seester Cassy Sage, my mom "Grandma Bubba", me, and my BFF Jacklyn. :) Meagan, Cassy, and I are the pregnant ones... though I'm the only obvious one in this pic - lol.

One last pic... I love this of Avery and Cali.  Sometimes they have a love/hate relationship... but this day it was love. :)

We're almost caught up...

Random Belly Pic

... from June 29th.


I just realized I hadn't posted one since the 6.10.11 one.


Here you go.


Almost 24 weeks... along with my sis who was 13 weeks at the time. :)

My belly fit so nicely in her back... lol!

On the Boat

So blogging on my iPad didn't go so well... it was quite the process, and quite frankly I just didn't want to devote my vacation time to it!  So yes, we're a tad behind... but I'm going to catch up quickly! :) I've grouped my vacay pics so you can just get a general overview of our 3 weeks in Wisconsin.  Avery and I were so blessed to have that time there.  Joe was only with us the first week since he had two camps to speak at after that, but we were just thankful for the time we got with him.


SIDENOTE: I realized when we were 15 minutes away from arriving at the cabin that I'd left my nice camera at home.  I was SOOO bummed!  As a result, ALL my vacay pics are from my point and shoot... sigh.


One of Avery's favorite things (as it was last year and probably will be in years to come) was playing on the pontoon boat.  It was a great way to play near the water and have some shade.  So here are my favorite "on the boat" moments.


Donning the hat that I bought a while back... which up until vacation she's refused to even try on.  For some reason, she changed her mind and there were many days she insisted on wearing it.  Sillyhead.

Cali really wanted some goldfish...

Checkin out the view :)

Another love of hers - wearing my sunglasses... though she has to kind of look up constantly to keep them on. :)

Ah yes, the checking for toe jam.  This happens at least 3 times per day and has since around her birthday in May...

Being silly... Avery loves playing with the shovel and rake we keep on the boat, and she was finding more uses for them!

Malachi was tired and cold from swimming hard, but came to life to sing the "at the cabin" song :)

Malachi taught Avery how to sword fight using bubble wands :)

"SURPRISE!" - something we heard a gazillion times each day (and it has come home with us :)).  Good thing I still find it cute!

Avery is a quirky gal, not gonna lie (have NO idea where she got that from... :)).  Okay, I'll take credit blame.  This one, though, is all on my hubby.  Having to have something on your head all the time (a hoodie without actually wearing it - just the hood, a towel, a shirt...).  I love both of them for it.

Just loungin'

Sassy in mommy's glasses (gotta love instagram :))

Happy with two towels, chocolate milk, and her fishing pole :)

Malachi borrowed Jacklyn's sunglasses while she skied.

So cool.

"Driving" the boat

Avery's new "thing" is to pretend to fall asleep anytime anywhere... you know it's happening because she leans back and crosses her arms (with bathtub marker on them :)).  If you try to talk to her during this moment, she says "shhh, please, I'm sleeping for a little bit".

My monkey :)

Drying off with Grandma Bubba :)

Bubba and Gpa got Avery her own fishing pole last year... and she played with it all the time.  This year was no different... well, except she had to name her fish.  "Fi" (pronounced FEE) became her little buddy.  She loved to cast her out into the water, reel her back in, and then make sure she was okay by giving her hugs and kisses... and saying "are you okay honey?".  Hilarious.

My blue-eyed gal :)

That wraps up this portion of our vacay - more to come! :)