Up North 3

The largest dandelions I have ever seen were along the running trail in Nevis/Dorset.




Kids playing along the shore. Chloe had to take her top off to be like her brother. This was around 7:30/8pm and was getting cooler, but the kids didn't seem to notice.




Our little fish just loves swimming in the pool.



Such an awful view/way to spend vacation, don't you think? Wretched skies, ugly water and a chauffeur to find the perfect fishing spots.



Parental & baby loons.



Todd caught a bass!

Up North 2

Owen is such a good big, brother pushing his sister. He volunteered all on his own.







The girl child needs to protect her ears from sparklers



Sparklers leave fun smokey trails behind running kids.




Protected, man-made Loon nest



I just love all the lily pads

4th of July 2009

Up North1

8th Crow Wing fishing




Outside of the Dorset House, Owen was goofing around behind this large leaf



Kelley met her friend Heather of Sentimental Journey and Cool Zebras at a little ice cream shop in Walker, MN. Heather lives in Rochester, but was Up North on her summer family vacation at the same time we were Up North. It worked out great!



Owen squeezing a blueberry in between his teeth. Silly boy



That's our Beanarina being a siller



Yes, we drove all the way to Minnesota and then Up North so the kids could ride the rides in Wal-Mart.



Sharon and I ate lunch on this outdoor patio overlooking Leech Lake in Walker, MN. Talk about GORGEOUS! Lunch was delicious, too. Crazy big bugs and mutant drangonflies were all over the sidewalks at this hotel/restaurant.

Rochester & the Aquarium

Chilling with Daddy on the sofa and their DS's.




Toothless, smiley boy




I LOVE that they are friends!




Strong O at the House of Bounce in Rochester




Always a subject of much discussion as we drive through the small town of Coates. How exotic are these dancers in a town of 316 people? Do they bus these girls in? Dave told us this year that his Shoe Show has been closed down for several years, which will probably end our debate over the dancers.




Our kids with the world's largest beaver at the Aquarium under the Mall of America



Cool tunnel surrounded by water & fish.

Vacation so far

The kids behaved excellently driving up to Minnesota. We got on the road at 6pm last Wednesday and drove almost 350 miles before stopping in Eddyville, Kentucky for the night. We stopped in St. Charles (my childhood hometown) and drove by my old house (wow, it looked small!). Then we stopped in St. Peters for lunch at the Pasta House (my favorite where I ate cavatelli and their famous salad) before meeting my cousins Erica and Emily for a few minutes before getting back on the road.

The kids even took naps as we drove through Missouri and Iowa!

We arrived at Todd's Mom's house around 8pm Thursday night after a full day of driving. You can see the kids being sweet and hamming for my iPhone camera here.

Owen lost his other top tooth the next day. He likes sticking his tongue through the gap now because he thinks it is shaped like a heart

Can you tell he is proud of these missing teeth?

We are headed Up North later this morning. Still need to do breakfast with Todd's Mom and then stop at his Uncle's house to visit for a little while. The weather does not feel like summer. It is windy and 65 outside. Thinking it really needs to warm up for us for the rest of this week while we are relaxing and fishing!

Drive to Minnesota

Cool moth we found on the sidewalk outside our hotel room




Rest stop with a great playground in Kentucky








The Arch



Chloe is stacking up Apple Jacks rings in her hands



Sleepy kids in Iowa

Going On Vacation

We are are now on the road to Minnesota. From our driveway to Todd's Mom's driveway, it is exactly 1000 miles. Which equates to sixteen hours of fun in the jam-packed minivan. The DVD player is hooked up and plenty of Disney movies are packed. As are the coloring books, crayons, story books, bicycles & helmets for the kids and then all of my bead & jewelry stuff on top of our suitcases of clothes.



I am hoping we get to Kentucky tonight, but that is dependent on me staying awake. Although Todd and I split the driving fairly equitably, I am the night driver because he has a harder time seeing well after the sun goes down.



Really looking forward to seeing Todd's family, hanging out with friends, fishing, reading and sleeping while we are gone through the 4th of July! I am already missing my torch and know that by the time we get back, three weeks will have passed since it was fired up. But even more, I am already missing my kids. They are staying behind to be spoiled rotten with love by the grandparents for three weeks. Right now, my CountDown app on my iPhone says it is 32 days before they come home.