I just emailed Nick and said I was going to unload/reload the dishwasher as Lilly is going to wake up any moment (she's been napping for two hours now) but I decided I would rather do the final weekend adventure blog post so I can cross that off my list (emptying the dishwasher is also on the list but less enjoyable than blogging). When I uploaded weekend adventure photos, I was at 40+ pictures. A bit too many for one blog posting. So, I took one weekend adventure away, since it was more like a mini-vacation anyway.
Nick's family gathered last year at Lutsen and we had an amazing time. Nick's parents rented this beautiful cabin right on Lake Superior and we did hiking, biking, relaxing, swimming, and galavanting around the North Shore. Since it was such a wonderful time, we thought we'd do a mini-version again this year. Originally our plan was to go to Duluth, but we struggled to find a vacation rental home that would accommodate all of us. So, instead we gathered at Nick's parents' house in Eau Claire. A very relaxing weekend full of biking, relaxing, swimming, and galavanting . . . Here are some photos and anecdotes from the weekend.
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| Nole shooting hoops. |
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| Sam, Suzie, Owen, and Cally play Corn Hole Toss |
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| Watching the kids play corn hole toss. |
Besides games of basketball and corn hole toss, those who mountain biked had opportunities to go out to Lowes Creek Park and mountain bike on amazing trails. Nick and I went out together twice, he went out with his brothers a few times as well. On Saturday, in fact, Nick spent about four hours biking. Nole, Cally, Owen, and Becky went out for a bit, then Nole stayed behind and biked with Ben, Nick, and Matt.
We went to Putnam Heights Elementary School playground to play both on Saturday and Sunday. The kids all had a great time, Lilly especially. The playground is handicapped accessible and enormous. It also has a terrific recycled tire surface, so kids could run around like crazy people and stay safe.
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Lilly at the bottom of the slide. Her favorite playground
equipment of all time. |
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Ben doing something I am sure the playground supervisors would
yell at the kids for doing. |
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| Lilly and Dad |
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| Nole |
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The grandkids! Owen (5), Nole (10), Cally (8), Lilly (15 months).
(This is the first photo I took. All of them looking at the camera. I should
win some sort of award) |
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| Suzie and Cally play on the teeter-totter |
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| Dianne and Owen swing |
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| Nick, Meg, Lilly at the park |
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Tim and Matt practice their musical skills. There is an intense
family soccer game going on in the hockey rink behind. |
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| Cally |
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| Clearly, Lilly has had enough. It was time to go. |
The Brainerd Bunch went to the pool during Lilly's nap due to a threat of rain and storms. Those never happened, but they had a great time at the pool. Since she missed out at the big pool, Lilly played in the backyard both in the kiddie pool and with a bucket of water on the deck.
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| So happy! |
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| Cousin Cally helping Lilly out |
The big kids also watched Monsters, Inc and Karate Kid three or four. Whatever one it is with Hillary Swank as the Karate Kid. A throwback movie night. We had delicious meals on the grill each night and just had a wonderful, relaxing weekend together!
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