Thanks for slugging through the long part I. Part II should be shorter.
Every year, Nick's dad swims the Point to La Pointe two mile swim from Bayfield out to Madeline Island. It is a favorite of his and he never misses. And conveniently, he has free lodging and gets to see some of his grandchildren along with the joy of the race.
While we waited for grandparents to arrive, Lilly, Greta and I took a walk and explored the bridge and then went to Hodgkins Park, a small playground by baseball fields. The girls had fun exploring the new playground and watching the lawnmowers mow the fields (and again, pic monkey is acting funny, so no cute collages).
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| Playing hockey with a rotten apple and a stick |
When we strolled back into the garage, Lilly asked how much longer until Grandpa and Grandma would get here. I said about a half and hour. Lilly said, I think they will be here in 17 seconds. And about two minutes later, Tim and Dianne showed up.
Lilly eagerly played with the new games, put on her new dress, and played on the rocking horse she requested they bring with them (Lilly remembered the rocking horse from the last time we were there and wanted them to bring it. I made her call and ask for it - and she did). I put Greta down for her nap and I am sure other things happened. I know Dianne did our dishes after reading some to Lilly.
When Nick was done with work, we headed up to Bayfield for Tim to pick up his registration materials and for us to have dinner. First, we had an awful car ride up, with Greta screaming most of the way. Then, a delightful and delicious dinner at Ethel's. Greta insisted on walking down the hill from the restaurant down to the lake, getting angry every time I picked her up to cross a street. Lilly and Greta turned heads in their boots (Lilly was wearing her fuzzy blue polka dotted winter boots, Greta her red cowgirl boots). While Tim picked up his registration materials, the rest of us headed to the park.
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| I forgot to mention Lilly's fuzzy headband |
We then had another awful drive home, Greta miserable. This miserableness perhaps upset her stomach, or perhaps she was miserable because she was carsick. Whatever the cause, she decided after having her bottle to throw up on me. Fun times. But, we cleaned up, she went to sleep and slept pretty well. (We are also starting to suspect perhaps she doesn't want visitors or us to visit people - illness of some kind always seems to accompany company).
Tim and Nick left early, early, early Saturday morning for the race. Nick paddle boarded for the race, being there to keep swimmers heading in generally the right direction and help any swimmers that might be in distress. He ended up helping a few swimmers, it turns out this year there was a current that made forward momentum a bit tricky for some people.
The women slept in and then rushed out the door to drive up to Bayfield (the drive this time, delightful) and catch the ferry to Madeline Island to meet up with Tim and Nick. Our timing couldn't have been more perfect, got to the public restroom in time for Lilly to go to the bathroom and didn't have to wait long at all for a ferry.
The ferry ride was probably the best thing that has happened in Greta's life. She loved every minute of the ride. Lilly seemed a little underwhelmed, nervous, or disinterested after initial excitement.
We met up with Elizabeth at the ferry dock, she swam without any training for two years. She made it across in great time but did not have a great time going across. We waited for Tim to meet up with us and Nick to paddle over to us, and then snagged some brunch at the beach. There we met up with another one of Nick's colleagues and his wife, who swam the race while he paddled alongside (he was my kayak escort the last time I did the race).
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| Waiting for Nick, seeing an eagle |
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| Nick paddling over |
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| Playing at the beach |
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| Shade and snack break |
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| Rinsing off a naked Greta in Lake Superior. No tears, true northern girl! |
After we ate, our friends departed, and we headed to explore Madeline Island, making it two blocks before stopping at a park. We hung out there, Dianne and I went to the convenience store across the street where we got more caffeine and Dianne got Icees for the girls.
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| Playing in the sandbox with Grandpa |
After a bit at the playground, we headed back to catch the ferry. Again, Greta loved every second. I had to hold on her tightly and keep her from trying to jump out the window. She eagerly pointed at every boat and bird, coming back in front he window for a sip of Icee. Lilly sat with her grandparents and seemed to enjoy the ride, but enjoyed eating her Icee more. Nick paddled back to Bayfield in what turned out to be a very challenging wind - so got a nice workout in.
Greta fell asleep on the drive home, as did Lilly. Unfortunately I decided to get Greta out of her carseat in effort to have her take a longer nap in her crib but she woke up and stayed awake. Lilly and Dianne stayed in the van for a few minutes while Lilly woke up.
We worked around the house, ran errands, and played with the girls Saturday afternoon and Elizabeth came over for dinner. Tim and Dianne have friends from their days back in Milwaukee who live in Mellen, just about 30-40 minutes south of Ashland. They drove up for dessert and conversation.
Sunday morning, Nick and I headed out for a paddle just the two of us and had a great time. Then we picked up some food at CoCo's (which was packed to the gills, even if we wanted to stay we probably couldn't have found a table - inside or out!) and headed to Bono Creek to sit at the boat launch and eat our food. Then, back home for the Grandparents to leave. It was very nice having time for just the two of us and I enjoyed actually getting out and doing a longer paddle than three minutes.
After naps and my run (which was my friend Petra and my fastest run up to that point despite the fact that it was hot) we went to Tractor Supply Unlimited to get bird seed. Then to the park across the street, then home. There is a Little Free Library at this park too, so of course Lilly had to get a book. Here she is at home, looking at it.
Another very busy weekend but a fun and productive weekend.
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