Peace and quiet in the city

A trip to the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden And Bird Sanctuary is in order when you want to just get away for a brief moment and enjoy some peace and quiet. Sula and I took a nice stroll through the garden on this lovely autumn day.

Family Vacay to Lake Superior: Day 4

Time to head home after 3 delightful days enjoying the North Shore. On our way to Duluth we stopped at Temperance River State Park to enjoy some more waterfalls.


All set with her juice, sunglasses and Dora backpack for the 4 hour trip home!

Family Vacay to Lake Superior: Day 3

The morning started out with a trip on the gondola at the Lutsen Ski Resort. It was very chilly and windy at the top of the mountain but the burst of bright red, orange and yellow color made it all worth it.


After we stopped to enjoy the view we enjoyed some hot chocolate at the Summit Chalet.
Then Corey decided he wanted to take Sula down the alpine slide. I was terrified going up the ski lift with her because there is barely anything but a small metal bar keeping you from fall off the chair. But we did it and she loved it.


Then it was off to Caribou Lake for a short hike to enjoy more fall colors. Sula was such a great hiker as we climbed up the trail to the overlook. Anytime she started to get grumpy or frustrated we would say to her, "shhh you don't want to wake up the bears, they are sleeping." And it worked! She would then proceed to cheer up and tell us all about the sleeping bears.

Family Vacay to Lake Superior: Day 2

After having breakfast at the lodge, we bundled up on this cold, cloudy morning and set out for a day trip around Grand Marais to check out some beautiful fall foliage.


Our first stop of the day was Cascade River State Park. There we took a short walk to the Cascade River to view waterfalls and the first glimpses of changing color. I really enjoyed this park and I look forward to coming back sometime and exploring more of the trails along the river.

Then it was off to Grand Marais for some coffee and a bite to eat. We couldn't resist stopping at the Worlds Best Donut Shop, yum!

After lunch we took a drive though the backcountry in hopes of finding a moose! We started off on the Gunflint Trail (Co 12) and then headed northwest on Co rd 8 toward Two Island Lake, which is right on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. From there we headed west on The Grade rd (Forest route 153) and stopped at the Eagle Mountain Trailhead. This trail leads to Eagle Mountain, which is the highest point in Minnesota at 2,301 ft. The trail was rocky and muddy so we didn't go very far but we did get an idea of what the trail was like for a future hike.


As we headed back to Lutsen on Caribou Trail (Co rd 4) we stopped at a maple syrup farm.

Then it was back to the hotel for some R&R. Wow what a day!

Family Vacay to Lake Superior: Day 1

After having lunch in Duluth we headed north on 61 to enjoy the scenery along Lake Superior. Sula loved looking out for the tunnels, yelling "tunnels! tunnels!"

Our first stop was Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Sula really enjoyed riding on papa's shoulders and kept yelling more! more! please.

There were lots of opportunities for Sula to exercise her independence at this park, she loved walking around the pathways all by herself.

And the water was just too tempting, we left with muddy shoes and wet pants.

Then it was off to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park where we had a chance to climb up a lighthouse.

Then it was time to check to our room at the Lutsen Resort.

And be goofy with papa, making horns and yelling about the Vikings.

Wow what a day....

Happy 2nd Birthday Sula

We had so much fun on Sula's birthday. There are many thanks to go around for making it such a special day:

1. Thank you grandma and grandpa Hines for the lovely birthday package for Sula. She REALLY loves her new Dora backpack! We really missed your company at the party.

2. Thank you grandpa Kreidich for visiting and taking Sula to the park on Sunday morning so that Corey and I could get ready for the party.

3. Thank you everyone for all the lovely birthday cards and wishes for Sula.

4. Thank you Mike for bringing extra ice and helping with the grill. You were a big help during the party.

5. Thank you to all the friends and family who came to celebrate last night, we had a blast!

6. Thank you uncle Jason for retaining your reputation for the loudest most awesome toy. They are always popular with Sula.

7. Thank you papa Corey for putting together Sula's new Ikea kitchen set.

8. Thank you Sheela for the lovely cupcakes from Cake Eater Bakery.

9. Thank you Melissa and Aaron for the use of your table and chairs. You are awesome neighbors.

...and now I must rest because I am exhausted!

Time with Grandpa Kreidich

Grandpa Kreidich came to visit Sula for her birthday. To celebrate on Saturday we went to Sea Salt at Minnehaha Falls for dinner and walked then walked around Longfellow Gardens.

Labor Day Weekend

Here is what we did this weekend to close out summer:

On Saturday: After test driving some Volkswagen TDI Golfs and GTIs (for a possible future second car) went out to eat and enjoyed one of Sula's favorite foods, hummus. She made her way through this whole plate by the spoon full, which was about the size of a container you would find at a grocery store. This girl can throw down some hummus.
On Sunday: We went to the Minnesota Zoo and headed straight to the animal farm. Sula loves, loves, loves this part of the zoo.

Sula checking out the bunny rabbits.

Feeding the goats.

Learning how to milk a goat. That was fun, it feels like squeezing a water balloon.

Monday: We went for a 14 mile bike ride around the lakes of Minneapolis. This was Sula's longest bike ride and she kept her helmet on until we got to Lake Harriet.

Here we go!

Mama and Sula with our "bike hats."

Stop to smell the roses at Lake Harriet.

Later on Monday: Sula had her first experience with Play-doh and she loved it. We made birds, butterflies, mushrooms, snakes, etc..

The grand finale: Busters for dinner!

Awww a nice cold glass of Surly to finish the weekend. THE END