A Month of Festivities

So, I admit that I have been terrible about posting this month.  It really gets to me when I cannot post, especially when we have been up to so many fun things lately.  That is the point though.  I find when we have so much going on, I simply have no energy left over at the end of the day to post about it.  I lived it...it was fun...on to the next thing.  This evening we got the kids down, I poured myself a piping hot cup of tea and with CP card in hand I mosied on down to the basement computer to map out today's "Super Post."  I am just going to go in chronological order to pay homage to each activity as best as my memory can serve.

Aamodt's

At the beginning of October, Chadd had a business trip to Mexico City and I was on parent duty 24/7 solo for 2 weeks.  At the end of the first week, my mom and I talked about going to Duluth with the kids to do our annual fall trip up there.  Since she has taken a new job she is travelling M-Th and we decided that driving to Duluth probably wasn't in any one's best interest and that we would have a sleepover, hit an Apple Orchard and go for a hike. 

We met my sister, her husband and their new baby Connor at Aamodts Apple Orchard in Stillwater.  It was a first for all of us.  We usually go to Pine Tree or Emma Krumbee's but we decided to venture out this year. 

The place was packed!  They had a lot of stuff for the kids to do like a hay maze, a train ride, a playground, and a hay pit.  There was definitely fun to be had there.  My girls love caramel apples(who doesn't right?).  I got a three pack and the kids were set.  My mom got us Apple brats which the kids wouldn't touch(ding dong's)but they were absolutely delicious.  

The Hay Maze was a huge hit with the kids.  I bet that they would have spent all day playing tag and hide and go seek in there.

I saw this cute little hay bale lying on the ground and because baby Connor was there I wanted to try to get some cute artsy shots of the kids.  These were the best ones that I got.

Always a beautiful smile on this ones face!

Connor really did not like this position AT ALL!  Poor little guy, could you blame him? 

Barn Bluff

On Sunday morning after our sleep over, my mom and I took the kids to brunch in Red Wing.  After that we drove to Barn Bluff.  It is a large mountain (let's be honest, this is MN) hill in Red Wing that has several great hiking trails based upon ability level and sightseeing desires.  We wanted to reach the summit, but we also wanted a river view...so we took a trail and started climbing.  The kids did great.  Benny is a bit putzy but I suppose he is only 3.  We came across some rock climbers all geared up and of course the kids all wanted to do that too.  Well, we had to explain to them that we have no equipment and that they could try it out a different day.

Well, they were not really taking that for an answer and proceeded to scale every rock that they could find.  It was a bit nerve racking, but they were all smiles.

We turned around to head back towards the trail head and share our special treat of hot chocolate.  After our mini break, we realized that we were all pooped out so we headed back to the car and called it a day.

Pumpkin Painting

Every year, we buy or are given tiny little pumpkins.  I never really know what we should do with them so I break out the paints and the kids go to town.

Remax Apple Orchard Event
Our friend Steve(who has also been our realtor in the past)likes to host special appreciation events for his clients a few times a year.  We got invited to this one and we were able to attend.  They had tables set up for just our group, a photography area, the kids activities were free, each child got his/her own pumpkin to decorate, we had cookies and cider and great company.

Duluth
Every year, we try to make a family trip up to Duluth to have a family stay-cation.  We love to observe the beautiful fall colors, go for hikes, visit Canal Park and let the kids have a blast swimming and doing all of the activities we can.

The past two years, we have stayed at the Holiday Inn downtown Duluth.  It is not in Canal Park, but it is right across the bridge from it.  It is a very short walk if the weather is great and you want to head to Canal Park on foot.  We love it because Chadd has hotel points there and we usually stay for free...AND....they always upgrade us to the Kid Suite.  The kid suites are awesome because they are two rooms joined by a common entryway but the kids room is decked out in either a north woods lodge theme or an ocean theme.  They have bunk beds, bean bag chairs, gaming devices, DVD players, an art table with chairs, a CD player and night lights attached to the walls by the beds...it is basically a kid camp out and our kids love having their "own" room.  So do the adults ;) Another great feature about this hotel is that there are two pools.  One has a kid pool with a fountain and then the main large pool and the other has a main large pool and then the hot tub.  So, we travel up and down the elevators making use of both pools.  My third favorite feature about staying here is that kids eat free at every meal...no limit on how many kids either(which is great because people with more than 2 kids know that most places make you buy an adult entree per free kid entree)and they even get free dessert.  You just cannot go wrong!

After all of that swimming we were all tired and went to bed fairly early.  In the morning we ate a great breakfast and we were on our way towards Enger Tower to see what we could see.  I love Enger tower.  It is one of the first things that I search for after driving down the hill into Duluth.  When I was little I would always call it the Eiffel tower, much to the chagrin of my parents.  No matter how many times they told me it was Enger, I would still say Eiffel! ha! 

The tower is pretty tall and you can see all across the harbor of Duluth.  It is certainly beautiful and even better when the leaves are changing.  That day, we saw three bridal party's taking photographs at the park.

There is another special attraction at the park called The Peace Bell Tower.  It is located in the gardens area of the park and came from Duluth's sister city in Japan.  You can actually ring this bell using a large wooden apparatus that is attached to it.  The kids get a real kick out of this.

Another great feature about this park is that it links up with the Superior Hiking Trail.  The kids are usually in the mood for a hike and we lucked out with an absolutely gorgeous day in Duluth.  We hiked for about an hour before it was time for lunch.

After our hike, we got Erberts & Gerberts and took the kids to this amazing park in front of the Aquarium.  They played for a long time and then we were on our way home.  It was another wonderful trip to Duluth for our family.

Pumpkin Carving & Caramel Apples
My sister is now a stay at home mom and I will have to say it is awesome.  She called up and said lets carve pumpkins and make caramel apples!  Her and Connor came out to our house to get to work.  Avery, Bennett and Bria were so excited to see Connor and Aunt Brooke that I wondered if we would ever get to carving/caramel dipping! 

I love this face.  He is thinking, "Ewwww!"

After pumpkins were done, we boiled water to de-wax the caramel apples(thank goodness Brooke had read up on this stuff), heated up the caramel and went to town.  It is definitely not as easy as it looks but we got some good ideas for next year.

Next year we will work on how getting the decorations and caramel to stay put instead of getting so droopy!  They were delicious and definitely worth the effort to make.

I have to post a few pictures of the highlight of the day:

The kids just love baby Connor and they(like me)cannot get enough of the little honey!

Gretchen's Annual Halloween Extravaganza

My good friend Gretchen throws a Halloween party each year for our ECFE crew.  We have added and lost members over the years but it is delightful to see how with each year these kids grow and change. 

We played two games...one was pin the "O" on the Ghost and the other was a Candy hunt.  Both games went extremely well and I think that we should make it a permanent part of our yearly routine. 

Oh Dorothy, where is Toto?

The Swan Princess

Annabelle telling Avery to shake her tail feather

The crew



Preschool Party

Today we had our preschool Halloween party.  The kids were invited to come dressed up in their costumes and there was a candy exchange.  You wouldn't have been able to find a happier group of 3 year olds anywhere else.  It was so cute to see all of their little costumes and the excitement on their faces as they watched each little friend go around the circle to hand out treats.

The kids came home the other day with Bat Hats.  They were adorable and I got a few pictures of them wearing the hats.

Done!  Thus concludes the month of fall festivities that I have not blogged about.  Phew!  I feel a great sense of relief.  There are officially 3 days left this month and I have a few more things planned.  Avery has no school tomorrow so we may try to go to the Zoo.  Saturday, I will be attending an all day photography workshop that I am uber excited about and Sunday is....oh yeah Halloween!!! 

Wishing you all a very safe and Happy Halloween!



The Rock

My Grandparents on their Anniversary

Rock And Stone

This is a story of a rock and a stone

And a stream, and a rainfall, and not being alone.

In the land of this tale, in a mountain's shadow

Was a stream brisk and bending the swift water's flow.

On the bank of the stream, just beyond a great birch,

Was a rock, strong and sturdy, holding back clay and dirt.

Just below with the edge of the stream as its home,

Was a glimmering beauty, a shiny smooth stone.

To the rock, with its pride of supporting the earth,

A stone was not useful: it was without worth. 

To the stone, with its beauty and lustering glory,

A rock was not pleasing and belonged in a quarry.

Yet the fear of the rock and the stone were the same.

Each dreaded the future, the day of great rain.

The rock might be dislodged and roll to stream's bottom.

The stone might be pushed into mud and forgotten. 

The rainfall came quickly, as sometimes storms will,

The rock was dislodged, it rolled down the hill.

Stopping not under water, and without one moan

The rock came to rest upon the fine stone.

Stream became river; though waters enraged

The stone was not pushed to a dark muddy grave.

The rock safe yet wetted, the dirt now sprayed loose,

Still formed the bank, still had a use.

 

As sunshine returned the river to stream

Rock and stone together were seen.

Savior each was, and after that fright

Each saw the other in a new light.

The rock saw the stone as a rock ever more,

With beauty and strength supporting the shore.

The stone saw the rock as a stone from that day,

With strength and beauty under robe of clay.

Together they stayed, more shiny and strong

Than either had been by itself all along.

The story is told; the message you see

Is that you and I will be better as we.

I am unsure of who actually wrote this marriage poem, but I simply adore it.  It was read in my wedding and having recently celebrated my grandparents' 57th Wedding Anniversary, I thought it would be the perfect poem for them. 

Recently, they got a huge rock in their front yard to replace the gigantic space that was a result of 3 or 4 huge evergreens being cut down.  This rock is in the front middle of their yard and will display their address on a plaque that has yet to be mounted. 

Now, this just couldn't be any old rock.  According to my grandmother, it had to be a special rock that would fill this precious spot in her yard.  She was really looking forward to having a portion of a large marble rock that was on her parents' property in Canby, MN.  Unfortunately, that rock got destroyed when the house was torn down this past year.  So, her and my grandpa went on a search for the perfect rock.

After a few inquiries and could Be's...they found the perfect rock.  It was dug out of a hole that was 60 feet deep.  The rock weighs an incredible amount(that she told me but I am blanking on) and was placed perfectly on their lawn by a large truck who didn't even need to drive on their perfectly manicured lawn.

There are some very interesting markings on the rock.  There are veins in the rock that form a cross on the top of the rock.  Another part of the rock resembles a heart(the anatomically correct version) and after it rains, this part of the rock actually "bleeds."  The last part of the rock that is worth mentioning is a deep groove that goes down one side and it is what my Grandmother calls the spine.  It is all very unique and interesting and holds great meaning and importance to my Grandma.

This rock is an incredible symbol for who my Grandmother is.  She is the rock.  She is the person in our family who holds everyone together with her love(heart), her strong backbone(spine) and her unwavering faith in the Lord(cross).  An objects importance is the meaning that you place upon it.  My Grandma has found this rock to be so special and I truly believe that what she has seen in this rock is a true reflection of who she is.

I am so proud to have Grandparents who have been married for 57 years and who still adore each other.  They are the perfect example of love and respect and I am so blessed to have such a devoted couple to look up to.

Happy Anniversary Grandma & Grandpa.  We all love you so much!