What I Did on my Summer Vacation

And outline of this post has been sitting in my drafts for the past two weeks, waiting for that magical day when I have lots of time and inspiration. Let's face it, that day is not coming. So I guess I ought to finish it up and publish it before Christmas huh?

Here's what we did on vacation this year.

Friday
Grandpa Bill took the kids to the lake. Then I was free to do such glamorous activities as packing for our trip, running errands, and getting my eyebrows waxed. We borrowed a van from Anne Marie & Dan for the trip (bless them), so that the four of us and Grandma Joan could all ride in one vehicle. Just as they arrived to drop off the van, Timothy dumped an entire pitcher of lemonade on the kitchen floor (bless him). I felt pretty smug about packing so light, and that one came back to bite me, when the kids needed multiple wardrobe changes per day...read on...

Saturday

Our hotel was literally next to the bridge

We drove to Duluth, and checked in at the South Pier Inn, which is on the far side of the lift bridge on Canal Point. The lift bridge was a big deal for Liam. He absorbed all sorts of details about it, then announced that when he grows up he is going to be a Lift Bridge Operator. Later in the trip we met the guy who compiles all the shipping schedules and publishes a flier for tourists, so they know when a big barge will come through the canal. We decided he was an "old salt" and quite a character. The weather was cool and drizzly, so after we got settled, we headed to the train museum. As soon as we arrived, I remembered why we were NOT going to go there on Saturday: Thomas the Tank Engine was there. It was crowded and there was all sorts of hoopla about riding Thomas's train, but fortunately the kids were so interested in the other engines and such, that they didn't seem to catch on that you could actually see Thomas and get a ride (for about $90 extra for the family). We had dinner at Pizza Luce.


Sunday
First of all, let me note that the kids had donuts for breakfast. The hotel included a "continental breakfast" i.e. donuts and yogurt, a.k.a. guaranteed sugar crash by 10:30am. I fretted about that but then I just let them go for it. Will and I both went for a run along the harbor in the morning, and Grandma played with the boys for a little while. Then we went to the zoo. A llama nuzzled me big time! Llama llama loves this mama, I guess. There's a small waterfall at the zoo, and Will and Liam climbed around near it, and all of a sudden Liam started running on the slippery rocks and fell. He somersaulted into a big mud puddle. He was lucky not to bump his head, or worse...as it turned out he just scared the crap out of himself and me. He was covered in mud. I took him in the public bathroom and made him strip down, and I rinsed his clothes in the sink for 10 minutes before the water started to clear. That night we went on a harbor cruise, featuring pizza and dancing, neither of which were very good - but it was a fun ride nonetheless.

Monday

Up the steps at Gooseberry

We drove up to Gooseberry Falls. Timothy, Joan and I walked down stream where we found wild raspberries, and a fawn that was browsing in the underbrush not 4 yards away. That afternoon while TJ and Will napped, I went to the beach with Liam. That might have been my favorite part of the whole trip. It was so wonderful having no schedule or purpose, just hanging out together on a beautiful beach, and watching him enjoy the water and my attention. That night, the kids had a fun bath in the hot tub in our hotel room.

Tuesday
Will and I ran again, but this time together, which is still kind of amazing to me that I can keep up with him. We drove home, stopping at Tobies on the way. That afternoon I headed to the farmers market with Liam, and as usual bought way too many veggies. Is grilled corn the perfect food? Might be.

Wednesday

Like my mustache?

Even though we were back in town, we had the rest of the week off, so we did some fun stay-cation stuff. I had been wanting to bike to Minnehaha Falls with the kids all summer, and we finally did it. I towed Liam on the 3rd wheel, and Will towed TJ in the chariot. We had beers and tacos and fish sticks. It was a good food day, again, since that night was the 100 Mile Meal at my church, a local food potluck. A reporter from the Patch took my picture, as I sampled every single one of the artisan cheeses, and the photo showed up online the next day. I always knew cheese would make me famous.

Thursday
The kids went to a fair/carnival with Will and his dad, and what did I do...um...?? I don't remember!

Friday
I took the kids to a movie, Cars 2, at the cheap theater. In retrospect it was not a good choice for Timothy's first cinema experience. The movie was way more violent than I expected in a G movie, with many characters getting blown up and "dying." It was also long, 1 hour 46 minutes to be exact, and about half way through it TJ started squirming and becoming louder and LOUDER until it climaxed with him screaming and running down the aisle. But it gets worse. Because we lost his Number One Engine. I let him bring Thomas into the theater because I was trying to beat a whole bus load of summer camp kids, and didn't have time to fight about leaving Thomas in the car. Thomas got dropped, rolled down the slope, lost forever. I called the theater and begged them to return it, if it ever showed up in lost and found, but of course it didn't. Then for the next few days it was "Where's my number one engine" followed by anything from pouting to wailing. Luckily we had a distraction that night, because it was Kitty's birthday. This is the stuffed cat that Liam has been bonkers about for the past couple of years, and who coincidentally also got lost in a public place, and then was miraculously returned to us by mail (thanks to extensive ebay searching which Liam doesn't need to know about). We make her a cake, and Liam makes a card, every year for her birthday.

Saturday
The highlight of Saturday was Jane and Erica's wedding. Jane is a friend from my book club, and dare I say she is bookish? But in a really cool way. Her wife Erica is from a rather boisterous Jewish family. Were they ever a hoot! The ceremony was so touching, and took place under a beautiful chuppah, which Jane hand knit. (I am not alone in thinking this work of art and love was remarkable - it won a blue ribbon today at the state fair.) The reception included some mind blowing table decorations, and dancing - you know the hora, the Jewish wedding dance where you lift the couple up on chairs? We did that. It was super fun. There was also carrot cake so sweet it puckered your cheeks. (Yeah Auntie Jane I put that cake bit in there for you.)

Sunday
If you're still reading, thanks for sticking with me...and, um, maybe you should get a hobby or something? Sunday I started coming down with a cold, boo hoo. So I lay low, but the boys got to go out to see model trains. Then we had friends over for pizza night. My home made pizza just keeps getting better, and I now swear by the pizza peel and baking stone. The boys - ours plus Jason and Drew - had a great time playing together.

And that, folks, is what I did on my summer vacation.