where did June go?

Will update with some details maybe this weekend {if you haven't had the pleasure of following me via Facebook updates this month}.

Here's how we spent the first half:

And here's how the second half of the month started out (five days without power):




Neighbors coming together!

the Yankees are coming!

Look out, Uncle Jim, we're finally hitting the road to come visit the cabin!  I look forward to spending time with family, crazy as they all are, and making new memories with ma boys!

my 6'4" uncle playing with his newest toy car

July Staycation 2012

When airfare became ridiculously expensive, this year's staycation became local. While the boys were away at camp this past week, we drove down the Mighty Mississippi and enjoyed some of the wineries, cheese shops and local sites!

We stayed in a small loft in Wabasha, MN, that was recommended to us by my friend, Christine. It was just perfect and right on the main drag. We arrived Sunday after dropping the boys at church and stopping for a visit with our friends, Steve & Lorraine, at Vino in the Valley.

We quickly discovered that shops are not open on Mondays in Wabasha. It was a good thing that I had done some previous planning of other things to see and do nearby. So, with cameras in hand, off we went... I hope you enjoy! We sure did!!

And just another shout-out to my puppy sitters... THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
You made our little get-away worry-free!!

a little getaway for two

With outrageous airfare and travel costs, we have decided to do another staycation this year over Spring Break.  I am thankful that the weather has been so mild, or I might have gone a little stir crazy and been tempted to charge it to go to someplace warm with white, sandy beaches.  However, I can only assume (and pray) that the weather will continue to be mild and Spring will be bountiful by the end of March. 

JP and I have taken off the week and will make up a plan for entertaining the boys as the week goes along.  We are starting off by ourselves, however, and will be staying in the Oscar Wilde Suite at the Rivertown Inn.  Am I giddy with excitement?  You bet your bloomers I am!!

rainfall shower?!  steam room?!
I'm melting already!

not to mention a complementary bottle of wine

hor devoures and cocktail hour

and three course-breakfast!



Check out the gorgeous chandelier above the soaking tub!

A fireplace, just in case it's cold.

A reading nook!

Oooooh, I cannot wait to steal away some time to the little town of Stillwater...  maybe some shopping on Main Street, and then retiring to this absolutely scrumptious suite with my sweetie!!  

The rest of Spring break will be spent with the boys, perhaps catching up on homework {well, gotta be realistic here}, visiting a Museum or local play, a movie and dinner, rollerblading or rides at MoA...  who knows what the week has in store!    30 days and counting!!

Thank you, LivingSocial, for such a wonderful deal!

July Staycation

While the boys were away at Camp Wapo the last week in July, JP and I took a little time off and enjoyed a few days on the road.  We went to visit with his Aunt Phyl on Sunday night and had dinner at the Hillside Fish House in Wisconsin.  The food was very yummy!!  Back at the house later, the two of them talked about lineage and looked at old photos.  It was fun to sit back and observe, listening as they talked about finding a connection back to the Mayflower.  The next morning we took a walk to Bloedow's, just a few blocks away, and picked up my favorite raspberry danish!  JP grew up in Winona and used to work at Bloedow's.  Ask him sometime about "beans 2 hard" and you'll get a few stories, I'm sure.  It was soooo relaxing to just walk a few blocks for coffee and a danish.  There were many houses on the market, at least two a block.  Although I'm not sure I could live in a small town, it was fun to dream of buying one of those little brick houses with a front porch.  Oh, the slowed down life we could live, right?

Back at the house, Aunt Phyl had prepared a scrumptious egg brunch with corn flakes on top.  We also went to visit one of the churches, only a block away, and took some photos.  JP and I both share a passion for the beauty inside of an old church.  After being treated with wonderful Winona hospital and stuffed to the gills, we got back into the car and drove around the windy hills to find our next destination, Granary Woodshops in Spring Valley.

yes, the donut shop is on the corner of LAiRD

We took our time and following the GPS, eventually found our destination.  Tim is the craftsman who created us upon arrival.  What a beautiful farm.  Everything about it once again swept me away to a simpler time, a slower pace.  As the men walked around the farm, I took a few pictures to remember the day.  Earlier in the year I had been looking for a farm table and came across Tim's site on Cr@igslist.  The reclaimed barnwood tables are absolutely gorgeous.  I look at this investment as a family heirloom {hint to the boys} when we get around to putting in our order.  After seeing the table, his workshop and visiting with the girls and Barney, we were off again on the Southern Minnesota roads.


Owatonna, for an overnight, and a ride in a glider (no motor) the next day.

Tuesday morning brought us to a small hanger at the Faribault airport and Cross Country Soaring, where we met Don and his wife, Kathy.  Another couple who chucked in the city living to follow their passion and dreams.  {Yes, by now I am getting extremely jealous that we haven't done the same thing.}  It was a beautiful, clear day and Don was going to take JP up in one of the gliders.  I sat back at the hanger and chatted with Kathy and read on my ipad.  This was a Christmas gift from me to JP.  I believe it was a fabulous thing for the man who wants nothing.  Again, ask him how it went when you see him.

After our few days in the truck, touring Southern Minnesota, we ended up back on Aquila for a few more days before the boys arrived home.  We finished up some yardwork, laid down some sod, got massages and pedicures, and enjoyed dinner out at FujiYa.

It was a wonderful week to reconnect.  We will definitely be doing this again next year.

Back to Normal?

Whatever "normal" means these days - I am back to it.  I returned to work yesterday after having six weeks off to recover from Emil's birthday.  The last week of that leave was spent on vacation in the Riviera Maya with JP.  We had a fabulous trip together ~ snorkeling, zip-lining, meeting new friends, lounging by the pool and reconnecting with one another.  I am renewed and ready to take on the rest of 2011.

My first time snorkeling - JP is my rock!

 

Is it so small a thing

To have enjoy'd the sun,

To have lived light in the spring,

To have loved, to have thought, to have done.

~ Matthew Arnold

More updates & pictures to follow when I find time to sit still again.

MEA Weekend 2010

We had a fabulous weekend away in Baxter. The weather was gorgeous for Friday night's haunted trail walk at the Northland Arboretum. We got there 15 minutes before it started and the line was a half-mile long.  We had heard good things about this event and obviously it was a huge success for the Arboretum.  The scary and imaginative creatures were absolutely incredible - including one chasing us with a chainsaw!  Oliver didn't like it one bit and clung to my side, crying, the entire 25-30 minutes it took us to walk through. Henry, on the other hand, loved it so much that he talked us into going to "Murder Mansion" at Paul Bunyan land on Saturday night.  Oliver and I waited in the car on Saturday night while JP took Henry through his first haunted house experience. I think the funniest thing in all of this "spooktacular goings on" is that Henry has no point of reference for most of the characters having never seen a horror movie.  There were quite a few references to Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street at both events.  Perhaps it's time to look one up on Netflix this weekend before Halloween trick-or-treating on Sunday night.  Hmmmmm.

We stayed at The Lodge @ Brainerd Lakes and it was your typical waterpark hotel in Minnesota. Not too crowded, thankfully, and the kids were able to run back and forth from the arcade to the pool. Free wifi and the beds were very comfortable and the room large enough to spread out.  

We bowled a game on Saturday morning, spent the weekend eating out at various venues (the breakfast buffet at the hotel was great deal at $4.99/person), plus a little bit of shopping for Mom at Christmas Point.  The drive to/from Brainerd wasn't too bad (only 2 hours) and the boys only whined once, that I recall, about being bored.

We arrived home Sunday afternoon with enough time to pick up Miss Chloe from her getaway next door, unpack and wash a few loads of laundry before returning to the reality of school and work the next morning.

Another great MEA getaway behind us!

Cruisin' the Caribbean

We had a fabulous week of vacation aboard the Adventure of the Seas in the Caribbean.  More photos and commentary to follow!

Can you see ma boys by the ship?

The boys are at home with another day off from school today due to the Easter holiday.  Laundry, cleaning and homework for them.

Mom is back at work (and yes, I am still employed for those who have inquired). Others were not so lucky and I'm feeling a little melancholy in that regard.  More on that later.

We hope that you had a nice Easter wherever you were celebrating yesterday! 

Tick Tock

Another long week.  It only seemed long because the countdown to cruise seemed to be clicking slowly and still so very far away.  Of course, next week about this time I will probably complain that the week went by far too quickly and I have too much to do before we depart for San Juan.

Lots of errands to run this weekend:  haircuts, water shoes, dress shorts for the boys.  Next week is haircolor and pedicure for me. Load the ipods with music; charge the camera batteries for capturing spectacular memories!  Packing it all into one huge checked bag to save on luggage fees.  The rest will go in carry-on luggage, one each. So much preparation for a 7-night cruise, huh?

It's been 5 years since we've been on a cruise.  If I had my way, I'd go every year.  I know many who say you either love cruising or hate it.  I'm definitely in the LOVE category!  We took Alek back in 2005 when he was 12 years old.  This time we are taking Henry & Oliver and going on Adventure of the Seas.  JP and I both think it's gonna blow their minds...  and a few tears will be shed when it's time to come home.

We have two excursions booked out of the five days we are docked.  The rest of the time we will just see where our feet take us!  Our trip in St. Lucia is through COSOL tours.  In St. John's we will go with Eli's ECO Tour and hope that the boys get to see some great underwater life.  Both of these excursions come recommended by folks on Cruise Critic. 

I'm getting a little giddy and can't wait......  no blogging, cell phones or constant interruptions for a whole week.  Wow!  Not to mention warm weather and ocean breezes. 

Ahhhh....  8 days until Caribbean Bliss!!

JP speaks his mind, film at 10

With 15 minutes' notice, JP changes back into clothes (yes, we were in jammies for the night at 7 pm) and readies himself to speak his mind about Hobbit Travel and Mr. Wozniak. After a little coaching, he was all set. The doorbell rings and three people from KSTP enter our home ~ two kids, a mom and a dog disappear to the bedroom ~ and it's show time! A little tidying of the kitchen, a little more film footage, email of past cruise & family digital photos to Susanna Song and voila!

Video and Story:
KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - Shut-down Hobbit Travel sets up refund process

You can bet we will be one of those calling on Monday morning to see about our refund. I so feel for those 10 individuals being rehired to deal with this mess. Please be kind. It's not their fault the man doesn't know how to conduct a business after all these years.

A weekend getaway

The boys' gift from Mom was a weekend getaway to downtown Minneapolis.  We stayed at The Depot in Minneapolis and then saw the Harlem Globetrotters on Sunday afternoon.  We were upgraded to The Wausau Suite and the history of the building was fun to share with the boys.  They asked us if we had ever traveled by train through the station "back in the day" ~ to which we answered an emphatic no, but it was certainly fun to dream of once upon a time. 

Sprinkled in-between our 48 hour adventure were many fast food meals (nothing beats home-made JP cooking) and a few sweet treats.  The waterpark was fun for the boys and they spent quite a few hours making new friends and having fun together.  JP took his camera for a walk downtown during the evening and captured some beautiful pictures! 



Our next adventure will be of a very different kind...  much smaller room, temperature increase by more than 60* and lots more white stuff!  89 days and counting!

Camping 2009

Sanibel, Florida

dreaming... of beautiful blue water, warm sunshine washing over me, a beverage (or two or three) and a game of golf for JP... the smell of a cigar in the ocean breeze... happy children having fun in the pool, never-ending food buffet... partly cloudy, 80*... ahhhh, only 5 more days!!

Photos from the Holiday Weekend

I have not edited out any... I gave the camera to Henry on Thanksgiving and told him to shoot away! Gotta love digital for that... enjoy!

MEA Weekend, October 2008

Wildhurst Campground - Finland, MN

We are headed north tomorrow for a 4 day weekend of R&R. I hope that the fall colors are still hanging on, at least for the drive up north. We will be staying in a cabin at Wildhurst the first two nights (see photo) and decided to surprise the boys with a waterpark on Saturday. JP and I stayed at this campground 13 years ago! We tented it back then and they were just building the cabins. No running water, but I think we can make it. I grew up camping so I can do anything the boys can do, right?! It is projected to be on the cool side this week/end too so convincing the boys that they cannot wear shorts ought to be pretty easy.

I am guessing there's no wi-fi at the Wildhurst site so I'm not sure I'll even bring my comptuer along. Wow, 4 days without technology, whatever will I do?! Giggle. Of course we will hike, search for moose, find a waterfall, hunt for leaves for a school project, and enjoy nature on a fall weekend in Minnesota! I'm a tad jealous that the terrain isn't quite as beautiful as the Norway excursions that Hanne & Tommy are on frequently, but our Minnesota North will do for now!

So... no need to check back for any updates until next week.

See you then!

Sunday in Chicago

We made it... the blue line is under construction going south from O'Hare so we ended up transferring to a bus, then back again to the blue line. We came up from the train and it took us a while to get our bearings. After a very helpful lady saw us befuddled and confused, she graciously pointed us in the direction of Michigan Avenue!

Along the way we split a chicken panini at a restaurant; refueled and ready to keep walking, we finally made it to our hotel. We are staying at the Allerton Hotel, and although quaint, it's also undergoing construction, slow elevators and all. We walked a few more blocks, indulged in a frozen latte from the Ghiradelli store and then wandered back to the hotel for another quick break. We decided to go out later for dinner at Gino's East. We split an order of ravioli, Caesar salad and bread. Yummy!! We are now safely tucked back into our hotel room... where we will manage to sleep together in a queen sized bed (I cannot recall the last time I slept with my mother?!) and our wake-up call is at 5:30 am?!?!

Back to Reality

After our airport delay and getting in at 3:35 am on Saturday, we are now back at work, school and in Minnesota! We had a wonderful vacation in Orlando; although I think it depends who you ask (see video below). No, really, the boys enjoyed it the most, of course, and it was just nice to get away from it all. Henry has had the most difficult time readjusting to life as it should be. He's not ready to go back to school and none of us are excited about the Winter Storm Warning taking March out like a Lion in Minnesota today!

Chloe was well taken care of by our neighbors and I think is a little exhausted from all the play! She spent most of the weekend sleeping on the couch.

Alas, we are all a little more rested than we were two weeks ago, a little more tan and the boys have lots of stories to share on their first day back to school.