Because It's Been Awhile

Here are a few quick pictures from the past couple weeks.


Isaac and his great grandma. Isaac's cousin calls her "G.G." I think we'll do that too... it's adorable!


Isaac, Cousin Shay, and G.G.


Isaac wearing big boy pants


Sleeping at the apple orchard


Too cute for words


At the dog park with my two boys


Fall day

To The North Shore We Go!

Last year around this time, we made plans with our friends Zack and Marissa to do a 2010 fall camping trip. We set a date, booked the site, and put it in our calendars. Little did we know that when the time came, we would have an eight-week old baby with us! In fact, I still can't quite believe it!

All week I watched the weather channel with a sinking heart. First they said the temps would be highs in the low 60s, lows in the mid 40s. That was okay with us. We could bundle Isaac up, bring the appropriate gear, share body heat at night... that would work. With each day that went by, the projected temps dropped by a few degrees... until the low was THIRTY! Okay. That's cold enough to snow! The campsite we were supposed to stay in is a cart-in site, meaning that your car is half a mile away and that is the closest indoor option.

We didn't feel comfortable putting an eight week old baby into that scenario overnight, so we tweaked our plans a bit. We spent the days at the campsite with Zack and Marissa (who braved the cold and spent the night in their tent) and then went to a nearby hotel to sleep.

Oh, it was such a wonderful weekend! Isaac began to truly smile while we were there (I even have witnesses! Marissa can vouch for me=) and it was so fun to spend time together as a family. Lake Superior always rejuvenates me and this was no exception. Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Here we all are! Our family of four, headed to the North Shore of Minnesota.


Daddy and Isaac on the porch of our motel


The pack mule... er, Jonathan carrying all our junk to the campsite. Since I was wearing the baby, Jonathan insisted on carrying pretty much everything else. And tying the dog to his waist.


Beautiful hike


Isaac sleeping peacefully on Mommy's chest


Our little family on a hidden lake at Tettegouche State Park


Mid-hike meal


Cody did his part. He packed out Isaac's poopy diaper. (HA!! Don't worry... we only tortured him long enough to take this picture. And maybe a few others.)


Isaac loved cuddling with Marissa


Baby napping on Daddy


All bundled up


Zack, the chef, cooking up some pancakes and sausage for breakfast. YUM!

Sun Kissed

We got back from our North Shore camping trip two days ago, and I'm still basking in the afterglow. There's nothing like Lake Superior, a rocky beach, and a few pine trees to recharge the batteries.

Here are a few highlights of our lovely weekend.


The traditional "setting up of the tent" photo. We stayed at Tettegouche State Park.


We may not have running water or a flush toilet, but we do have a foot stool.


Our campsite was a "cart-in" site. We parked the car in a lot and used this wooden cart to bring our stuff a half-mile in to our site. Cody got to test it out.


Packets of potato-and-veggie goodness


Hike to Two Step Falls and High Falls. Many, many stairs involved.


Cody cooling off at High Falls


Crossing a rickety bridge over a rushing river


Our friends and camping partners, Jill and Elliot. This was the beach at our campsite. Yep, at our campsite. I still can't get over how beautiful it was.


Elliot and Jonathan showing off the cooking spears they whittled. Aren't they manly?


This cart provided us with hours of entertainment.


A view of Palisade Head, a huge rock formation that was apparently formed 1.1 billion years ago. Don't let the raincoats fool you. We lucked out... it sprinkled for only an hour or so on our very last day.

So Jonathan. When are we going back?