Labor Day Weekend {Northern Minnesota}

If you follow on Instagram, you know that we were in northern MN for Labor Day weekend. I also mentioned it here. For years we used to go “up north” several times during the summer, but in the last few years we just haven’t made it happen. The drive is long – it takes about 5 hours of driving when we are pulling our camper, and that’s if we can avoid rush hour traffic through the Twin Cities.  We always love being there though!

Hubby’s grandparents bought two lots on a remote lake years and years ago. Over the years they have gradually made changes to the property – from adding an outhouse to electricity to running water and a sewer system.  There have been various trailers, multiple sheds, etc.  Now there is a permanent camper, a deck, gas grill, etc. that always stays there, ready for any of us to use.

We have never been “at the lake” without hubby’s family.  It just wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have some of them there.

Here’s a few highlights from our trip!

Hanging out on the deck, playing a few games.  (There’s those teeth again…or lack there of!!!)


All set to go kayaking.  Is he cool, or what?!?



This little kayak has worked great for Anthony.  He loves being in control of his own “boat”. The only bummer is that he definitely gets wet. Not soaked, but wet. We don’t usually get very wet all all with our kayaks – just a few drips off the paddles.


Father-son time – these two make such a great team!


There they go! Headed to the “sandbar” for some swimming.


Can you see Anthony?  He’s standing on the sandbar in the middle of the lily-pads!


This is one of Anthony’s favorite things to do with his kayak – surf!


Fishing with the big boys.  It was fun to see them fishing near the dock.



I know I already shared both of these on Instagram, but I just love them. Besides, they were part of this trip, so they belong in this post too!



The boys went out for one last fishing trip the last morning we were up north. Anthony was a little chilly, so Grandpa shared his coat with him! Oh, and pretty sure handy hubby is to blame for the crooked pic. It wasn't me - I didn't even go out on the boat once this trip!

 Such a proud fisherman!

Here we are all set to leave with our truck, camper and kayaks in the background.  The others were staying one more day, but we had to get home for work and school the next day.

Northern Minnesota is truly a beautiful place. It’s calm, quiet and peaceful. I am so thankful that we made it work to spend a long weekend up at the lake with hubby’s family.

Celebrating! {Anniversary}

Celebrating 12 years of marriage with this guy.  Love him.

photo taken by Anthony at Gooseberry Falls in Northern MN after the marathon

MN Twins Game

At the beginning of June we went to Target Field for a Twins game.  Hubby has always been a big fan of the MN Twins (1987 World Series, anyone?) and this year has been no different.  One of the current MN Twins pitchers, Caleb Thielbar, graduated from the same tiny high school that hubby went to, and hubby couldn’t be more thrilled to know that a Randolph graduate is actually a Minnesota Twin.  This is BIG news in such a small town (population approx 400). 

The weather was perfect for baseball, so we enjoyed a great day at the park!


Our good friends Julie and Erik met us there – it was a blast!  Julie and I met during freshman move-in day in college and we’ve been great friends ever since.  We used to go home with each other all the time when we were in college.  One time when I was staying with her, we went out to dinner with her parents (I think we were at Olive Garden) and the waiter thought we were sisters.  We LOVED that! 


We love hanging out with Julie and her husband. They also have the cutest little boy, but since he’s not quite two yet, he’s just not ready for a Twins game.  Maybe next year?

After Sunday games at Target Field the kids can go down on the field and run the bases.  It’s a little boy's paradise (and hubby’s too!). Since we were there for a Sunday game, we stuck around after the game so that the boys could run the bases.  It was a bit of a fiasco because we walked the wrong way around the concourse to get down on the field, but we made it. So much fun!


In the photo below, hubby is wearing red (right/center of the photo) and Anthony is right in front of him.




They also handed out free Twins jerseys to the first bazillion kids to enter the park. By bazillion, I really mean bazillion. Nearly every kid in the ballpark was wearing the exact same jersey. Except for the kids in this photo. Total fluke. How does that happen?  There is proof just two photos up.

It was already late when we were (finally) leaving Target Field, but we stopped for the classic glove photo anyways.  I guess we just needed the photo to complete our day.

All in all, a super fun day!  Maybe we’ll even catch another game this summer?

A Month in Photos {April}

April was a little more quiet, which was perfect after our trip to Florida!

The Minnesota Zoo
Break from school
Lunches with Hubby
Friends over for the weekend
Color Dash
Playing with the neighbors

**Want to see more photos? I’m @MomsGonnaSnap on Instagram

SNOW Day in Minnesota {in MAY!!!}

When I went to bed last night it was raining.  I knew there was snow coming, and the forecast was predicting a significant amount of snow, but wow, I was not expecting this. In May!  I woke up to our cell phones receiving texts and instantly knew without even looking: SNOW DAY = NO SCHOOL.  In May!!  Sure enough, no school.  Luckily my meetings were all canceled, and I work a part-time flexible schedule, so I am able to just flex my work day and stay home with Anthony.

Here’s the beautiful view outside my house on this lovely spring morning. In May!!!




Why am I blogging instead of playing with Anthony?  Because he won’t come play with ME!  I’m sitting at the table, with a new game, ready to play, and he’s snuggled in on the couch reading.

The wrinkled brow is how we know he is really into what he’s doing.
We have always called this his “learning face”.

He picked out two new books at the book fair at school yesterday and has been reading them ALL MORNING.  For an hour and a half!! (He now has a blanket – he’s still in his PJ’s! – and a kitty curled up with him)   He’s such a big reader, and the educator in me is having a hard time saying, “Stop reading, and do something else” so I’m sitting here waiting and waiting and waiting.  And blogging…  Right next to my fireplace.  On May 2nd!!! 

From what I have read online and over email, there’s around a foot of snow (I’m not going outside to find out), the roads are terrible, trees are down all over the place, and the power is out in neighborhoods all across our city.  Many of our schools sites are without power today too.  Crazy!

Did I mention it’s May??  In Minnesota!!

I’m ready to move south.  Who’s with me???