A Labor Day Escape to Northwoods, Wisconsin

I picked up Scott from a wedding he was shooting and we were off to Wisconsin again. It was getting late and I hadn't had dinner before our only option would be Subway. Instead we stopped for Chinese. I do not recommend eating Chinese food in the dark while driving. 

Since it was dark we only had to make one stop for Meadow. She slept the whole way. We still arrived around 2 am.

She was excited to be up north for the second in just over two months.

My dad, Blake, Brittany, Jeff and baby Marina were up too. I'm kind of getting bored with being at the cottage just the two of us.

You mean the three of us, right?

Marina has gotten so big since the last time we saw her.

Marina and Meadow were reintroduced again. Marina decided to blow bubbles at her.

She also tried choking her. Just kidding, she really loves grabbing things lately. This time Meadow was crying more than Marina.

We put their feet in the water. Meadow wasn't having it. 

While Meadow and mommy retreated inside I took some family photos of the in-laws.

Marina was really digging the fresh Northwoods air.

I had reorganized our pantry recently. I brought up all the spices we don't use for my family to take if they wanted. 

My dad bought infant life jackets for his grandbabies. We tried one on Meadow to see if she liked it. And she didn't seem to mind. 

Meadow loves her Uncle Blake. 

Our babies were passed around all day. 

Everyone was eating leftover kebabs and corn. Since there wasn't any for me I concocted some nachos.

Then we decided to try out those new life jackets by taking a boat ride. 

Meadow was ready for the ride.

"I'm the queen of the world!"

By the way, that's my grandpa face. Meadow better not disappoint in that regard.

Meadow wasn't so sure about the wind blowing through her hair. 

I just love her little feet.

She wasn't having it up front in the wind so Blake took her. 

He held her hands and she eventually fell asleep.

Being Labor Day weekend, we actually saw some vacationers.

I always lover the perfection of this dock. Brooke also had to point this out.

The clouds ominously held over the proceedings, but never erupted.

I spy blake's lure in the trees.

When we returned Blake was still holding her. When I saw him empty handed I asked where she was. Still in her life jacket woken from her nap.

Blake brought some Bent Paddle Venture Pils. Tasted more like an IPA to me.

I had no idea what to cook. When that is the case I always make stir fry.

Mr. Mike really loves his little grandchild.

Before we had our Chicago neighbors our closest neighbors were a retired math teacher and his wife. Bonnie always made monster cookies. When we were kids sometimes Blake would disappear and return with cookies saying he was was at "Bobs and Bobbies."

My dad saw they were up this weekend and wanted to show them his new granddaughter. Dad joked that we just came over for cookies. Bonnie was excited to announce she actually had some and sent us home with a few. After dinner we had those cookies. 

As I was eating I looked up and saw chocolate on Meadows mouth. I tend to drop food on Meadow when holding her while eating. Sometimes it lands near her mouth.

I asked if that's what happened and my dad admitted to giving her chocolate and claimed he gave us sweets as babies. Instead of wiping off her mouth Scott took a photo. 

My dad suggested we go to Eagle River for mini golf before Blake headed back to Duluth. Blake decided he was going to take his kayak with him. Even though we are going to miss having it at the cottage we let him borrow our carrier.

We're cool like that. I know he's already put it to good use.

I told Blake about our dream living in the trailer and he said he had the same idea. We checked out the 1965 manual to see what kind of car you need to tow it.

Supposedly our car has enough power. For some reason I doubt the Honda Insight can do it. Any readers know better?

Then we went to town.

We all waited to get the ball color of our choosing.

Meadow was upset she didn't get to play.

After three holes it started to rain so we put the camera back in the car.

I know it can handle rain, but ever since the lake dip the D300 took, I've been nervous.

The next morning Dad made us omelets.

It was cold and cloudy out so my dad said we should go to the Sayner History Musuem. He is always full of good ideas.

Later we found out that it's actually the Vilas County Historical Museum in Sayner.

The first part seemed more like an antique store. My dad saw these pieces of furniture and said, " i could make that."

He could probably do better.

We want Brittany to make a pillow like this that says Dog Lake.

This mannequin creeped me out.

This was in the game room. Cute. Real cute.

We need to get one of these for Meadow.

This was my Dads favorite part. Did you know the snowmobile was invented here?

I was intrigued that all of the boat motors and snowmobile makers are native to Wisconsin and Minnesota. Apart from Bombardier , or as Mr. Mike says, "Bombadeer," that is, which is French-Canadian.

Look forward to snowmobiling this New Year's week.

This is the second time Meadow has met Paul Bunyan.

I think she's more of a Babe fan.

It was time to feed Meadow so we went to a state forest campground in Star Lake and I fed her in the car while the guys went for a hike.

They had a beautiful red pine plantation in the woods.

Mr. Mike was excited to see the old school bubbler. We're so used to these in Minneapolis.

With Paul Bunyan and hunger on our minds we thought it would be fun to have dinner at the Paul Bunyan Cook Shanty. We got all the way there and it was closed for dinner because of Labor Day.

We went to downtown Minocqua to go to the candy store and find a place to eat. I got taffy of course and Scott got fudge.

Maple caramel praline to be precise.

We decided on the Minocqua Brewery until we saw that it was closed. 

My dad asked a local where a good place was to eat and she said Alexanders or a bbq place. We walked around the block and didn't see the BBQ place. Scott looked it up on his phone and saw that it had relocated. 

Back in the car we went. Poor Meadow had to go in and out of her carseat all day. We eventually found the BBQ place and it was closed too.

Nearly every restaurant on the way back to Three Lakes was closed.

We finally found a family restaurant in Eagle River. Meadow was hungry too.

We'd always ignored the Friendship House. Turns out they make wicked BBQ ribs.

Meadow must love posing with oversized statues.

Before my Dad headed home Meadow and I watched him play on his Bobcat.