On The Eighth Day Of Advent We Attempted to take Our Christmas Card Photo

I made my famous breakfast for everyone the next morning.

Now she's famous for her hash!

Yup. Hash has replaced oatmeal.

Meadows all over any food that is pale in complexion.

We weren't in a rush to get home so Blake suggested we hike Ely's Peak. I was thinking it was farther north somewhere, but it was right in Duluth. He explained we would be climbing that giant hill in the background.

I was like, "Is that safe with a baby."

We started by walking along the Willard Munger State trail. We may have to come back in the summer to bike this.

I think we'll have to attempt that bike ride all the way from Hinckley.

Blake asked if we wanted to see an old train tunnel first. After circling the woods for a half hour he realized he didn't remember where it was.

I quickly realized I'm in the worst shape in years.

We also made Blake carry Meadow. Which in hindsight was probably good idea considering how many times Scott and I fell.

Every time we'd hit a new outlook I'd take a picture. Blake would drag us along further.

We kept going higher and higher.

Are we there yet?

It was nice that the trail evened out in between the climbs.

There was some semi-serious hiking in here.

Getting closer now.

And then we made it.

I guess it was worth it despite my whining.

We thought this would be a good Christmas card photo spot.

We later decided against this one even though it's a nice photo.

Good view all around.

Right around here I nearly fell, but grabbed a stick and it pulled out of the ground. Now I had a walking stick which made it much easier for this klutz.

It was a lot easier going down.

Back at Blake's he got a package in the mail from Sinterklaas. So much candy.

We decided to order VIP Pizza for lunch before heading home.

This is some of the best midwest pizza around.

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The 8th Installment of a Thing We Call Northwoods New Year's Eve

Thursday I took a half day at work so we could make it up north before it got super late. When we arrived we brought in our stuff, turned on the heat and headed back into town to get groceries. We had hoped to get another rotisserie chicken, but they were out. I chose a pastie for my meal. Meadow and I went for the classic, off-brand, box mac and cheese. We made too much and shared it with Brooke. I went right to work making my ice molds. She's always making luminaries if it's freezing outside and we're at the cottage.

A Smoky Weekend at the Cottage and a Stop at Ladysmith's Northland Mardi Gras

This summer we decided to go to the cottage any weekend we had nothing else going on. This week, due to fires in the Boundary Waters and Canada, the air quality was pretty terrible. We debated if we should still go, but it looked like it would clear up by Saturday. So we took the chance. And by terrible, we mean the worst air quality we'd ever seen. Along the way we decided to stop at John and Heidi's Happy Daze . We've passed this place probably 100 times. It was about time to stop by. I ordered the prime rib sandwich special. Yummy. The sandwich that is. Everybody's food was really good, but Brooke's was the star of the show. I want to get back here asap. Now if only this pesky smoke would go away.

To Chippewa Falls for the Northern Wisconsin State Fair

I saw that the Northern Wisconsin State Fair was happening and we didn't have anything else planned. We booked a campsite at Lake Wissota State Park and we were on our way. We hadn't been to a county fair yet and this seemed like it might be even better. We set up camp first in case we would be back late. This was a good excuse for a quick camping trip. Plus we'd never been to Lake Wissota State Park before or Chippewa Falls, really. Since 1897 Chippewa Falls has been hosting the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. More of a super-regional county fair, Wisconsin’s other state fair started as a way for folks up north to avoid the grueling, long haul down to Milwaukee County. Our first stop was to fill up our big jug of lemonade. I think this is the 4th year of this big jug. Brooke brings a couple of our old lemonade jugs with just in case. Then you get the refill price.

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