Another Easter in Duluth

Since Blake is the closest family member and we needed another excuse to go to Duluth, we headed north for Easter.

Meadow has become a little bookworm with her new reading skills.

Blake asked what we wanted for dinner. I responded, "Macho Nachos." He wasn't sure what that meant, but I think he succeeded.

After dinner we headed out for a walk. Blake and Daniel have adopted Zissou's brother General. Meadow was excited that she had her own dog to walk.

Theo was excited to get some fresh air and swinging in.

Whenever we put Theo in the swings he laughs at first, then looks like he's going to throw up and then goes back to laughing.

Meadow on the other hand just keeps on swinging and giggling to this day.

Someone left a note and chocolate on a bench. I was like, "What the heck?"

Hey Meadow what does this sign say? "Oh General, that's why you named him that."

We walked down, not so charming, London Road and over to the lake.

I was surprised to still see ice on Lake Superior.

We always find a geochache on our walks.

I made sure that Meadow came over and saw the ship pushing through the ice.

Found it.

Back at Blake's Meadow requested a dance party.

And Daniel made it a reality.

Theo was getting into it too.

They had a random disco ball hanging in the living room. It was this that prompted Meadow to have the dance party.

Daniel even accompanied some disco tracks.

Mama and papa danced like the old white folks that we are.

After a night of dancing we slowly woke up Saturday morning.

Monster pancakes, a Duluth visit staple.

The pancakes were served with Glensheen maple syrup.

That syrup tapped from the trees on the grounds of the famed mansion.

Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids.

The temperature was 65 up the hill, but down by the lake it was 52 and windy.

Meadow made sure I saw every icicle and stick along the way.

Blake had a call to make on his iCE Phone.

Hahaha

Smash, smash.

Theo was loving the sand.

Smash.

Of course Theo had to sample the sand.

The ice packed tightly against the shore. It had blown back in over night.

Even Theo liked crushing the ice.

Smash.

All hail, Queen Meadow.

Hold your horses. She's only a self-proclaimed princess.

We kept walking, walking and walking.

Meadow always says she doesn't want to go on walks, but then has the time of her life.

The shore was pushed way up after big wind storms smashed the ice onto the shore.

Thanks for letting me warm up my hands on your belly Theo.

I'd move to Duluth if we got a house on Park Point.

Apparently it was warm enough for Meadow and Blake to take their jackets off.

We ran into this strange but beautiful house.

The house was amazing.

We made it down to Marcia's house before turning back.

That's where our favorite (other than Bentleyville) Christmas light display is every year. It looks like she leaves up the lights year round.

Little gal needed help getting back.

Blake needed some wine glasses for the Easter dinner, so we stopped at the Goodwill.

More like Great-will. Amiright?

No luck at Goodwill so we tried the Salvation Army.

But we did find a reusable growler and new overalls for Theo.

After picking up wine glasses and a few other things for the kids, we stopped at our old northside neighbor's shop for their artisan show.

Blake's friends John and Justin have a new studio space for their next boat they're building in the same neighborhood.

Everything's' going down in Lincoln Park these days.

They weren't around and Meadow really wanted to do some more weaving.

There space along with Daniel's is in one of the old furniture stores in Lincoln Park. There's full size recreation of a house on the third floor.

The stairs seemed like a safe place for Theo to climb. Meadow really wanted to stay the night in the mock house.

This place had some strange spaces.

To hold us over until dinner we snacked on some frozen  jalapeno poppers.

Meadow was in charge of the decorating for Easter.

I persuaded Brooke and Blake into going to Wasabi for their all-you-can-eat sushi.

It did not disappoint the second time around for me. I had come here when I met up with Blake and Daniel after a job for Visit Duluth.

You know we love all-you-can-eat anything.

Even Theo ate like 3 rolls.

Back at home Blake and Meadow decorated Easter eggs.

These two always have fun crafting and making art.

Good job, dudes.

I used to dye my hair with the leftover egg dye. We tried it on Meadow. 

On Easter morning we celebrated with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch Churro cereal. Heck, yeah.

It was was just Cinnamon Toast Crunch in churro form.

For some reason Theo is afraid of Daniel.

Meadow and Theo dressed as bunnies this year.

Darling little tykes.

Then we went to Blake's rock and roll Lutheran church.

Scott hasn't been to church in so long he doesn't realize they're all rock and roll now.

The kids did well in church, except when Theo crawled under the pew.

When my parents sent Blake Easter candy they included a treat for Meadow.

She ate it all in one sitting.

It is kind of awesome.

 You know there were way too many snacks.

I made a rhubarb snacking cake and the punch. You know the kind made with sherbert and 7-up?

Snack, snack, snack, crunch.

Blake brought out his fancy Frank Lloyd Wright placemats for the dinner.

The dogs love to lick Theo when he's on the floor. Theo had had enough.

So much punch. So good.

Snacks, snacks, snacks. Crunch.

Whoa, Brooke and I made the same joke.

Theo was all in.

When Daniel holds Theo.

Little buddy is suddenly sprouting all the teeth. 

General tried to make him feel better.

And then we waited until John and Jasper showed up.

Theo was getting tired or hungry or both. He only wanted his mama.

They do exist.

His eyes said, "Is dinner ready, papa?"

Theo wasn't excited about sitting next to Jasper. Also Meadow made all the name tags.

We started with a salad and this is what Meadow took.

Everyone also got an egg.

What a feast. Fish, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, rolls, corn, asparagus tart. 

While we were still eating Meadow declared she was done. While playing in the living room she spotted an egg hiding in the plant. That tricky Easter bunny.

She had to go find the rest and I helped.

Lucky gal.

And of course we finished our meal with my rhubarb snacking cake.

Complete with edible grass.

Then we had to say goodbye to the Duluth dudes.

We arrived home around 8:30 and the kids still had to find their Easter baskets.

Little buddy got a new bib, smoothie pouch, fruit leather and banana chips.

Meadow's basket was hidden a bit harder by the Easter bunny.

Meadow found hers. She got a rain suit, smoothie pouch, fruit leather, seaweed snacks, chocolate covered raisins, jelly beans and banana chips.