Meadow Turns 9, Jumps for Joy

After a late school year Meadow was finally done for the year. And sadly her last year at Barton. Next year she'll move to a school that's closer to us.

We treated her to ice cream at Sonny's Cafe.

After taking 2 years off from birthday parties due to Covid, this year we promised Meadow a party.

For her cake she requested a rainbow cake.

Unlike at her 4th birthday where I colored the batter naturally I went the artificial route this time.

I followed this recipe for Rainbow Bundt Cake.

You add each color one layer at a time. How it makes a rainbow shape as it bakes I don't know. Too bad I won't know how it looks inside until I cut into it at her party.

The next day, Meadow decorated the cake with rainbow sprinkles of course.

Can't wait to see what it looks like inside.

Oh, just our almost 9 year old eating the extra frosting. They learned from their papa.

Brooke's getting really good at these food trays. First the Easter bunny and now a lion.

Meadow wanted a trampoline party this year. Actually she really wanted a party at our house, but our house is just not ready for entertaining yet.

Meadow had a Lion Guard theme to the party.

She had been planning this for months.

Soon our guests would arrive.

I hate the cheap toy party favors that are given out at birthdays. We chose little plants instead.

She invited one friend from school and the rest were her friends from birth.

I wasn't sure I'd be jumping, but I in fact did go jumping since Theo was afraid of the other kiddos.

There was a couple other birthday parties here but not many kids out jumping.

Theo and I had a blast while Meadow ran around with her friends.

Someday we'll have to come back and go as a family. Apparently Davin and Dora do this.

I was just as thirsty as Meadow at this point.

I wasn't sure about the trampoline park idea, but it ended up being lots of fun.

I couldn't believe the kids jumped the full 2 hours.

Her friends and her also played some of the arcade games and gave Meadow their tickets.

Meadow won the mystery prize, except it was missing.

So she got a slushy in its place.

Time for cake.

Brooke outdid herself this time.

Sort of had a mushroom look, but still cool that it turned out.

The mushroom rainbow bundt cake was a hit.

Back at home it was time for Meadow's favorite part. Opening presents.

New books and crafts.

And a ukulele. She's been wanting one for a long time.

Brooke and I nearly completed the last of the woodchips. Now we can start adding new plants.

Our yard has lots of potential. Hopefully we can make it beautiful again.

Comments

Brooke Turns 40, We Return to the Riverside Cabin at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

This year is my 40th birthday. We originally thought we'd go to Mackinac Island and also played with the idea of going to Montreal. With a spring break trip coming up we settled on a cabin on the Gunflint Trail. The Gunflint Trail is one of our favorite spots in Minnesota. So, why not? We'd also decided to go on another campervan/RV relocation adventure at the end of the month. So don't act like I don't treat my honey. On our drive up we stopped at Tobie's to get cinnamon bread for french toast. Just like a few years back we stopped at Hungry Hippie Tacos in Duluth. I feel like we have to document whenever these kids get along as it's a rarity these days. We got the frybread tacos, but the kids stuck with the corn tortilla options. We brought along our projector and stopped at Blake's house to steal his internet to download videos. Once we got to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and unloaded our stuff, we crossed the river to explore the trails briefly. Our feet ...

A 39th Birthday Cottage Visit and Ice Skating "The Glide" in Boulder Junction

Back at the cottage for my (early) birthday weekend. Where else would I go for my birthday? I'm a simple man. Grandpa cleared a rink and a little loop for us. Theo just wanted dig in the snow. Meanwhile Meadow and I went cross country skiing on the Anvil Ski Trail. Meadow said she would only go with me if we did a trail with hills. We hiked this a few years ago and it was quite hilly. She was an old pro on the hills while I wiped out. We didn't make it too far as Meadow complained her boots were too tight. I made her check the fit a few weeks ago and she claimed they were fine... Was a beautiful trail in the Nicolet National Forest.

Backcountry Camping with Kids in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Day 1 Back in May I stumbled upon Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I had no idea there was a National Park in North Dakota and that it was the northern end of the Badlands. Usually our summer vacations coincide with Scott's work trips. Since he didn't have any this summer I thought we should take advantage of actually taking a vacation. What, my workcations are always classics? I suppose a second real vacation this year wouldn't hurt. We definitely have more time than normal. As long as we took Covid-19 precautions and avoided people. We finally settled on a time to go. Blake joined us so we borrowed our dad's van so we could ride together. Scott had just driven from Michigan the day before. Blake had met my parents in Wisconsin to get the van and then drove from Duluth to pick us up. I offered to drive since I literally only drive twice a month. I was still pretty tired from a long drive home. Since we were near Fergus Falls we had to stop by the abandoned state ho...

Search This Blog