Theo's 6th Cottage Birthday Weekend

And we're back at the cottage.

We got a bingo game to play at Theo's birthday party next weekend. We brought it along because it's the kids favorite game.

Yay for snow and cold temps this weekend.

Winter, we haven't had nearly enough of you.  

Someday the kids will ask why there are so many pictures of them on the big swing. Obviously they loved it.

G.G. made grandpa put up a new playground, but all the kids want to do is use the old swing set and the aforementioned big swing.

The newish neighbor two doors down just keeps on doing somewhat strange things. Nobody up here ever builds permanent docks. The ice wrecks them. Well, low and behold a year after he put this permanent dock in some of the piers were starting to be pushed out of flush. Now we get to avoid this lovely aerator hole.

I'm glad we had room in our car for our skis. The trails weren't open due to not enough snow, but it was perfect on the lake.

At least for Brooke. Meadow was sliding left and right.  

I spy Theo's butt-print.

Theo's birthday present from my parents included a lollipop. Theo would look at it every chance he got.

Meadow needed a new book light so we headed to the book shop in downtown Three Lakes to get a new one.

It was so windy which meant kite flying time.

Maybe a bit too windy, but who am I to judge.  

Theo was pretty excited about chasing the kite.

We went back inside while Brooke continued to kite.

We were watching America's Got Talent and someone was doing all these tricks on their hands.

And heads.

This inspired the kids to want to learn to do handstands.

Meadow's got it down.

The birthday boy requested crepes for breakfast.

It's kind of required of me either way.  

When I picked up Theo from school on Friday he was wearing this crown and has been wearing it as much as he could since.

Since he couldn't wait any longer he finally got to open the present with the lollipop. He got money for his room (that's what he wanted this year) and some Mario figures.

Brooke always suddenly leaves the cottage and a while later we realize she's hiking or skiing around the lake.

That means I get to entertain little Theo.

We spotted Brooke in the distance and Theo took the sled along.

When they met up with me I got tricked into pulling Theo in the sled. I don't know how parents do this with their converted bike trailers.

And back to the big swing.

Grandpa added a ladder to the tree house, but it's hard to get onto. The cousins seem afraid of the actual tree house. Brooke's brother was known to live in there growing up.

He even had a tv and heater in there. 

Then we explored the odd parcel across the roundabout. This is the last bit of land that wasn't sold to one of the neighbors and I'd love to buy it even though it just barely touches the cottage road.

Theo birthday boy requested a peppermint and chocolate chip snowflake cake.

Could this be more perfect?

I'm not sure pound cake counts as a birthday cake, but it does look nice.

I thought we would open presents after dinner, but no one else could wait that long.

Another Yoshi figure and a tic tac toe game from Meadow.  And Brittany got him some math activity books and a math game. 

Back to adventures with Theo in the cottage woods.

I used to do this with Meadow when she was little, but now it's just Theo and I making up stuff as we go.

We decided that these stumps were dragon tails.

I tried flying kites again but it wasn't windy enough.

There were all these icy spots opened up on the lake by the wind.

I think we may have been able to skate right through the thin layer of snow. Unfortunately we left them at home.

Theo is it almost time for your birthday dinner?

When looking for places to eat for Theo's birthday I asked if he wanted to eat in an igloo. He thought this was a cool idea.

As you can see Theo turned 6!

We ordered Honey Buns for an appetizer. Since it was Theo's birthday they added cinnamon sugar and a candle for him.

The only thing these igloos need is an actual dining table.

What? It's charming this way.

It's just hard to eat over a coffee table. 

My birthday gift to Theo was a light up hat. We can't figure out where his old went so it was time for a new one.

Back at home for cake.

Almost time to blow out the candle.

I guess he needed to giggle first.

He's officially 6. The candle makes it official.

Usually we go home on Sunday. The kids were off school Monday and Tuesday so I took that off too. Good thing because today was beautiful.

A beautiful day where we didn't have to go home? It's a miracle.  

I was telling Meadow I found a glass bottle that was frozen in the ground on the point across the lake. She wanted to go see it. Then Scott and Theo wanted to come too.

Well, usually you ditch us.

Then grandpa showed up with the snowmobile.

He seemed a little nervous crossing the lake but it was fine. 

Theo hitched a ride.

Weird weather years seem to foster the best adventures.

The glass bottle was actually just a piece. We found a few more pieces. I thought there would be more treasures around here. We only found part of a plaid tablecloth.

There's a geocache in here somewhere.

But I only found our little cutie. Thought he might be a hodag for a second.

Grandpa and the kids ditched us.

"Wouldn't this make a pretty earring?"

I really had to stare at this to figure this one out.

Brooke and I were exploring the other half of Dog Lake when grandpa and the kids showed up again.

We hadn't noticed that one of the homes on Dog Lake was on a little island. Jello.

On our walk back we found this.

At least he didn't write Trump 2024.

I spotted Theo across the lake, so I made a bee line towards him. We had to tell him he can't just cross the lake by himself, but no harm, no foul.

Brittany got Theo a math game for his birthday. Like Scrabble but math equations.

Then I got a chance to ride in the sled.

Everyone wanted one last snowmobile ride this year.

After going downhill skiing, Meadow thinks cross country skiing is so boring.

FYI, that's Theo.  

Theo tried for a bit then gave up too because it was too hard. 

We brought up our giant cards for many rounds of kings corner.

We actually played by the rules of Chutes and Ladders. It made the game take far too long.

This board is dastardly.

On our way back to Minneapolis we stopped in Cameron at Brion's Smokehouse Deli. We've always wanted to stop here.

We just got ice cream cones, but next time we'll stop for subs.  

While driving I heard Theo in the back seat say, "No Meadow, I don't like it." I asked what was wrong. "Meadow took a picture of me and made me look like the president and I don't like it."

But it's a masterpiece!

Back at home Theo had a gift waiting from Chelsea. Picasso Tile marble run.

And my present for Theo? Zelda prints for his room. If you want bigger prints make sure to check out Stephology's store on Inprnt.