Skip to main content

Theo Turns 7 and the Grandparents Come to Visit

Instead of going to the cottage for President's day weekend, I talked my parents into coming to visit us. I wanted them to try our ice rink before the season was over. 

Theo and I really wanted to go to the cottage, but it was fun to have the in-laws check out the rink.

As it was Valentine's day, the kids get spoiled with treats. 

We got cake from the nearby Mexican market and the grandparents got the kiddos candies.

We wanted to show my dad the Wirth Lake ice trail. Of course it started snowing heavily on our drive there.

Meadow wasn't interested in coming. At least Theo was open to checking it out. 

A lone skier was traversing the lake trails with his dogs.

The full trail hadn't been shoveled after the last big snowfall. Only about a quarter of it was skateable. 

Theo was loving skating the big trail.

It was a winter wonderland. 

Another great day skating.


We did a few laps before calling it quits. 

Since it was nearby, we headed over to Utepils. Theo was happy that he got root beer and Meadow missed out. 

Utepils is still my favorite brewery in the Twin Cities.


They had the fire going in the beer garden, we could have sat outside. 

Meadow had wanted to play checkers with her Gigi but was too afraid to ask her. She had the game all set up when we got home too.

I made special heart shaped pizzas for Valentine's.

Theo and grandpa played some board games after dinner.

Another weekend of snow. Theo got right to work clearing the rink.

He cleared off a huge chunk of the ice and then we all helped him.

These kids are very competitive hockey players. 

I wasn't feeling great suddenly. Sadly I wouldn't be going along for many adventures the rest of the weekend.

I had to take my dad to the new claw machine arcade in Eagan.

This place was a mad house. I later learned that after they opened they sold out of inventory faster than they thought and had to close until they replenished. Today was the reopening. 

They make it fairly easy for you to win. 


They even had some food items. Theo loves these gummy kits. 


The kids made out pretty well. You can also trade in your items for other items. Like what's on the shelves behind Meadow. We were going to trade in Theo's winnings for a Kirby, but as you can see he had had enough at this point. It was so hot and loud with all the people. 

Looks intense.

Meadow's winnings. 


Once it got dark out we went on a luminary walk at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 

I scrounged up enough energy to tag along.

Inside they had hot cocoa and exhibits.

My little guy.

My dad asked if there was anything going on at the convention center. This weekend was the RV show and it was free. We were all excited to go. 

I'm missing out on all the fun things.

I think Theo had the most fun. He climbed into every bed. 

And drove every RV.

My dad found his trailer.

Not enough storage for your mom.

The kids loved the lofted beds.  

That's insane.

This one had it's own children's wing. 

In no way am I thinking of getting a trailer. But this brand was more my vibe compared to the others. 

A yearly campervan or small RV relocation is fine by me.

Every year for Theo's birthday we got to Sushi Train.

Oh, I'm really sad I missed this. 


I was worried there wouldn't be anything my dad would eat. He found something, not exactly what he thought it would be. 

I think that's the exact opposite of finding something. Like the time I was in Paris and ordered some kind of raw cured meat and then steak tartare.


Theo finally got to open his gifts. 


He had been wanting Schleich figures. It's the first thing he wants to look at when we go to the toy store. 

The Eldrador series to be precise. Fierce monsters.

I made crepes for my little guy on his actual birthday.

More Eldrador figures!

From me!


He may be 7 now, but he's still just a little bub.

When Brooke got home he opened the rest of his gifts.

He was most excited for his gift from Meadow. 

I got him a Yoshi lego kit and a magic kit. He was not impressed with magic kit, claiming he had one already. 


Theo picked a mint chocolate cake for his birthday. 

I made it during daddy daycare.


It was supposed to be like a big York peppermint patty.

His birthday request was to play Bingo. 

Happy Birthday, Theo.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...

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.

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 ...