Papa & Grandm'a "old" chair:

My good friend Allison rehabs as her hobby and stress-reliever.

A few months ago, I came across my Papa and Grandma's old dining room chair in my parent's bathroom in the basement (also the furnace room/fridge storage, and other odds and ends). I thought: Oh MY! I should have Allison take this and work some magic on it and then I'll have a piece of my beloved grandparents (who are both gone) in my new home!

And she did an AMAZING THING WITH THE CHAIR!
I could NOT love it more! Thank you SO MUCH, sweet friend!

READ HERE FOR THE PICS!

Duluth- Part 1- The girls and I visit again.......

These were the girls jumping on Nana upon our arrival in Duluth last month- the last LONG weekend in July (we spent 6 days total up there).
We hopped in the car (after a pile of luggage and gear and the 2 dogs were packed) and cruised up north, excited the whole time! The girls managed to nap some, and then, as we arrived in Duluth, Keifer said the sweetest thing ever when we drove OVER Thompson Hill and we saw our first view of Lake Superior (from the freeway, overlooking the city: "Mama, It's Lake Superior! It's so, so, so....BEAUTIFUL!"
*my heart*
Yes, she said that. This girl makes ME enjoy my time in Duluth 1000 times more than I ever probably would, ever. Period. Her enthusiasm for the beauty of Lake Superior and the fun activities the Canal offers for free has my heart thumping with love for her and her unbridled joy.

So anyhoo. We arrived on a Thursday, around lunchtime. We arrived to puppy cousin, Dio, at our Papa and Nana's house, so the fur kids were all in a tizzy.
The fur kids had a blast getting to know each other, and Treble made sure Dio knew who the "male alpha" was in the house. Then, we had dinner with Aubrie and Auntie Barbara, and went swimming at Auntie's hotel (she was staying in one while her house was being taken apart due to a burst pipe under the foundation - no fun).
We all slept great that night.

Friday morning, we woke up early, as my brother Darren was dropping off Wyatt- his girlfriend's son, who is exactly one year older than Keifer girl. These 2 silly birthday twins have a combustible love/hate relationship with each other! Love, then bicker, love, then bicker. Ahh, how I adore them. Anyhoo, we hung out a bit, Wyatt attempted to play with the dogs, and then I packed up the 3 kids and brought them to my long time friend (of 28 or so years? Say that many years isn't SO!) Jessica's house. She has a lot of kids- so 3 of mine weren't anything! LOL (right, Jess?). They had a BALL with her kids......

K2 letting Nana help her put her sandals on

Wy-guy loving on Sager

Killing some time before we left with Dot Art Markers

Matching sissies, because I like it

The puppy cousins. I love this view of the 3 of them.

Wyatt and Keifer LOVED that Jess has a pool in her yard. They swam with her son Josh, and a few of her girls....

...and also took time outs to jump their little hearts out on their trampoline....

...while Kyla made friends with Jess's younger, Adalayna, who was born 2 weeks BEFORE Kyla.

However, once K2 was in that car, there was no talking her OUT of it. She loves Cozy Coupe cars. Loves them. She sat in this car for over an hour, no swimming or jumping. Just hangin' and chatting in her Kyla way with the other kids.

After we had lunch, we went home and napped. Then, we packed the 3 kiddos up and off to visit Great Grandma Hanson! (No picture of her this time, we have some from our June visit). However, my cousin Lori's son, Austin, was there visiting, so my girls got to meet him again! Here they are posing!

And then my dad (Papa) and I walked the kids across the street to the new Piedmont school- my former Elementary. Well, the city tore DOWN the old school and built a new one. Here, we explored the new playground. My kids, Wyatt and Austin gave it a thumbs -up on fun.

Here comes Wy-guy!

And here comes Austin!

Jess told me she got sick on this swirly thing. Um, yeah, I did, too, and almost vomited. Keifer, however, she loved it. Twirly girl. Just looking at this picture makes me upchuck a bit.

Kyla was blissful with her Papa pushing her in a swing.

First time on a teeter-totter

Don't forget Keifer coming down!

Cousins on a teeter totter!

Whew. It was a hot day. After this, we trekked back to have some juice, because that's K1's favorite part about visiting Grandma. Then, Steph picked up Wyatt and my parents and I took the girls to Superior for some good ol' Shamrock pizza! Yum!

Art Festival/Duluth Depot - Duluth Part 2

On Saturday in Duluth, the girls and I, and Nana and Papa packed up for Downtown, where there was a FREE (FREE!) Art Festival on the streets between the Duluth Depot and Duluth Public Library. There were a lot of activities going on, plus the Depot was giving FREE ADMISSION for anyone that day.

I'm so glad/thankful it was free.
We talked about the Depot and Keifer SEEMED as though she REALLY wanted to go see the trains and walk around. Um, yeah. The trains don't move. She was NOT HAPPY. So, the museum was NOT AS COOL to Keifer as it could've been. Kyla was still a happy camper! LOL. We promised Keifer that we'd take her on the North Shore railroad on Monday...so she was happy with that....

The other cool thing about the Depot is that I used to work there in High School! It was my first job- I started when I was a junior in high school, scooping ice cream at the ice cream shop, working the gift stores, as well as moving up to the Front Desk. Ahhh, it's crazy how walking into the Depot - the smell of it hit me and I had flashbacks to being in high school. Crazy how that is! Keifer didn't really care at ALL that Mama used to work there! LOL


K1 and "her" Papa Dale

Movie star Kyla, ready to go

Keifer wouldn't pose, so Kyla did w/her Papa and Nana in front of some of the old trains.

Touring some train cars

Walking along the tracks

Mama's girl!

Outside, there was face painting.....

...so Keifer got a Butterfly! How beautiful, just like our K1!

Later that afternoon, while the girls and Papa napped, Mom and Nana went to see the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. We were so happy to have some time away, together, watching the final Harry movie! That night, we all went out to eat, and had a great time at the Elbo Room in Superior.

Fun day in the SUN with Friends- Duluth , Part 3

Hey, Cooper, I hear you are the same age as me!?
Yep, Cooper and Kyla are exactly 2 weeks apart! Cooper's Mama is Peggy, a long time good friend of mine from High School /College years. Cooper was also born early, like our K2, and spent a little bit of time in the special nursery as well! I like to say it's fate that they'll be pals, then, just like their Mamas!

In Duluth, Mama got together with Peggy and Cooper, as well as our friend Alicia and her 2 boys, Talen and Soren. Fun was had on the most BEAUTIFUL day ever in the Canal area of Duluth.

Here, Keifer is behind the infamous bridge sculpture and Cooper and Kyla pose.

Silly girl!

Teaching Cooper how to throw rocks into Lake Superior-the most BEAUTIFUL lake in Keifer's eyes! Watch out, Cooper! LOL

Be fearful of flying ROCKS (um, KEIFER!??)

On the bike, ready to ride!!! We all fit- this was the most fun EVER! I suggest you try it when you have a chance!
Kyla & Cooper in the front basket. Me, Keifer and Peggy in front seat (Pegs and I pedaled)
In back, Soren, Talen and Alicia (Alicia pedeled)

Just the kiddos!

Alicia and I switched mid-way as the one on the right could only pedal alone-- it was tough for me! LOL A back view of riding down the path....on the most beautiful Lake Walk/Board walk you can imagine....

Close-up of the Aerial Life Bridge as we biked right by it.....

Oops, the picture of Alicia with my girl and her 2 boys....Keifer LOVED Alicia and held her hand both to and from the place we ate at.....here they were exploring a fountain.

This was taken from the bike ride--- you can see what a beautiful place Duluth is.

Splashing on a hot day on the side walk.

LUNCH TIME - where all our kiddos did GREAT!
Pegs, Cooper, Keifer, Kyla, Me, Talen, Alicia and Soren

Back to the cars....

...so we can drive down the road to the ROCK BEACH - where the kiddos cooled off....Keifer looks cold but she had a ball in the water.

Kyla, well, she did not. She was overtired (no nap!) and exhausted/pissed off. She does cry, people! She was OK!

After: Kyla passed out in the car and this was her after her short nap. Crazy girl! We had SUCH A GOOD TIME!!

Mama and the girls are blessed to have such awesome friends and to have had such an amazing time....Miss you, Pegs and Alicia!!! Soon! Again!

Later, that night, after dinner, Mama escaped ALONE (HA! BLISS!) to the movies again, this time to see Crazy, Stupid, Love. This movie? I LOVED IT! GO SEE IT if you haven't. I love love loved it and have a huge new crush on Ryan Gosling. I've always admired him, but his character in this movie made me swoon. And for the first time, I was not annoyed by Steve Carell, and instead, really liked his in this!

The girls' first TRAIN RIDE- Duluth Part 4

Is this not the cutest picture of Papa & Nana holding hands w/the girls and Wyatt?

On our very last day of our "girls" vacation up in Duluth, visiting Nana & Papa, we took the girls and Wyatt on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, which was a 90 minute round trip up the Lake Superior Shore and back. To say the kids were excited was an understatement!

Here it comes!

Upon boarding the train, Keifer was truly (not acting!) thrilled beyond belief!

Getting silly with her tongue!

Watching out the window w/the Wy-guy!

After awhile on our way back, Wy and K1 decided to bicker like true family, so Nana had to go give them a talking to. Poor Keifer wanted to sit by Wyatt and he didn't want her to. We tried explaining about how much she loves him but that didn't work. Threats of no more treats did the job! LOL Ahhh, kids..........

That night, we all had dinner with Uncle Darren, Auntie Steph (Wy's Mama), Auntie Barb, and Aubrey. The line-up :)

And this was on our way home to Daddy, after all our travels and vacation, we had to stop and get a SMOOTHIE for the girls! Keifer is modeling hers.....

...while Kyla just practices on her sucking skills! LOL

To say we were all tired out is an understatement. It was SO MUCH FUN in Duluth! The girls and I played "tourist" and had a blast doing so. We all got to see more family and friends than we've ever been able to in one trip (only!) and had so much fun every.single.day we were there. Plus, the weather this trip was unbelievable. Sunny, not "too hot", and lovely to sit in.
We were all tiredand Keifer ended up getting really sick a few days later with a nasty fever for 4 days, that had us in the ER for some length of time..........but we were all so happy to be in our new home and be with our Daddy/CJ! HE was also very happy to see us! I ended up dropping the girls off at home and running away to the mall for some "mommy time". Six days with just me in charge, and oh boy, were the girls cranky messes. Sorry, CJ, I left them and ran! However, we can't wait until next summer, to do all these fun things again!

**Yes, we are able to visit in the Winter, but with me working full time, it's a lot harder to swing trips up there and visit for any length of time. Sad, but true. Sniff**