Washington DC Spring Break trip 2023

Spring break 2023 was a fun-filled trip to Washington DC for myself, Sidney and Grandma Jan. 

It started out a bit rocky with a snowstorm in MN (side note: one of the worst storms I have ever driven in), and a cancelled flight. 

Thanks to an amazing Delta agent, and a flexible job, we rebooked and in 36 hours we were on our way to sunny, warm DC! 

Photos below from the trip are in absolutely no particular order. 

We spent our time with Ben as our tour guide and he did not disappoint! Sidney picked out all of the places she wanted to see before we arrived and he pieced together several amazing days. There was a lot of walking during the day, and a lot of playing with his furry dogs and soaking in his hot tub in the evenings. We made some amazing memories and I'm so grateful to have this time with family. 

We made it to the back-side of the White House, and then decided we should try to walk to the front. After a quick question to the FBI on the side of the House, we learned the park across the street was open and we could get our best pictures from there. I'm so proud of Sidney for letting us know she wanted to see the front, we had nearly given up on the side of the House. 

My phone is filled with pictures of Sidney holding Gizmo and Lokkie. 

This cutie below prefers to be held like a baby, and would sleep in our bed each night. Sidney was in complete heaven! 

WWII memorial. It's more massive in person than I had remembered. All the way across on the right side is the MN statue. 

Every. Single. Night. 

The Baltimore Aquarium was filled with some amazing creatures. It was a nice break for Sidney who was pretty tired from all the reading at monuments, memorials and Smithsonians. 

Our last day in DC we walked nearly 9 miles. In order to keep pace with the day, mom grabbed a bike and enjoyed the view on wheels instead. 
smart lady

While it was windy and cold and snowy in MN, we had sun and heat (and even humidity!). Us Minnesotans loved the change of weather. 

The orchids at the Botanic Gardens were a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Mom loved looking at all of them. 

Although peak season for the cherry blossoms had passed, we managed to find some still in bloom. And even captured some cool pictures of them.

Pretty sure this was Day 1, and Sidney was already tired of all the reading. HA! Mom and I would read something and give her the cliff notes so she could just look at artifacts and not have to read. 

My failed attempt at a picture with all of us. I set up my camera on the grassy hill (Ben and Jon were sure someone would come along and steal it). The idea was to get a photo with the Washington Monument behind us, clearly I didn't succeed. 

Ben and Sidney posed nicely for me with the Lincoln Memorial beyond the reflecting pool. 

Jon took us to the Van Gogh Experience while Ben tended to an emergency dental issue. We learned so much about his short life and it truly was a mesmerizing experience.

Mount Vernon brought us back to the beginning of it all, pretty amazing to walk through the grounds and see the actual home, bed he died in and desk where he worked.

 There was so much more that we saw beyond these photos: Vientam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Holocaust Museum, National Archives (Declaration of Independence/Bill of Rights) Air & Space Museum, African-American Museum, National Mall, etc. We spent our time as complete tourists, yet knowing the great eating spots, oh and some pretty great coffee shops too thanks to Ben and Jon. Safe to say, I think we'll be back, and hopefully sooner than 10 years from now. 

A Christmas visit

Uncles Ben and Jon came for their annual Christmas visit in early December. It was a whirlwind weekend with a lot of softball, a little shopping, and missed hockey (thanks to a broken collarbone). 

But we had a great time spending extended time together, shopping, eating, games and more shopping. 

Lincoln decided against most shopping and opted instead for experiences, even with his bum arm. They had a lot of fun at Build-A-Bear and he dragged Ben into the VR experience at the MOA. Building some fun memories for sure. 

Their visit happened to coincide with Lincoln's annual "art" event at school so they got to see Lincoln's self-portrait and hear a few music songs too. It was fun for them to be part of Lincoln's special day at school. And even more exciting as it was Lincoln's first art/music program because all of them previously have been cancelled due to the pandemic. 

He did great and loved having a few extra audience members!

Thanks for a fun visit Uncles Ben and Jon! 

 

Lake life 2019

Labor day brings us to the cabin every year as it has for at least the last 14 years. This year we ventured back to the same place we went last year-Island View Resort on Nest Lake, with its amazing beach, swimming area and fun game room.

 

My brother definitely won uncle of the year, letting Lincoln drive the pontoon and taking him fishing from sun up to sun down every day. Hooks, worms, fish, repeat.
Thank you Ben!

 

 

Lincoln and Lila caught frogs and toads, bringing them to the fire at night. One poor frog was not so smart and leapt directly into the flames.

From the dock and from the pontoon, Lincoln certainly caught the most fish of anyone. One day alone he brought in 17 fish!



 

A little game room fun. It might have been missing a cue ball, and thankfully Grandma Jan brought her own ping pong balls, but it gave the kiddos a break from the water and another opportunity to have some fun.

 

We took lunch out on the pontoon one cloudy afternoon. It wasn't warm and it wasn't a great weather-day, but we had all of us together enjoying the lake and I knew my mom's heart was filled!

 

 

Lincoln learned to kayak and can cruise pretty fast in that little boat. He loved joining in with the big kids, doing all sorts of fun activities.

 



 

When my cousin's boat failed to operate properly, our kiddos sweet-talked the owner's son into taking them out behind his super fast speed boat for some tubing.  Boy did they have a BLAST going super duper fast!

 

From the boat or from the tube, they giggled the afternoon away :)

 

Lincoln eventually got brave enough to take the fish from Uncle Ben and toss it back to the lake himself. He'd always say something to his fish to wish it well back into the lake, then touch the fin one time and plop it into the water.

 

My cousin's daughters are just about the same age as our girls and all 5 of these kiddos hung out all weekend together.

 

 

In his glory driving the pontoon.

 

Regan wasn't too sure about swimming out to the dock given the temperatures were hovering in the 70's; but she looked pretty chill enjoying some sunshine out there.

 

"Ben, Ben, Ben"

He sure made Lincoln's weekend!

 

I challenged Regan to climb up this tree that hangs over the lake. She accomplished it easy and then attempted to hang her hammock from the branches. That didn't end as well and she eventually gave up; content to just sit on a branch.

 

I'm so thankful to mom for getting us all together every year to enjoy this annual tradition on the water!

 

Sun-kissed cheeks and boat hair, don't care.

 

Minnesota sunsets on the lake are amazingly incredible

We ended each night gathered around the fire, all 20+ of us. S'mores and pie fries and roasted starburst.

We had lots of laughs and made countless memories as summer 2019 came to a close.  

Labor Day-Idelwilde

Every year, we look forward to spending Labor Day weekend at the lake. We pack up our entire house and make our way to Osakis/Alexandria area. We've moved resorts once or twice and I suspect we will move again in the near future, trying to check off a few more amenity boxes from all of the 21 of us that make the trek. 

We are happy as pie with whatever amenities are available, and just grateful to my parents for taking us along for the ride each year! Looking forward to the lake, the girls were excited to see some extended cousins, play with my brother's dogs and fish. Lincoln was super excited for the "boat" and spent two days prior saying "boat" non-stop. Every time we left the house, he thought we were finally going to see the boat. 

Jon and Ben brought their two fur-babies all the way from DC, and boy, those two puppies sure got a lot of loving from our crew. They were pet, played with and walked countless times throughout the weekend. When the heat got too bad outside, the girls would retreat inside and have some fun with the dogs. Lincoln impressed us all with his patience and politeness around the dogs. He's cautious with animals (and I think this is a big bonus), never ever touching until he's gotten a good look and the definite go-ahead from a nearby adult. 

Regan tried displaying her responsibility trait....man does that girl want a dog!

Given that Sidney's birthday tends to fall close to Labor Day, we always take the opportunity to celebrate her big day. My mom made a cake safe for Lincoln too and Sidney enjoyed decorating each piece with sprinkles as she served them. After we sang her a quick "Happy Birthday", Lincoln was fussy and asked to be held. I couldn't get him to stop whining (Jon thought there was a teradactyl in the house with his screams!) and finally, I realized he wanted me to sing to HIM! That sure made him giggle with delight :)

Regan is our little fisher-woman. She baits her own hook and casts away. Unfortunately, despite fishing many times, both off the dock and in the boat, she caught one measly tiny fish all weekend long. Poor kiddo, she didn't get frustrated though and was always the first to ask "can we go fishing!". 

Hope took up residence for the weekend on one of the couches in my parents cabin. With all of the bedrooms full, she didn't mind one bit sleeping on the couch (a true college student!). We were thrilled that she came along for the fun, and I think Lookie enjoyed napping all morning long beside her. 

I had found a fun idea to write wishes and fears on rocks and toss them into the lake. Sidney was nearby and looking for a change in play-time so her and I had some fun as she wrote out her 'wishes' (ie, a unicorn!) and 'fears' (ie some dogs). 

We took them down to the dock, and one by one she tossed them in. And now she keeps asking when her wish will come true...meaning that darn unicorn! Oh brother. 

In a fleeting thought moment as I packed up the truck on Friday, I grabbed Lincoln's trike and hoped it would fit. My goodness was that a bright idea! He cruised around on that thing each and every day! He loves his "bike-a" and willingly went for a daily walk, even when the temps and humidity made it oppressive to be outside and the bugs could've carried us away. 

His little sandals are pretty beat up because he drags them with every push, but I'm holding out that this weather isn't going to stick around long and we'll be packing up all of the sandals for the season.

I just love the lake. For so many reasons. It gives us time to sit back and relax and just take in all of the scenery around us. Don't get me wrong, I don't get to actually sit much because I had to chase Lincoln all over the resort, play at the playground and keep him out of harms way. But it's a fun busy, instead of a clean/cook/chauffer the kids to activities kind of busy.

On Saturday, while my mom and Ryan met up with a buddy from home for a round of golf, I took the 3 kids to meet up with his wife and their 3 kiddos at a nearby apple orchard. This airplane ride was an enormous hit. Tyler (the oldest) would make an exaggerated THUD every time the teeter totter went his way and the kids started giggling. As they giggled, he grew louder, and eventually, Lincoln was laughing so hard I'm certain he peed himself at that very moment :) 

They played King of the Mountain (not really!) and got out their wiggles for a couple of hours. 

There was a corn pit and a slide and although we were all sweating, the kids didn't seem to mind and had a great time tossing the dusty corn around and later picking it out of their clothes. 

When we weren't fishing or boating, we found some fun on land playing catch or chasing bubbles. The bees made it mighty difficult to enjoy being outside at times, but if we kept moving, they couldn't keep up. 

Lincoln was a complete ham when I perched him upon the picnic table and asked for some pictures. He now says "cheeese" and tilts his head to the side with a semi-fake smile (side note: we should find a different word, because he always thinks we'll give him real cheese for the picture and he can't even eat cheese!). 

We climbed these steps at least 2 dozen times over the course of the weekend. They led from the cabins to the docks and he adored going near the water. The docks on the other hand, he could've done without. They're a bit unstable and wobbly and he always requested to be carried, especially on the long fishing dock. 

He was pretty upset when we went on our first boat ride. The boy wants nothing to do with a life jacket. Never has. But it's the law and so I insisted. I even donned one myself in hopes it would brighten his mood. He got ticked at first, but then as soon as the boat started moving, he giggled and was in love. By his second boat ride, he climbed aboard and pointed to his life jacket knowing he needed to put it on or we couldn't move. Every time Ben would slow down the boat, Lincoln would sign "more" and he would speed up again :) 

His hair turned into a complete fluff and we all got a good laugh out of how puffy it was. Hope had to snap a few pictures but they just don't do it justice! 

Every year we take a few pictures on this picnic table just before we head back home. This was the most beautiful morning out of all of them, we were all incredibly sad to leave. 

Hope and I didn't climb up on the picnic table but we snuggled up tight and smiled for the camera. I'm so happy that she took some time out of her busy work schedule, just before her junior year of college was to begin, and joined us for the long weekend. 

We all will spend the next 364 days looking forward to what next year's lake experience has to offer! Thanks a million mom and dad (and the rest of the fam) for helping to build these memories!

Hope you all had a fantastic Labor Day weekend!