Family Vacation

Wednesday

Wednesday was my last day at BSC! I went in in the morning and got stuff done and then finished my day around noon.  I will be starting a new role at Medtronic on October 3rd!

I took Dakota down to Tucker and Cassie’s and the headed home to start cleaning more for company coming over . Joel took the kids over to his mom and dad’s house to spend time with his mom’s side of the family. 

Thursday

Thursday morning I went to get my nails done while Joel took the kids to get their flu shot and second covid shot.  It was wonderful pampering time for me! After nails, I headed over to Joel’s parents house for lunch with his mom’s side of the family and cousins on his dad’s side.  I headed home to rest while the hung out a bit since I didn’t sleep well the night before.  

We picked the kids up from daycare and they had such a blast running around in the backyard! Hailey just loves her second cousin and was following her around like crazy.

Friday

Friday morning was hectic.  We had breakfast and then started packing up.  Joel and Russ did a workout while the kiddos played downstairs.  

Michelle had to go to the airport to get her sister (she was coming to watch the kids during the wedding).  Once she was back, we had a quick lunch and then headed out to Duluth!  I stopped at Caribou and got my pumpkin white mocha :). Miles slept most of the trip for me.  Joel rode separately with Hailey.  

Once we got there, the kids ran around the lobby a bit until hotel rooms were ready.  Once we had a room, we got the kiddos into suits and went down to the pool for a bit. After swimming, Joel and I left the kids with Tucker for bedtime while we walked over to the rehearsal dinner.  It was an awesome venue! Their wedding planner was super fun too!  It was a lovely day/evening.

The second cousins causing chaos in the lobby while waiting for hotel rooms to be ready

All dressed up for the rehearsal dinner

Hailey asleep in her pack n play between beds

Miles asleep in his pack n play on the other side of my bed; Tucker was brave using his flash with the kids sleeping!

Saturday

The kids were up early so Joel and I got them bundled up and in the stroller and walked over to the Caribou in Canal Park.  We were there right when it opened at 6.  We drank some coffee and got sandwiches for the kiddos and then walked back. 

Wedding morning started off early for the girls! We met up in one of the rooms on the 2nd floor of the hotel to start hair and makeup.  The lady doing our hair was super nice and did a great job.  We had coffee and breakfast sandwiches catered from the hotel and got pampered between.  After lunch, I ran up to the room to get my dress.  The photographers got there around 1 and we headed over to the building next door where the wedding was taking place.  We had some drinks, took lots of pictures, and enjoyed time together before the wedding officially started.  There was a champagne hour before the ceremony, a short ceremony and a lovely reception.  It was a wonderful wedding.  The toasts were great - Jordan and Dan’s were super cute. I had plenty to drink! I’m glad I stopped when I did though, because parenting kids would have been rough.  Joel even took some shots!! It was a great time!  I walked back to the hotel with Joel’s grandma a little before 10 to relieve Tucker.  He headed home.  Joel got back to the hotel close to 11 after they had some pizza at the reception.  Hailey woke up and I pulled her into bed with me.  I barely slept with her basically pushing me out of the bed so she could sleep horizontally!

Joel taking a shot

Joel and Tucker took the kids to Panera to meet up with some of his family in the morning to keep the kiddos busy.  The went swimming and hung out in the room. Tucker took the kiddos to get ice cream while we were at the wedding! We were a little concerned for Miles, he was not feeling well at all.  We think he was having a reaction to his 2nd covid shot that he had gotten on Thursday.  After some Tylenol, he seemed to perk up a bit, but I was pretty worried while I was doing wedding things and getting the text updates. 

The tylenol kicked in!

Sunday

Miles was up at 4:15am ready to party.  We went down to the lobby to find some milk.  The person working the front desk was awesome and went to the kitchen to get some for him.  We played around their for a bit then went up and grabbed the stroller and Hailey.  I let Joel keep sleeping since he stayed out a little later with his family last night.  I took the kiddos for a stroll to Canal Park to kill time before the Caribou opened.  I’ll admit, it was a little eerie walking alone in the dark… 

We headed back to the hotel after some coffee and food and got Joel up.  We had breakfast in the hotel with his mom’s side of the family before they headed back to the cities.  We got the kiddos ready and then walked over to the aquarium.  Miles slept through most of it.  The second cousins met us there and the kiddos had so much fun, especially with the water exhibit.  

Hailey and I rode back to the hotel with Joel’s cousin to attempt quiet time and finish packing up.  Quiet time failed, so we headed back to get Joel and Miles so we could make our way up to the Barn where we would be staying the next couple of nights.

Miles slept almost all of the aquarium - thankfully he was free!

Hailey loved the fishies

Majority of the Cassens family was heading to Lake Superior Barn for the next few days to spend time together.  We got to the Barn around 3pm after a 45ish minute drive from Duluth.  Some of the family went to get groceries and the rest started trickling in.  We had a nice dinner of tacos and got situated into rooms.  It was tough getting the kiddos down in the new environment.  Joel and I were in one room with Miles in his pack n play while Hailey was out in the downstairs living room in her pack n play with Joel’s parents sleeping on the couch next to her.  

I went to bed almost immediately after putting Miles down since I was TIIIIIRED from being up early and chasing kiddos around.  The bed was okay but the pillows were basically a piece of fabric. 

Miles was obsessed with the oven

View of the lake from the backyard

One set of bunk beds at the barn - Hailey just loved to chase Lucy around

We all loved the fresh apples from the apple trees outside of the barn

Got my camera out to take a picture of Joel’s Aunt and Uncles and cousins

Joel’s cousins

Monday

Joel and his cousins did a workout in the morning.  Joel and I were able to go for a walk together alone at one point.  We walked down the dirt driveway for a while.  Joel thought he was so funny tossing rocks into the trees to scare me into thinking it was an animal.

After lunch, I went with Katie, Victor and Hailey to the grocery store that was about half hour away.  It was good to get out of the house a little bit.  Hailey loved hanging out with Victor in the backseat and drawing pictures on the magnadoodle with him.

We got some family pictures before dinner.  We grilled up chicken and veggies.  I hung out a bit upstairs instead of going right to bed to get some pictures edited.  It was an eventful, yet uneventful day of exploring and playing for the kiddos.  Uncle Tim made cookies with the littles and Hailey LOVED that! (Although, she did not love the cookie…weirdo)

Lots of outside time running around

Hailey loving hanging out with Lucy and making silly faces

Joel’s cousins family

The one year olds

All the family that stayed at the barn

The second cousins

The second cousins with Great Grandma

Tuesday

The kiddos were up relatively early again.  We hung out and had some breakfast and played.  A group of people left throughout the day so the house got lot quieter; although my children were still running around and keeping us on our toes.

Joel and I were able to go for a walk alone together.  I was also able to sneak some reading in, which was really nice.  I took the kiddos to a park about 15 minutes away to burn off some of their energy and give the a change of scenery.  It was challenging to find a playground out there!  There’s not a lot out there.  

We got back to the Barn and did some more playing around outside and exploring before having dinner and winding down.  I went to bed early on the couch downstairs. 

Playing walkie talkies 

We hiked down to the beach

The bed under the stairs!

Wednesday

I slept on the couch in the downstairs living room with Hailey.  She came up to snuggle about halfway through the night.  Let me tell you, that little body sure is tough to sleep next to. It was a very fitful night of sleep so I was thankful I was going to be able to take a nap when we got home.  

We had breakfast and got everything packed up.  I took Miles and we hit the road.  I grabbed a Caribou and we headed out.  Miles slept for a little bit and then it was almost a game trying to keep him entertained!  Lots of snacks thrown at him and at one point, I gave him a whole container of wipes.  He took them out one by one and had a blast.  We finally made it to daycare and I dropped him off for lunch and to get back into his routine.

I got home, unloaded the car and then went out for a 4 mile run in the beautiful fall weather.

It was an exhausting week with all of the activities.  Our kids are definitely a tough age for that sort of travel and adventure, but I am so thankful we did it and got to spend time with Joel’s family.