Bella Boo!

i mentioned in our State Fair post that there was a down pour during our visit. We were at the giant slide and the drops started coming down cold so we took refuge in a tent with picnic tables under it. We were a little wet and crammed in there to allow as many people in as possible and we were getting a wee bit grumbling when this great thing happened! This sweet girl next to Robb asked if Max would like a stuffed dog. She had been a big winner that day and didn't want all of her winnings! That was the greatest thing! Max loved that dog and held it the rest of the day! He even named her Bella Boo.


Thank you sweet girl, who ever you are! I hope one day we can help out a family like that. Now, five days later Bella Boo is an official part of the family. We had to go into petsmart over the weekend and we got her a bone shaped dog tag and Max brings her on walks with the big dogs. Okay, he drags her but it's darn cute. I'll have to get a picture of him "walking" her.



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Location:Parkside Ct,Champlin,United States

Going to the fair, see ya there!

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Each year we go to the fair with Robb's family! More specifically Joe, Elizabeth, Adam and Ryan! This year Robb took the whole day off work! I am now sure what came over him but I am so glad it did! Normally we squeeze it in after work. We got there about 1230 and left at 830pm. It was a great day. A little overcast, one downpour, but over all a great day to be at the fair.












We had a great day of eating, going on rides ( yay Max is tall enough!) and seeing the animals. The boys loved the John Deere section and we ended up spending quite a bit of time there. I had bought discount passes through my work and will definitely have to do that again next year, great deal!


















One last thing to add. We left Joe, Elizabeth and the boys to head to the car. We walked past the grandstand and Robb suggested we "swing through". Warning next time he does this beware! Just kidding Robb! But we bought a bed! Crazy, I know! We walked past the sleep number beds and then we walked back and sat down. We do this every year. We have talked about getting a new bed for so long. We have a queen bed right now in a bed frame with a foot board. My long stretch of a husband always complains about his feet hanging off the bed. I can't say that would be very comfortable so it's been on "the list" of things to do. Well, we did it. We got sucked into the flashy 40% off they waved in front of our faces. We can't wait! You know sleep is very important. I am looking forward to finding my sleep number!
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Going home day from C.C.

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

It's going home day. Boo, vacation is mostly over. We packed up the car, quite impressively in 45 minutes and hit the road by 0830! Headed for where else but Betty's Pies! Another tradition that is too yummy to pass up!





Our trip home was uneventful, thank goodness. We had to stop in Duluth to pick up the forgotten credit card from our breakfast at Amazing Grace and I headed into the book store in Canal Park to pick up "girl with the dragon tattoo", as the cabin had it and I gave in to temptation and started reading it.

As we pulled into town our stomachs were growling so the boys stopped and got chipotle (ah, the convinces of suburban living) and I held out knowing that I was going to the state fair that night with my mom and Craig to see the Carrie Underwood concert ( which was good by the way: )). Great sunset, too!



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Day #3 at cabin Casabella

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Monday was. Lazy day. Cabin Casabella provided us with kayaks so we decided it was time to take a spin. Considering they are both single person vessels, Max did well with how long he sat passenger with either one of us. I figure we were out enjoying the placid lake for at least 45 minutes. Including the time we had to turn back to put the dogs in the house. They started whining and we figured it was because they wanted to be at our side. Not actually the case, they were defending the cabin from a rouge dog wondering by, however they were much less audible from there.





After our lazy morning and quick paddle we rested some more. I love vacation! Robb and I found a new hobby of each laying on a couch and reading a magazine or book! This is huge! Robb isn't necessarily a reader so it was fun to have him share my pastime. Usually he plays his nintendo DS. After some luxurious quiet time and a nap had by all I persuaded one last hike out of the boys. Each time we drove in and out of the cabin I noticed a superior hiking trail sign and wanted to check it out. So we drove just a couple short miles to where the signs were posted and picked a direction and went. A short 2 miles or so but so great!








I added the last one just for a show that fall is coming! Yeah!!

Day Two at cabin Casabella

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Surprise, surprise! Robb was up with the sun and had his morning coffee and oatmeal with the dogs out on the lake, with Max and I still all snug in bed. It was all going well until he decide to test out the cabin provided kayaks. One of the dogs, who will remain nameless, decided not to swim but to run along the shore in other peoples yards and bark/whine! She finally found a yard without a friendly face and so ended the blissful morning kayak. Luckily, we were able to get over that pretty quick. (It's never fun to get yelled at on vacation!) We had our breakfast and mommy decided she need just a little more sleep, after all we are on vacation, thus went back to bed and let the boys fend for themselves. Once up for the day, we decide on a hike at Temperance State Park.


We had a pretty good hike but ran out of water and turned back. Probably a good choice since it was pretty warm today! I am guessing we still got about 5 miles in. Not shabby!



After our hike we found a cute shop to look in and some dairy queen to help us cool off and recoup our lost calories! We headed back to the cabin for the evening. Robb cooked a fabulous steak, potato and green bean meal. And, Max and I played down by the dock in the water and on the pontoon. We even snuck in a kayak ride. After dinner we just hung out as a family. We got Max down a little early and Robb and I were able to read some magazines! How nice is this?






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Day one of cabin Casabella

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Every year we make our annual pilgrimage du north du Duluth. This year we chose a cabin near Lutsen. It's a pretty big step up from "our" cabin with no running water or heat. This year we found a cabin on a lake near the gunflint trail. However, I am ahead of myself.

Friday! Happy vacation! We headed to Duluth to use our best western gift card from four Christmas' ago ( thanks, dad and Julie!). We thought it would cut the drive in half AND allow us some fun time in Duluth. We got up about 7pm( yay, for Robb getting out of work a little early :). We had a subway stop on the way up so we could be all business once we got to Duluth. We stopped at a park in Canal Par to walk the dogs and let Max stretch his legs. It was very chilly from the summer we are used to but very refreshing. Then we headed to the lake walk/ shops of Canal Park. We also got a tasty treat from Cold Stone, after all, we are on vacation! Then off to check into our "suite" at the Best Western ( we might have ordered Pizza Luce in, as well)






Saturday, August 28th, 2010
The next morning we packed up and picked up Robb's sister Lisa and headed to our favorite Duluth breakfast locale, Amazing Grace! We were not disappointed in the pancakes, yet again! It was a fun time. The. We headed to look at few shops with Lisa before dropping her off at her work where her car was. Then we were officially headed to the north shore. Next stop, Two Harbors SuperOne. That is where we have gotten groceries the last six years. Robb is some kind of a sentimental traditionalist! We made our list on the way up, very efficient, and got the shopping done lickety-split! Then we piled our food and ourselves back into the car for the final two stops, check-in and "our" new cabin. When all was said and done we arrived at approximately 3 pm and we were not disappointed with the new place! The dogs loved it and Max loved the fact that there was a boat to drive!






After unpacking, we thought we missed the car and so piled back in for a trip up to Grand Marais 17 miles away. We found some lunch and a few other things we could not live without. Finally, we headed in for the night to watch the Vikings pre-season game against Seattle. Did I mention the cabin had a flat screen TV with a dish? Cause it did! That about wraps up our day!
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Yesterday..

no not the beatles song..

yesterday I did something I have been wanting to do for the last several months actually. Go for a walk before Robb heads to work. Normally I hear Robb get up and get ready for work and I try to fall back to sleep. Some days I can and some days I get crabby that he is "so loud". Then this summer started and a new initiative to try to lose some weight. I figured the best way for that to happen was to get up when when Robb does head out for a little am activity and be home to kiss my honey good-bye to work. It was such a great way to start my day. The weather was in the 60's, skies.. clear blue and I was out for a walk! I really could not ask for a better morning.

Max needed to get some shots so I got him up and we had a quick breaky. He just makes my day how happy he is in the morning. He decided he wanted to bring his friends Uniqua and Austin ( backyardigans) along for the drive. He was so funny holding the stuffed animals by their necks and showing them what we were going past. "See 'em? see da cars, back dere"



We got to the peds and i felt so bad for him, knowing what we were heading into but trying to not let it on to him so he wouldn't be nervous. He played happily in the waiting room however when the nurse called his name he didn't want to go. Smart little guy. He was so brave. I always get a little tear when they poke him. The nurse was fast which is the best case scenerio, I guess. When she was done max turned around and hugged me. I told him the "pokes" were all done. My sweet boy even said "bye-bye" to the nurse followed by "all done". I felt so bad that I wanted to get him something in the gift store for being brave. (when he was a baby I'd nurse him or bring in a bottle to soothe him but I don't want to give him a treat or have him soothe himself with food) so we stopped to see what they had in the gift shop. Wouldn't you know they had the remaining Backyardigans buddies we wanted. ( Randomly one saturday Robb took Max to the grocery store and they had a little stand with beanie baby's. Max found an Austin character and Robb had to buy it. Max's love affair with the cartoon justifies it, right?) His reaction to having all the buddies was so priceless. He wanted to hold all five of them. Max= one smitten kitten!



Next, we stopped at my dad's to pick up something we left in Hayward and had a nice visit. We took home some peppers, too. On the way back to our house Robb called and said he was going "out" for lunch so I decide we should, too! Noodles and Co. never disappoints, so that's where we went. Max ate a whole meatball and then flirted with the teenage girls next to us. He is ALL boy!

We got home and I napped a bit in between what else Backyardigan episodes. Finally about 23o max fell asleep and I got enough of a second wind after my mini naps that I went out to cut the grass! Hurray for getting stuff done! My mom came over to hang out with Max while Robb and I went to a training for working the concessions at the Twins games for a church fundraiser. God was on our side when I got distracted and almost got us pummeled by a bus. Thank you, Lord for keeping us safe. I dislike that feeling of what might have been.