Vacation – Page 9 – M. Sullivan Photography

July 14, 2012July 14, 2012 M. Sullivan Photography Family, Photos, Vacation

Fun In The Sun – Part I

We returned home from our vacation in Hayward, Wisconsin a week ago. We spent the last several days getting caught up with yard work, house work, office work and photo editing work. We took a lot of pictures while we were gone and many more when we returned. We attended a Huskies baseball game the day we got back and Mike took an extra two days off from work this week with the kids because our daycare was closed through Wednesday. They spent one of the days at Park Point Beach and the other at home playing games and cooling off in our small pool.

Here’s a Part I of how we spent our vacation.

Day One

We checked in late in the afternoon to our rental cabin and spent most of our time unpacking and getting situated. The past two years we’ve been on Lac Courte Oreilles, but this year we rented a larger cabin on Round Lake. It had plenty of space, lots of windows, a great deck and a fabulous view.

We made a quick pasta dinner, got the boat in the lake at a nearby boat landing and then made a fire in the fire pit. We brought supplies for s’mores and enjoyed the only cool evening all week.

Day Two

Since the day was sunny and warm we enjoyed the lake by swimming, boating and playing in the water. We headed into town late in the day to pick up a week’s worth of groceries, but then headed back for more time at the cabin.

Throughout the week, toads and frogs would make their way onto the deck where the kids’ water shoes were drying. They would hop inside the shoes for protection and enjoyed the wet shoes so much they would stay until morning when the kids would empty them out again.

With no dishwasher at the cabin, the kids became the dishwasher during our stay.

Day Three

Another day of sun and 80 degree temperatures kept us near the water most of the day. We picked up a water basketball game on our trip into town the day before. Mike and Sebastian got a chance to try it out.

A break from the game…

Daphne found a way to stay cool too. Fetch in the lake.

And since water basketball wasn’t enough, the guys tried water football.

Enjoying some watermelon on the deck.

After a long day, both Daphne and Sophia were worn out.

A random wild flower.

The end of the evening brought a near full moon.

Part II will be posted tomorrow…hopefully.

February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 M. Sullivan Photography Daphne, Photos, Vacation, Weather

Winter Break

It’s Sunday evening and winter break for the kids has come to an end. They had a good week with lots of fun at daycare Monday through Wednesday. Sebastian had the opportunity to go to Spirit Mountain on Monday evening with his daycare friend’s church group and went tubing and rode the Alpine coaster. Both kids had dentist appointments on Thursday, no cavities, but braces will likely be in Sophia’s future. The dentist said she would give us a referral to an orthodontist at our next check up in August. Just when we were cutting back on child care costs, the orthodontist will more than make up for it.

We checked into a local hotel Thursday afternoon using a gift certificate we won at a silent auction event this past fall. We had a room with direct access to the pool. The kids had their swimsuits on before I even had everything in the room. We swam, used the hot tub and had the pool area pretty much to ourselves.

Sebastian worked on his cannonball.

I played lifeguard until Mike joined us after work. My swimming skills are lacking, so I was relieved that the pool was only five feet deep.

There was also a game room in the pool area. Lucky that Mike and I rarely have any cash in our wallets. The kids talked us into getting them tokens, but our combined efforts only provided for $12 in tokens. Sebastian really wanted to win this.

He came up empty-handed, but Sophia managed to win two rubber balls in a crane game. She used her sharing skills and gave one to Sebastian.

After the kids were exhausted from swimming, we ventured out into Canal Park to get some dinner at Green Mill.

After dinner, we enjoyed s’mores back at the hotel.

The kids swam again in the morning before breakfast, then filled up on waffles, fruit, yogurt and juice at the complimentary breakfast buffet.

Views of Canal Park from the pool area.

The kids layed low for the rest of the afternoon knowing that they would be up late at the Bulldog hockey game that night. We watched a great overtime game with a winning goal at two minutes left in the overtime period. These are photos from last fall at the Bulldog home opener during the tailgate party. A friend and co-worker of mine took a few photos of our family and I just saw them for the first time last week.

Winter break came to an end today with an all day snow storm and ski races at Chester Bowl. Sophia skied two solid races despite having some problems with her ski bindings right before the race. Mike got her back on track and she had a couple of nice runs. Sebastian finished in first place in his division. Mike snapped this picture with his iPhone when Sebastian went up to collect his trophy and take his moment on the podium. Way to go!

And last, but not least, here’s Daphne playing in some of our new snow.

We are expecting more snow this week, days filled with school and work and evenings filled with activities. I am already looking forward to next weekend!

February 4, 2012 M. Sullivan Photography Daphne, Family, Photos, Skiing, Vacation

T.G.I.F. (Actually It’s Now Saturday)

Friday nights are traditionally pizza nights at our house. This means I am off the hook from cooking. Mike picks up Papa Murphy’s pizzas and we enjoy a movie or game night with the kids. After a long work (or school) week, it’s something that we all look forward to.

Tonight’s Game of Choice – Mario Brothers
Sophia recently learned how to play Mario Brothers. Now that we have a third remote for the Wii, the kids along with Mike are able to sharpen their Wii skills to conquer Mario world. I’ve never actually played the game myself. I’m a little too intimidated since they have nearly mastered the game.

Before pizza and game night, we took Daphne for a walk around the neighborhood. Even though it’s only early February, the melting snow and warm temperatures make it feel like spring. Daphne was busy smelling all the new scents that have appeared. She seems to have the energy of a puppy even though she’s seven years old. Or maybe she has spring fever like the rest of us.

We aren’t planning a winter/spring vacation this year, but will instead spend an overnight at a local hotel so that the kids can enjoy the pool, hot tub and an awesome continental breakfast the next morning complete with Belgian waffles. We won a gift certificate during a silent auction fundraiser last fall and thought it might be a good time to use it. The hotel we will be staying at also has outdoor fire pits for roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. It’s only a mini “staycation”, but we are all looking forward to it.

We will also spend a night in Minneapolis to check out the Twin Cities Auto Show. After over 13 blissful years with our SUV, this is the year that we are going to have to say goodbye. With a leaky sunroof and leaking oil, along with small spots of rust starting to appear, we plan to find something more fuel-efficient (and cool). With two growing kids, a dog, a small boat to tow and winter driving in Duluth, a new four-wheel drive vehicle is an investment we really need to make later this year.

Preparations for our Super Bowl party are underway. I was supposed to spend the day cleaning, grocery shopping and prepping for the big day. The party is pretty low-key with our fellow fantasy football players and friends, along with their kids. Everyone brings something to share. Mike suggested earlier in the week that we go skiing on the weekend and I politely reminded him that we will be hosting the party at our house for the first time. He and the kids made promises to help with everything – cleaning, shopping and cooking – if I would agree to go skiing. I couldn’t turn down a warm, sunny day and ended up playing hooky from my chores to hit the slopes. I have no regrets, but am left with a big to-do list for tomorrow. I hope everyone in our house gets a good night’s rest tonight, because tomorrow is a work day!