Madeline Rose: Minnesota Trip: July 2013

We had a fantastic trip to Minnesota in July this year, with some time in the Cities with the Faust side of the family and time in Bayfield, Wisconsin celebrating Grama Shirley's (GG) 90th birthday!

We started our trip in the cities and a BBQ at Shelly and Ben's house. Maddy loved the sand table and playing with her cousins! We celebrated Jana's birthday while we were there.

What fun to also discover that Maddy and her cousin Leah had the same Ladybug PJs!

We then headed to Bayfield and spent time at Superior Rental Cabins with my siblings and their families. Most of my side of the family were able to make it to Grama's celebration, but we missed Benjamin and Amy. The cabins were on Lake Superior at a sand bar, where we could walk out for a LONG time before the water was even waist deep (nice for all the kiddos!)

Gabi, Anali, Maddy, Nolan

Anali and Grama coloring together


Aidan, Maddy and Nolan


Grama (GG) and Madeline

Grama's 90th Birthday celebration was held at Pike's Bay Marina, where my parents keep their boat. It was a fun event, nicely decorated and catered by John, Sharon and Jared (the Pier) and Mila had a wonderful slideshow of Grama's life which was so much fun to see (and brought many a tear to Grama's eyes). There was a professional photographer for the event, so we had lots of photos taken (still waiting on the proofs). Grama thoroughly enjoyed the event, above all everyone's company. It was a huge success (I commend my mom for all her efforts!)

GG and her "great ones"


Marnie, Jon, Joel, Mila and Grama


Maddy borrowed GG's birthday hat!

Gram's gift - Madeline Rose blog book (Maddy age 1-2)

The next weekend I stayed up north for my 20 Year (!) High School Reunion while Steve took Madeline to the cities to spend more time with the Faust side of the family. Steve, Jan and Maddy went to a "Dora the Explorer" exhibit at the Children's Museum, and considering Dora is about the only show we let Maddy watch, she was pretty jazzed to see bigger-than-life sized versions of her heroine and all the other Dora characters.

My brother-in-law Tim, Steve, Maddy and I then met in Hinckley for brunch and Steve returned to the cities to fly back to Portland (Tim happened to be flying out the same day, so it worked out beautifully). Maddy and I returned to Duluth where we enjoyed another 5 days between Knife River, Duluth and Bayfield. All in all it was a great trip, one to be remembered!

Grandmom, Madeline and Granddad

Maddy playing with "Bebo"

Maddy meets her first gnome

...and her second.

Maddy, Mom and I went to the Duluth Zoo one day. You can still see the devastation caused by the recent flooding and many exhibits were still closed. We had a fun time there together and we even went on a little train ride which Maddy enjoyed very much!