Summer Vacation 2013

So, get ready for the Vacation Photo BOMB!!!!

At the end of June, we enjoyed a wonderful Saturday to Saturday stay at Lutsen Resort. We originally booked at Bluefin Bay. Did you hear they had a fire that destroyed 5 units? Bluefin put us up at Lutsen Resort, since our reservation was affected. I can speak for everyone when I say we had a GRAND time. We would recommend this as a fine resort destination for Papa-Nana-Kiddo-Mom-Dad crews like us! 

Nana brought craft projects to keep everyone busy in our Cliffside Townhome. The kids also begged to go to the pool every day, and were delighted for every cloudy afternoon or morning  leading to another hour in the water.

Of course we headed to Grand Marias and shopped at the granddaddy of all Ben Franklin's -Joyner's. We also had the self proclaimed BEST DONUT, ate the fresh catch for lunch at the Angry Trout, and returned to Grand Marias on Friday for Thomberg Family Pizza Night at Sven and Ole's.

Marly and Dean basked on the rocks.

We walked to the light house and spent time on Artists Point.

Mark actually ALMOST totally disconnected from work..... almost....

One rainy afternoon, we went "off roading" on the logging roads in the Superior National Forest. The kids got to enjoy the wild ride in Papa's BMW. We also drank lots of fru fru coffee from the Moondance Coffee House and I am sure I had one along for this wild ride through the woods.

Our off roading lead back to the Sawbill Trail and to the edge of the Boundary Waters.

I strolled solo along this serene lakeside path, and quickly became a Manny's Porterhouse Steak dinner for a zillion hungry mosquitoes.

We hiked the Oberg Loop one sunny morning, and went for lunch at the Coho in Tofte. On Friday the Thomberg's also spent some time at the Temperance River.

What Lutsen vacation is complete with a ride (or 5) down the Alpine Slide?

Dean and Marly are fully aware next year when they are 7 they can ride down alone!

I want to tell you all - MOM IS THE FASTEST, and it doesn't matter which Twinner is riding with me!!!!!

We finally snapped a family photo 5 days in.

We had dinner in the dining room at Lutsen Resort one evening and the kids (okay mostly Dean) became obsessed with the 'Pass the Pigs' game.

Here is Papa eating some sort of custard dessert with lingenberries, with Dean photo bombing!

Mark and I went sea kayaking on Lake Superior, and the resort offered yoga one early evening on the beach.

The hubby and I opted for a Happy Hour brew instead.

At dusk, there were campfires on the beach, and we also caught Naturalists Programs on several evenings about forest fires, moose, and beavers. Oh yes... and then Dean would beg to play checkers in the main lodge every night afterwards. 9 pm... 9:30, 9:45 -- It's not bedtime yet! It's vacation!

On Saturday it was time to bid a fond farewell to Lutsen.

Palisade Point

Good Bye Lake Superior
Good Bye North Shore.

Thank you Nana and Papa for a wonderful vacation.

This and That

A little of this.. a little of that... and a bunch of I phone photos.

A few weeks back I attended a high school friend's wedding.

 It was a grand chance to see my DEAREST and oldest friend (not in age, but instead longevity) Cindy. I rarely see her in person, but with texting and Facebook she is always close at hand and close at heart.

The classmates and our hubbies filled a table at the reception at the Hilton in Bloomington and it was great fun. The bride was happy as a clam! The other grand things about wedding for individuals established in thier lives - good food and open bar! The next day I got to see my classmate Angie again at my cousin Mikayla's graduation party. The only problem with heading home for any party is Dean doesn't want to leave and break up the fun with all his cousins!

 Little League baseball will soon wrap up for the year. Look at this handsome dad volunteering behing the concession stand counter.

Mark's Father's Day presents were sweet treats this year. Dreamy Nadia cupcakes from Maple Grove and Truffles and Tortes in Anoka earlier in the week.

 
On Father's Day we went to church (and were late again), headed to Brett and Rachel's for lunch with Dad and Chris and some beach time, then headed home by way of Lake Minnetonka for ice cream in Wayzata.

And I finally picked up the glassses I ordered for driving this week. The frames are green and I am quite the sassafrass in them.

Take Care All!!

Wrapping Up Kindergarten

I have so enjoyed my kids last few weeks of kindergarten. I had time to be involved and I loved every minute of it.

 Mid-May I got to help chaperone the class's Coon Rapids Dam field trip. Champlin Brooklyn Park Academy is a magnet school for math and environmental science so the school has a special partnership with the Three Rivers Park District and specifically the Coon Rapids Dam park. All classs go their several times a year.

 Dean (above), Marly and her best friend Izzy (below), and all the kids were hunting for bugs.

 We took the bus back to school, got a group photo, and I stayed for lunch.

Off course there was an end of the year KX kindergarten musical. It was darling. Cute songs, cute hand gestures, and their wonderful teacher Mrs. Loveridge who has just retired.

As we left the kindergarten musical I lamented to Mark we only get to do experiece all these precious moments once, which makes for enhanced and bittersweet emotion.

The last week of school I helped champerone the Como Park field trip. It was cloudy, but not a drop of rain fell on our parade.

Here we are waiting for the Sparky the Seal show. How many years has this show occured? More than 30? I never realized until now it is approximately15 minutes in length. (Dean, Eitiene, Alex, Izzi, Marly, and Hannah)

The last day of school Marly and Dean made cards for Mrs. Loveridge for her last day EVER. Despite Dean's zeal for her career, Mrs. Loveridge is NOT 125 years old. I did get Mrs. Loveridge a very special acorn necklace from Patina to represent all the "acorns" she has planted over the years. I indicated the necklace was on behalf of ALL the parents whose kids she has taught over the longevity of her career. I hope she liked it and will wear it with a heart the understands the gratitude with which it was given.

 The kids LAST bus ride home from their LAST day of Kindergarten.

Cherry Berry to commemorate the end of the year!

Memorial Day Weekend 2013

Despite the gloomy weather, the Thomberg's had a fine Memorial Day Weekend and hope you did too. Friday we had a backyard fire, IN THE RAIN, with a patio unbrella. Our neighbor Chlo joined us for a glass of wine, or two.... or more...

Saturday we headed south for a day trip to Red Wing. We arrived for a late lunch at...... McDonalds! Yup... that was what Marly and Dean wanted. That was the ONLY thing they wanted. Remind me to BAN the Golden Arches from all future day trips. Nevermind we passed a great little burger/beer joint with a crowded parking lot in Meisville. Nevermind all the dining choices in Red Wing.....

 We hiked Barn Bluff, took some unusual turns, and ended up on a path that was clearly CLOSED, which always make for a better adventure.

 The view at the top.

 Back in town, it was time for ice cream. What day trip is complete without ice cream???

 The Memorial Day flag display in the park by the river was impressive.
We headed home by way of  the Wisconsin side of the river, stopped in Prescott for supper at one of the state's endless main street bars, and had a fine day indeed.

Sunday was cold, cloudy and windy. We went to Brett and Rachel's for lunch. It was too crappy for a boat ride, too crappy to play croquet, but NOT to crappy to wizz around in the golf cart before taking a Sunday drive with the family (including Papa) into Chaska for ice cream. Later we headed back to Suburbia to see Gretch's sister Sam's new home and have a BBQ with them in Columbia Heights.

The cloudy skies on Monday made the mood right to finally do our post-garage-sale-garage clean up. By 4 pm we could all park in the garage again. Mission Accomplished!!! After, it was time for some backyard baseball, a crock pot of ribs, and Sundae's on a Monday for dessert before bed! (Do you see a trend her with the ice cream?)

Thank you to our blessed troops and milatary personnel for your service to our country.
We honor you - young and old or gone before.

Dance

Marly took dance lessons this year at a small, non-competitive dance studio in Fridley called N' Motion. This Thursday through Saturday was the studio's recitals, hosted at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis.

Below is her family of fans.

 Her biggest fan is probably her twinner - Dean-o!

 Nana and Papa!

 Grandma and Grandpa!

 With her two pregnant (glowing) aunties!

 Me and my little girl!

In case you are curious, after pulling everything into the garage from our sale on Thursday (while Mark picke up the kids from Reading Workshop at school), I sprayed a ton of perfume on my sweaty body, smoothed and teased my hair, quickly wrangled Marly into her tights and costume, curled and pinned her hair in place, put make up on her, dressed myself, and sprayed more purfume on both of us. We jumped in the car, hit the McDonald's drive through, got half way to the theater... then discovered Marly's tap shoes were still at home....

....but it all worked out, as it usually does.

Baseball, Dance and a Garage Sale

So the Thomberg's have had a bit of a busy week, probably no different then you....

Monday morning - Mark left for a work retreat.
Tuesday at 5:30 pm - Marly had dance practice for her recital later in the week.
Tuesday at 7:00 pm  -Dean had his first little league game.
(Did I mention Mark was out of town for work?)
Dad???   Sorry....church council.
Kelly???? To the RESCUE!

She checked out of work a little early, and made for a smooth flow on Tuesday evening. While I headed to the Ritz Theater in NE Mpls for the N' Motion practice, Dean hit the field. Take a look through the lens of Auntie's camera....

Dean overhead talking to the coach, "Can you please put me somewhere the ball won't hit me?"

Hmmm.... not sure where he would get that from......

And the REST of the week.

Wednesday afternoon - Mark returned.
Wednesday eve - We cancelled Marly's reading tutor session, and I worked on garage sale prep.
Thursday - The alarm went off at 5 am to get ready for the garage sale.
Thursday at 4:45 pm - I drug stuff in the garage from the sale while Mark picked up the kids from reading workshop at school.
Thursday at 7 pm - Marly's Dance Recital.
Friday - Garage Sale day two!

ALL OF THIS BEFORE THE WEEKEND!
(and as of Monday, Mark and I still haven't seen a game, due to the recital and rain postponement.)

Mother's Day 2013

And a review of past Mother's Day Posts...

Mother's Day 2012
Mother's Day 2011
Mother's Day 2010
Mother's Day 2009
Mother's Day 2008

and finally, my first Mother' Day.......

I think Chris and Dad and Mark's mom and dad came for mimosa brunch on our townhome patio. I think I served this deliocous egg dish from a Byerly's recipe, with some sort of novel, delicious cheese. Later,  we went to Lake Calhoun to relax, and went to Wagner's Drive-In, while the kids vegged in their backward facing car seats. I think I look a little tired!!! What do you think???