We've had quite an eventful couple of weeks around here, between tornado-like conditions ripping our neighborhood's trees to shreds and causing a more than 24-hour power outage, to a certain 3 year old sticking a peanut up her nose requiring an urgent care visit, to that same 3 year old's very first (of many if she's anything like me!) manicure at the nail salon!

So yes, on Monday of last week there were "straight line winds" ravaging our neighborhood which tore limbs from trees and uprooted large pines from the ground. Trees in both the front and back of hour house were damaged, leaving several large branches on the lawn, and others hanging over the roof of our house. Needless to say we had to have a tree service come out and clean everything up, which was a nice, unexpected drain on the old bank account. Gotta love that! The storm that accompanied said straight line winds left our neighborhood without power for about a day and 1/2, which I don't do well with. I lose all reason and rhyme, causing me to freak out inside my head and not be able to sleep or think straight. I don't know why it happens, but every time we lose power I lose my mind! Luckily we only had to get ourselves and two kids ready in the dark ONE morning. Poor DJ stayed home on Tuesday to deal with securing the tree guys and pick up the yard and I went into work late looking like the cat drug me in. We were so glad to get everything cleaned up and vowed to put the beginning of the week behind us!

The day prior was a lovely Sunday on which DJ played golf with his college buddies while I spent a super fun day with the girls, who were VERY well behaved. We played dress-up, went to Target went out to lunch, then hit the YMCA splash pad for some playtime. All was well and we were in the car on our way home for nap time around 2pm when I heard a little voice say "Mommy, look what I did." I turned around in my seat and saw that Addison had shoved a piece of the chewy peanut granola bar she was eating up her nose. All I could think was "Oh shit, I'm going to have to take her to the emergency room." I pulled over and tried to pull the bar out of her nose, only to cause it to recede further up her nostril. Then the blood started flowing, and I started to panic. Attempting to remain calm, but likely not doing a good job at all, I wiped up the blood and peered up her nose. Yup, a little peanut chunk was way up there, way too far for me to try to dig out. I headed to the urgent care clinic which is in the same building as the girls' pediatrician, and what ensued was a clown show. Both girls had fallen asleep on the ride there, but promptly woke up as I razzed them out of the car. Both were on fire from that moment on. We walked into the clinic and Addison immediately ran up to the first person she saw and started talking to her - everything from "what's your name" to "here, read this book", to "look what's up my nose", to "this is my mommy and this is my baby sister". She was the hit of that damn urgent care, causing every Tom, Dick and Harry in the joint to laugh and coo. She was hopping all around telling people she was a kangaroo and was especially latched on to some guy named John who was attempting to read a book, but to no avail. Wow, talk about exhausting. When we finally got called into the room (and the nurses practically fighting over who would take her vitals, etc. because she had hugged all of them by now and told them she loved them), she was all smiles and dried blood. Isla said hi to everyone and finally the doctor came in. He was an older man with kind of puffy hair in the front. What do you think the first thing Addison said to him was? She patted his head, laughed and said "Doctor, I ike your hair, it's funny." Oh boy. Anyway, by the time he examined her the peanut had dislodged itself, so it was a painless, though time-consuming, adventure.

This weekend was MUCH more pleasant, with time spent at the beach, the park, in the yard and last but not least, at the nail salon! I knew I was only going in for a quick polish change, so I thought I'd take Addison along because at least she'd entertain the nail ladies as well as all the patrons getting their toes polished. And she did just that, prompting the owner to claim that Addison could have a free polish WITH a flower next time she came in. :) It was a riot. Orange was her color of choice, but by the time we got home she was screaming to have it removed. Oh well, baby steps.

Grandma Pam arrives late tomorrow night to spend the week with the girls since Brenda is on vacation. Addison can't wait to see her, and I'm sure everyone will have a blast!

At the dryer

She had a little trouble splaying her hand out for the girl to paint

Naked water table fun

Both girls are covered in bug bites :(

Beach chair babes

Addison wanted me to take a picture of her "sharing" with Isla

Isla in her yellow bikini at the splash pad

Poor baby...see the dried blood? This was on the way to urgent care

After the storm

Sugarloaf Weekend

Finally! At long last we made it for the annual Sugarloaf weekend at Logan and Kerri's, and boy, it was all we expected and more! We left bright and early on Friday morning and headed out for what could be a 3.5 hour drive with no stops, but with someone who has to pee every hour (me) and 2 little people who get antsy and need to jump out once in a while, it took us about 4.5 hours. We arrived to perfect conditions (rare up there - usually much cooler) of about 85 degrees and sunny and couldn't believe how special this place is. I don't know exactly how big the plot of land is, but it sits RIGHT on the gorgeous rocky shores of Lake Superior, which looks much more like an ocean than a lake. There is a "main house" up near the top of the road, and then 4 "cabins" down below - a hot tub/sauna cabin, a "gathering cabin" with a big kitchen, dining room table and a bunch of couches, and then 2 "sleeping cabins." We had envisioned super rustic cabins with bunk beds and the like, but what we found were the cutest, most quaint, but fully stocked and amenitied cabins I have ever seen. We were sharing a cabin with Tim (Gilly), and ours had 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a full kitchen and living room area. Logan's dad has apparently done a ton of work to all of the buildings on the land, including renovating the little kitchens and bathrooms. Just perfect! It sat right on the water, so at night with the windows wide open it sounded like you were right on the ocean.

The group at Sugarloaf consisted of 11 adults and 9 kids - sounds like a lot, but it was a pretty intimate group. The weekend was so entirely relaxing, even with the kiddies running around everywhere. Addison and Isla had a BLAST - they both loved going in the hot tub and throwing rocks along the shore. There's a secret little pathway that leads to a tree with a tiny door in it which is their make believe elf land. The kids leave notes for the elves and the adults write back - too funny. We had bonfires with marshmallows, great, no AMAZING food (love this group because we all appreciate delicious food and cocktails and wine), DJ played golf and I even snuck in a massage at a spa up the road a but. A client of Natalie's represents this spa so we had to check it out for research purposes;). It stormed on Saturday, and while the guys golfed (yes, even in the crappy weather), the girls hunkered down in the gathering cabin with the kids and played games, had a dance party and prepped dinner. So fun.

Naps were hit or miss for the girls due to all the excitement surrounding them, but they crashed out all night and Addison even slept on a couch without any issues or falls. Sunday greeted us with another gorgeous day, so it was unfortunate to have to leave. I just love lake living - such good memories for the whole family. The drive back was a breeze since both girls slept for about half the time. That's the way to do it! We can't wait to go back next year....

Fast asleep on the ride up

Addison pretending to sleep
Smiley face

I had to get a close-up of her little fangs

We stopped at a place on the way up that had these huge chairs out front

Addison wasn't so sure

But she insisted on posing on this rock!

Beautiful day when we arrived - this is the beach where the bonfire pit is

Side view of our cabin

This is the view away fron our cabin, towards the other threeIsla checking out the hot tub

Addison called it the "hot pool"
She surprised us by being pretty adventurous on the rocks - the kid is a climber!

Natalie and Gus
or Baby Goose, as Addison calls hin - notice he's wearing her Crocs! He loves shoes....Addison at the little kitchen table in our cabinour little kitchenBonfire!I found Addison sitting on the swing on Saturday morning just staring out at the lwaves on the lake
Hangning out in the gathering cabin - this place had so many games!Clea - the oldest kid in the bunch at 9 years old - is the greatest helper and sweetest girl; Isla loves her!Throwing rocksEven Miss Isla got in on the actionNow, doesn't that look like the ocean?

The kids had full run of the land!Adelle and AddisonConnect Four!Isla and Gus

Saturday night dinner - adult version - kids had Tracy's awesome grilled cheese! Addison on her couchAnother beautiful morningIsla loved petting Logan and Kerri's dog Miles