Addison & Isla

The 4th of July, or a weekend around that time, marks our annual "Gilly Cabin Weekend", which is an adults-only, 3 day weekend hosted by our friend Tim Gilson (Gilly) at his parents' cabin up on Bone Lake in Wisconsin. A quick hour and a half drive makes this the ideal distance for a cabin weekend getaway. We couldn't have dreamed of better weather, which makes the experience that much better than when it's crappy out. DJ and I headed out on Friday morning and got up to the cabin in time to join Tim on the boat for a little swim before the rest of the Friday crowd arrived. This year we had a small intimate group, which at this age and juncture in my life, I MUCH prefer to the days of old when it was complete mayhem...this was prior to most people having children as even a glint in the eye.

Friday night we were teamed up with Natalie and Jeff to make dinner, so we put together a Mexican feast of tilapia and steak tacos with all the fixings and a huge Southwest salad. A really quick storm actually blew through on this night, knocking out power and forcing us to eat by candlelight (Citronella candles, that is) which was fun and something we hadn't had to do before. After dinner we hung out and then headed over to the greatest Townie Bar on the planet. Now, this term is something I learned when I moved to Minnesota, but it refers to that type of place where you walk in and people turn to stare because A.) You don't look like you just walked out of the trailer park after a day of boozing and smoking (and ironically, this bar is located on a trailer park "resort!), and B.) You're with an entourage of people who are clearly from the "city". It's the type of place where 12 year olds are bussing the tables in the bar, and 6 year olds are running around until 1am while their parents are yucking it up on the dance floor. It's the place where local cougars looking for love hit on the city boys who breeze through the door, or young "townies" (locals, really) throw up on themselves and/or their muffin-top girlfriends after taking too many shots of Jaagermeister. Totally and completely bizarre, although incredibly funny and entertaining, truly the best people-watching ever. On Fridays they usually have a DJ with Karaoke, and Saturday night usually consists of a band. Funnily enough, they actually get some pretty good bands that come from far and wide!

Saturday was GLORIOUS and sunny, not a cloud int he sky and was kicked off with a delicious breakfast followed by an entire day spent on the boat, sunning, swimming and sipping cocktails. A couple more people/couples arrived, and dinner that night was out of this world delicious. Chicken and ribs with cornbread and broccoli slaw. For some reason everything tastes better at the cabin. On Sunday we always have a golf scramble tournament which is just the way I like to play golf - 9 holes, no pressure, tons of fun and bloody marys galore. We have a tradition of being on a "team" with Natalie and Jeff, and we usually win! It might be because DJ is an insanely good golfer, but Jeff really hit it out of the park this time around. We always have the best time, and tend to get silly.

After golf we headed back to the cabin to eat lunch, clean up/pack up and ended up heading out in the afternoon. It's always so sad that day as friends slowly start to depart, but we know we'll do it again, and in actuality, we'll be with almost the same crew at ANOTHER cabin weekend (this time with all the kiddies) up on the North Shore at our friend Logan's parents resort (Yes, they bought an entire resort) in a couple of weeks. It was SOOO good to see the girls when we got home and we spent a wonderful family day together at Cedar Lake Beach (near our house) on Monday. It doesn't get dark here until 10/10:30pm, so no fireworks were in order due to the girls being long in bed by that time, but the 4th of July was a great and relaxing weekend.

This is a shot of a house next to Gilly's parents - it's my favorite

DJ heading down to Gilly's dock from the cabin

A pontoon on the lake

The boys at Wilkins

2 of the classy bartenders at Wilkins - where drinks are like $2!

Me and Jeff on the dance floor

Natalie, Tracy and Brian

A shot of some of the Wilkins patrons

Gilly on stage for karaoke - he loves it!

This was one of the drunkest douches I've ever seen - he wanted to compare biceps - I won

The DJ on Friday night - another character

DJ and Jeff

DJ and Tracy cuttin' a rug!

This little child thought I was 25 - had to take a picture with him; it happens every year...there are these 21 year olds trying to dance with all of us 30-something ladies, and when we ask them to guess our age, it's something within the 20's. Remember when 35 seemed impossibly old? So impossibly old that you wouldn't even guess someone was actually 35? Yikes

Dj and Christine on the boat - Saturday

Jeff MAY have had a few drinks when he put this sunscreen on

Dinner on Saturday night

Bonfire after dinner

There were some really cool fireworks on Saturday night, but this is all I got!

Sunday morning view of the cabin

Coffee on the dock

Tee time!

Whoever heard of a port-a-potty company called "El Stinko?" HA! This became Jeff's nickname going forward

I totally sunk a putt in this shot!

Family day at the Lake - July 4th

Yes, this is typically what happens when I attempt to golf

"El Stink0!"

Swoosh! Look familiar? Addison enjoyed the same thing!

The water-scoot!

What a perfect time for Uncle Grant and Aunt Stacy to come into town! The California Kids arrived the weekend of June 25th to help us celebrate Addison's birthday and spend a few days in the Twin Cities area seeing friends and going to some ball games at the new Twins Stadium (one of which we attended with them!) before heading out to the lake for several days with Stacy's family. Our big girl turns 3 on July 2nd, but we decided to throw a party a week early to take advantage of more family being involved.

We started talking to Addison about her birthday a few weeks before...she definitely knew she was turning 3 and that there would be a party. Whenever we asked her what kind of a cake she wanted, she declared that she would like a blue spider cake. That's where my idea for a "Bugs and Butterflies" theme started...that and the fact that Addison LOVES all bugs. I couldn't just let it stop at a blue spider!

So what started as a blue spider on a cake turned into so many fun things - a bug-filled yard sign that said "Happy 3rd Birthday Addison!", tiny butterfly, bug and flower decorations covering the tables, bug and butterfly lollipops popping out of brightly colored stone-filled vases, bee and ladybug hats for the kids to wear on their "bug hunt adventure" and party-favor bags filled with bug and butterfly related activities, books, stickers, etc. Who knew there were so many bug and butterfly products out there! The cake turned out so beautifully, executed to perfection by the bakers at Byerly's. DJ literally walked in there with my specifications for the cake (requirements in technical terms, a term that now oddly resonates with me because I am a project consultant working with the HR technology team..HA!!! Me and technology!), and they did not disapoint - they turned my requirements into the cake I envisioned. Addison was in hog heaven, and the kids truly had a good time. Despite a brief moment of sprinkles, the weather was warm, the food was yummy and everyone had a great time.

We're sad that we won't be around for Addison's actual birthday on July 2nd (kid-free annual cabin weekend at Tim's!), but feel good about the fact that we had a proper celebration foe her, followed by yet another family celebration at Ba and Nana's the next night. We're very much looking forward to Addison's 3rd year - she continues to grow into a beautiful, kind, smart and hilariously funny young lady. We're so lucky and we love you so much Addison!!!!

The first thing the girls did when Grant came upstairs in the morning was attack him! They love new people to monopolize :)