Life couldn't be sweeter!

Happy 4th!
We arrived at the Lutsen cabin at 11pm last night (the night before the 4th)… it was a late night for everyone. Parker and Ellie went to bed at midnight. Hadley and Nevaeh dozed off at 1:30am and all of us adults went to bed around 3:30am. Yawning now…
Today we are just going to relax and make some yummy food. We hope to go into Grand Marais for fireworks at dusk. The girls have explored the rocks down by the shore, and they even figured out a creative way to swim.

Hadley swimming in the rock indents at the little red cabin Lake Superior shoreline.

A little later…
So we just finished a delicious lunch that consisted of brats, beans, italian pasta salad and fruit. We are all full and the big girls need to get down for a nap. Ellie just woke up from a 3 hour nap (oh and I took a nap with Ellie for a hour, nice!) and Park 'o Lark needs to maybe take a little snooze in a hour or so. Shanessa and I have showered, and we are going to Lutsen for a bloody mary!

Evening review…
While Shanessa and I were at Lutsen a storm started to roll in… bummer, but is felt amazing to put on a light sweater. We enjoyed our bloody mary and picked up some beer for at the cabin. When we got back the girls were still asleep. We started the grill and had a beer while we prepared garlic pork tenderloin along with teriyaki roasted red potatoes and strawberry spinach salad. I also worked on a layer red, white and blue jello throughout the day for dessert. Our 4th of July dinner was amazing! The girls had a red, white and blue kiddie cocktail too! The rain continued on and off and around 8ish it was off. So we decided to try the fireworks in Grand Marais. We found a great spot by the harbor, Parker and Ellie threw rocks for an hour while waiting for the sun to go down. Hadley, Neveah, Robert and Geoff went for a walk to the light house. Thunder was heard over head and the rain was on again. We boogie out of there and found the Dad's and big girls. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the fireworks over our heads at the harbor, however we could see the fireworks in the distance, the rained slowed so we pulled over along side the road and watched the fireworks from afar. We could even hear the echoing booms.

Kiddies 4th of July Cocktails

Red, White and Blue Jello!

The cutest little 4th of July kiddos ever!

The day after the fourth…
After another late night we got up and had a glorious breakfast. The sun was shining and we had a little bonfire on the rocks while the girls swam in rock puddles again. Ellie and Parker took their morning nap when they awoke we ventured into town to eat lunch at Sven and Ole's pizza. Simple pleasures are found in Grand Marais and one is Sven and Ole's pizza. They have this lunch special that consists of a slice of pizza, a salad and a soda for $4.59. This deal can't be beat. I went with sausage while Hadley and Ellie had a slice of cheese each. Yummy! Afterwards we split up for a bit, the dad's took the little ones while the mom's spent some shopping time with the big ones. Hadley and Neveah both found a headband. Then we came up empty throughout the next few shops. We met up again with everyone and Shanessa and I took all four so Robert and Geoff could have a bloody mary at the Gun Flint Tavern. Another simple pleasure! The girls and Parker explored further and we found a kid friendly resting spot at a art and craft store. While there Hadley sprouted a pink hair for $3 and off we went to another shop. We were found by Robert and relieved of our parental duties to enjoy the simple pleasure of a bloody mary at the tav. While we were sipping our scrumptious spicy mary's the guys took the kids to the World's Best Donuts for yet another simple pleasure. And, sigh… Robert even thought to buy an extra one for me. How sweet!

Matching headbands. I see future shoppers!

Robert and Geoff golfed Superior National, and they loved it! While they golfed we hung at the cabin and then we played at the park with the kids. Both of us Mommy's were really tired but we wanted to get out and about to do something.

That night we relaxed, made an adult dinner which happened at 10 pm... But it was worth it. We stayed up later again and enjoyed the beautiful evening weather.

Friday...
Shanessa, Geoff, and the kids... left us... it was about noon. I cried a little... it was such a blessing to have them join us. We all get along so well. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay another night, I was actually thinking maybe we should leave. Well we didn't, however that day was a rainy day, we (Hadley and I) went to town for a bit, then we came back, Hadley napped with her sister.. then we  made some grilled bbq chicken with salad for dinner. It was nice day and evening just bittersweet since it was getting so close to being over.

Saturday... we decided to stay... we relaxed, spent some time on a quiet beach, had Sven and Ole's pizza, made a great dinner at the cabin and packed what we could to get an early start Sunday.

Sunday... home... not too excited, however... it was a nice car ride and the girls really missed gramie and papa..., we brought them straight there and they spend the night. I had to study for a bones test. Not what I wanted to do! Thanks for the wonderful and amazing 6 days and  5 nights away.