Fall Getaway

Each and every year, we eagerly look forward to the Fall season, and coming up the North Shore to take in the beautiful fall colors! The combination of the vibrant fall colors, and the spectacular views of Lake Superior really make a person feel alive! :)

Many of my fondest childhood memories were made on the North Shore, with my family! It is a pleasure to "relive" some of those memories, now, with my own little family, and to re-experience those same joys all over again...but through the eyes of my children! I hope we continue, as a family, to create many, many more memories along the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior!

So, a couple of weeks ago, we, along with my parents, rented a log house--called "Grey Havens"--in Lutsen for a few days. We had a wonderful time...we would have gladly stayed a few more days!! Dad and Mom were a wonderful addition to our family vacation!! The kids couldn't get enough of them!! :) And, of course, I'm sure the feeling was mutual!! ;)

We hiked, ate, relaxed, hiked some more, played, read books, talked, ate again........did I mention it was wonderful??!

A sneak peek into our fall getaway........

View of Lake Superior from the living room window

Drive up to Caribou Lake trail

Fox (in the parking lot at the start of the Caribou Lake outlook trail) that was a bit too comfortable around people! Very pretty, though!
As soon as we walked away, he was right back in the parking lot!
This short hike is one of our favorites....amazingly beautiful colors!
Outlook over Caribou Lake....it was cloudy and hazy, but beautiful, nonetheless!
Grandpa and Jesse
Mom and Dad
Family photo
Just for fun :)
Beautiful little spot on our way back from Caribou Lake

Daddy was tired from carrying Jackson in the backpack baby carrier while hiking!! :)

GRAND MARAIS!

What's better than skipping..er, throwing rocks??!
A "Jacob photo"!
DOG PILE!
Yay for all smiles!!! :)
Samantha cheering because she just beat Grandpa in tic-tac-toe!!
Grandpa's favorite hike....he's not biased, I promise!! ;)
Glorious!!
One of the outlooks on Oberg mountain
our little Sam
"Oh, noooooooooooooooooooo.........!"
Spectacular views from Oberg Mountain
Our little hikers did great!!
Watching some "Bear Grylls--Man vs. Wild" with Grandpa

GOOSEBERRY FALLS

This pic. should have come before the nap photo, I think
I had my turn! Heavy little dude!
Daddy took each child for a turn, (across the mouth of Temperance River) to touch the rock on the other side. The kids thought it was GREAT! The water was NOT warm. As a matter of fact, I treated my legs to a nice ice bath just feet away--to soothe the aches from all the hiking/carrying--while Daddy gave those turns!! :)
"Watch!" (Aaron--not one of the kids--says to me!!)

Jacob's love for climbing shone forth this trip! He wanted to climb every ledge/shelf rock we drove past!

DATE NIGHT!

Dad and Mom very generously offered to watch the grandkids for an evening, while Aaron and I went on a date. On our way to Grand Marais (a 20-minute drive from the house we were staying in), Aaron was very thoroughly scanning the ditches, left and right, looking for any deer, moose, bears...you know, the usual!! ;) Suddenly, Aaron exclaimed, and lo and behold, a MOOSE! No.... TWO moose! We had to do a u-turn to go back and see them, (we parked in a little turnaround), and very excitedly and quietly climbed out of the van, camera in hand, to get a better look! It was quite the experience!

Our date? The end! No, just kidding. But, seeing the two moose was definitely a highlight!!

We enjoyed some of the famous Sven and Ole's pizza, while taking in a game of small town trivia while waiting for our pizza....

It was a great time! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the opportunity for a little time away!!
They never once took their eyes off of us....we maybe should've been worried?!

PALISADE HEAD/SHOVEL POINT
pull-ups! Jackson and Samantha thought this was GREAT fun!!
See how the roots of those trees are wrapped around that rock?!
Where the arch fell
THE END :(