good bye black hawk

one of our final days at our little ski hill, which has turned out to be the perfect place to go after school, just to thrown down a couple turns before dinner! 

we will be back next year, for sure!!

totally normal

just another sunday. donuts and a massage train.

x country

 

besides alpine skiing this winter we also tried out x county skiing. it was quite the work out, but we all had so much fun! we just may have to add this sport to our winter list, especially because there is a golf coarse right down the street, which makes for a perfect spot to ski. i'm telling you, madison makes it so easy to get out and enjoy the outdoors!

after school silliness

 

the kids are enjoying playing with uncle troy (he's been ryder's roommate for the past month...it's the dude room!),  he certainly brings out the silliest behavior in all of us!

Home days are the best!

quinn needed some extra sleep and just a "home day" last week....i find those days as important as "school" days! we made cookies, read books, had tea, went grocery shopping, and also had time to make homemade lavendar lotion (the best stuff ever!).

ice caves, lake superior (part 2)

this is where Elsa lives! so amazing

ice caves-lake superior

finally got around to putting up the pics from our epic trip to the ice caves, located on the shore of lake superior.
although the weather wasn't ideal, and we had one kid that was just getting over a fever, we still managed to rally and head out for this crazy adventure (jesse had a lot to do with this!)
we met grandmama and grandpapa in bayfield on saturday, ate at our favorite pub, maggies, to get a super delicious fish sandwich before we headed out onto the lake. the weather on that day was -25 with the wind chill, so we were a little nervous about how this was going to turn out.
after our bellies were full, we bundled up and drove to meyers beach (fortunately the chilly temps kept a few thousand people home so we were able to park fairly close to the lake, on a warmer saturday people were having to park a few miles away!).
we packed lots of hand warmers and toe warmers, snacks for the kids, water, goggles, blankets, and the we also had a chariot to pull the kids in, when they needed to get out of the cold.
after a mile or so hiking along the shoreline, we got the the caves. the kids immediately started exploring every nook and cranny (like little penguins). i had so much fun following them, seeing things i would have missed otherwise.
we all were amazed, like really really amazed. what a special place......and it was wonderful to share this unique experience with not only my kids and jesse, but with my parents! now that's a good memory!
this is just another reminder of how amazing this land is, it just makes me love it so much more!
so although i was hesitant to make the trip, and the weather wasn't perfect, nor were the roads (that is another story), i am glad we did it:)