Less sleep, but extra cuddles

It's been a rough week in our home as our little Bundle is not feeling so well. We think she is getting a few teeth and although she's never had an issue while cutting teeth before, this time it's different. Poor girl. I know she's not happy, but I wish I could take that pain away from her.

The sleepless nights are an adjustment for us, that's for sure, but I have been trying to take advantage of the extra cuddles that we are getting with Bundle. This too, shall pass... And once she's feeling better and running again, I know these special times of falling asleep with her in my arms will be something I long for.

It reminds me of the book "Let Me Hold You Longer" by Karen Kingsbury. I got this book from my husband last year for Mother's Day and I cry EVERY TIME I read it. Literally, every time. And I've read it dozens of times... A must read for all parents and a great Christmas gift idea too...

~Angela

Duluth!

Duluth is one of my favorite cities. I vacationed there as a child until my family moved there permanently after I graduated from high school. Although I did not "grow up" there, I feel like it is the town I did my growing in. Duluth is where I graduated from college. Duluth is where I bought my first house.

Duluth is where I fell in love and I married my husband. I have great memories all over the city, from trail running on my lunch breaks and picnics by the waterfalls between jobs and as an art student, bring my sketchpad or paints or camera all over the city and catching the views from a new perspective. I adored my husband's place on Lake Superior where we had bonfires and watched the ships come in, where we watched shooting stars and walked along the sandy shoreline as we got to know each other better. I love the shopping, the views, the restaurants, the fresh air, the lighthouses, the trails. It is a special city.

My mom and brother still live in Duluth so I get back there often. While my husband was in Chicago running the Chicago Marathon with his brother, Bundle and I spent the weekend in Duluth. It has been such an adventure to explore the city with my little girl, seeking out the toys stores, the playgrounds, the shorline, stopping so she can smell the flowers in the rose garden and throw rocks in Lake Superior; all the things I still love.

I am not sure who had more fun at the playground- my brother, my little girl or me?!

My brother taking Bundle for a ride on the ship

She's fearless!

My brother had to try out the slide

Bundle LOVES slides. The bigger, the better!

Bundle did not want to waste valuable play time waiting for Mama to get down the slide!

Yay! My brother made it to the top!!

My mom, daughter and I also spent an afternoon at Enger Park, one of my favorite places in Duluth because of it's view of the city. I was excited explore the park with them!

The leaves were gorgeous and it was a picturesque day. Below is the entrance to the park:

I had visions of the three of us linked together walking through the park hand-in-hand...

And for awhile, that's exactly as it was, but my daughter is very independent...

and wanted to explore on her own.

She insisted on climbing to the top on her own, all 75 steps.

She was actually rather upset when we were at the top because she wanted to keep climbing,

She pouted for a few minutes until she realized we could go down all 75 steps we just climbed up! My little Bundle was a bundle of energy!

The view from the top was spectacular, see below:

~Angela

A Beautiful Autumn Day

I enjoyed a gorgeous run with my Bundle last week and took my camera with. I don't think the leaves have been this pretty for several years!

This was a fun time for both of us as Bundle loves trees and leaves and is learning her colors so she helped to point things out to me.

The run was less about getting the four miles in and more about enjoying the warm (such a treat in OCTOBER), sunny, beautiful fall day!

In a life where we're all racing through each day, we don't always make the time to enjoy the view, like the one above...

...or the street that was covered with leaves. We had a blast running (although it was a ton of work pushing the stroller) through these crispy crunchy leaves in our neighborhood.

~Angela

Make the time to enjoy the gifts of fall!

No Need To Cry Over Spilled Milk

As our daughter grows taller, we are realizing that she is able to reach more areas than ever before and we need to be more careful about where we put things. Case in point: One day last week I made the mistake of filling our daughter's milk glass and putting the milk in the fridge before putting the lid on the cup. She reached for the milk and proceeded to dump the entire contents of the cup on herself, then slipped and slided on the milk that fell to the hardwood floors in our kitchen.

Of course I felt terrible for her, but once I realized she was safe, I couldn't help but laugh as the tears mixed with the milk and tumbled off her face. There were lots of hugs and of course a fresh glass of milk, paper towels and the Shark steam mop and within no time, all was well in the world again (or at least our kitchen!)

Often, laughter can help you see through the tears and realize that there is really no need to cry over spilled milk...

~Angela

Enjoying the beauty of Lake Superior

A few weeks ago I had the priveledge of taking a trip with my husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law. We road tripped with them to the Keewanaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We stayed at Sand Hills Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast along the shore of Lake Superior, where my husband and I were engaged in May of 2005.

http://www.sandhillslighthouseinn.com/

This is a magical place for my husband and I because we were engaged there. I wondered if my in-laws would appreciate it as much as we do. Of course the memories are what makes is so special for us, but the breakfasts are to die for (although not for those on a diet!) and the evening desserts are something to look forward to all day. The evening piano music after watching the sun set from the lighthouse tower over Lake Superior is the best way to end the day. 

Sunset is my second favorite time of day (second only to sunrise, which sadly to say, I could not drag myself out of bed early enough to see during this trip!) and looking at a beautiful sunrise over water is an ever bigger treat! This picture was taken by my husband from the tower of the lighthouse.
We enjoyed visiting other lighthouses along Lake Superior's shores and shopping at the gift shops along the way. We had great conversations and enjoyed gorgeous fall colors in the car ride to our destination. We also collected rocks and driftwood. It was relaxing and one of the vacations that leaves you feeling rested and full of love...It was only fitting that I found more heart shaped rocks to add to my collection during this trip!

Well, I think my husband's parents loved it as much as we did! I think I even caught tears in my mother-in-law's eyes a few times. She cries like I do when I am overwhelmed with happiness and love:)

~Angela