My boys.

We left Harrison for the first time when he was about 10 months old. I had a couple of trial runs overnights without him before then but for the most part at 10 months that was the BIG trip. We left him again around 21 months for a second big trip.

I somehow felt like I was practiced up doing this the second time since we have already done it before. Laying in bed last realizing I hadn't even been a night without him since his birth last October (insert tears). We hadn't done any trial runs or anything. Probably the biggest mistake, especially since we are going to be gone 9 days.

While we venture off to our first couple's vacation since becoming a family of 4 everywhere makes you stop and think what a beautiful family we have and it all started with this little (big) thing we have called love.

I know its healthy to take time off work, raising kids and just to be that young (older now) couple in love again.

It's so hard to turn off  your "mom hat" and put on the "non mom hat." As long as we keep a busy pace we'll be able focus on us for a few days and know our boys will be taken care of in the best possible way.

 

Thinking of you boys..

 

 

 

Love, Mommy

 

Duluth DAY TWO: Aquarium, Canal Park, The Edge

We read a lot of reviews about the Duluth Aquarium. A lot of reviews read, "too expensive," "too small," "not enough to do." Well, we are here to set the story straight...it's non of the above. We loved our experience at the aquarium and totally worth the $26.00 admission for Doug and I (Harrison was still FREE).

Harrison was terrified by touching the stingray and fish, but enjoyed the sights from a far. He also got to watch a live fish feeding with scuba diver in the tank. My only regret is not taking more photos during our time there, but more importantly we spent time together as a family.

On our way up...



Meet the Lion Fish

This turtle was a bit like "Vanity Smurf" checking out his own reflection in the water...

But apparently he turned camera shy...

A few other water friends we saw...



Making 12 ft WAVES...Harrison's favorite exhibit!



After saying goodbye to the Aquarium we headed back to canal park to watch a boat come in and the lift bridge raise. We got a little extra bonus...two boats.

Feeding/Chasing the Seagulls...

Harrison was a little sluggish and ready for a nap until he saw the second boat coming in...

 Right before the rain poured down, it was another opportunity to puddle jump... He was begging to take off his shoes and dive in. I told you, this kid=water obsessed.

Just minutes after these were taken, we ran to car to escape the rain and Harrison fell asleep before we even backed out of our parking space. He slept for more than 3.5 hours. This is why day one and day two Duluth photos are already edited. :)

After a 5:45 PM wake up---We ended the night at "The Edge" indoor water park. The admission to the park? Let's not talk about that...and yes Harrison was an additional cost to the pass on top of not offering any nightly costs/fees like Wisconsin Dells resorts do. Was the price worth it? You can't put on a price on family memories, so what we gained from our time there as a memory and a family, totally worth the cost...but rating this as a overall resort...not worth the money; we would have chosen Wisconsin Dells any day over "The Edge." However, we all admit, the pizza? Delicious!

Harrison had a blast on slides and watching the big bucket dump and riding on lazy river.

"The Edge" experience is picture less, minus the one shot I shared on istagram. The camera was tucked away safely at the hotel. Water and cameras aren't like peanut butter and jelly.

It was another late night!

Still to come, more real life moments from day 3 and day 4...

to be continued...



Duluth DAY ONE: The Drive, Canal Park

The weather was a scorching 100 degrees as we pulled out of Winona to head up north 5 hrs to Duluth. We chose to do a mini vacation right in the middle of the second trimester of pregnancy since this is when most women feel at their prime of pregnancy. Your not too big or too exhausted or nauseous to be yourself and most of all you can chase after a 2 year old.


This was (is) perhaps Harrison's last vacation as "only child." We haven't decided what August has in store with pregnancy and financial changes I have with work, so we gave Harrison the all over the past four days. I sure hope this extra spoiling doesn't kick us in the butt now that we are settled back at home. Mentioning this being Harrison's last "solo" vacation, get ready for a series of vacation posts.

Get ready, get set, DAY ONE.

Thank goodness for the long holiday week. The local pool opened up at 10 am all week, so we jumped at the early opportunity to hop in the pool and wear out Harrison for the long drive. We left town by 1:00 PM, Harrison was asleep by 1:03... Apparently our strategy worked.

At just after 3:30 we stopped at the Veterans cemetery to visit Great-Grandpa Herold. Harrison loved the bell music that struck at 4PM.

At just about 6:00 we made it to our hotel, checked in and headed to dinner at what Harrison termed, "Apples" (Apple Bees). He was all smiles, Doug and I were thoroughly impressed with his car riding ability (which hasn't been anything to boast about since birth). But this happiness and smiles was short lived as it was followed by the worst dining experience EVER. If he wasn't trying to jump on the seat, he was climbing in the window sill, making loud obnoxious noises or just not eating more than two of his fries. Just when you think you passed a phase----WHAM it hits you like a brick. Doug ended up carrying Harrison out of "Apples" kicking and screaming as I finished paying the bill. I walked out hanging my head low as to not make eye contact with anyone near our table. If there would have been a microphone available I would have took a moment to apologize to everyone within 100 ft of our table. At this point, I was ready to pack the car back up and head back home, but instead we took the chance and headed down to Canal Park.

The weather was a sunny 85 degrees...perfect for skipping rocks, playing in the water fountains, watching the lift bridge, taking a walk on the board walk and sharing mini donuts. This all didn't go off without a hitch...Harrison was bound and determined to ride the 4 seater bikes and riding in the horse carriages (which we ended up doing later on in the trip). The night ended late with a bedtime past 11 PM.

 An evening view...

Showing off his muscles...

I maybe bias, but this shot may just be the cutest photo I've ever edited. LOVE.

The fountains...

 Yep, same old kid test tasting the water...

Leaving you with this view...The first click of the camera of the start of this trip.

to be continued...

Great Wolf Lodge (Wisconsin Dells)

I can't believe how much of difference it makes going from one to two years old. I am trying to put together in words just how awesome this last weekend was together as a playmate, mother and family of three.

Honestly I look at this kid some days and say, "Wow is this really my kid? He is so huge." I love his eagerness to try new things...and can't say enough about his temper and behavior in public. We can FINALLY go out to dinner again and not worry about him making a scene (well as often anymore) . He is getting to be such a good listener and honestly I love when other kids misbehave and cry around him, this is only because he looks at them with curiosity and then he glances at me for a little praise of "goodness," seeing that he is behaving. Damn I just love, love, love this little boy!

Over the weekend we spent the weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells with the Raadt family who are co-workers and friends of ours. They have an adorable little boy Micah who has the longest curly eye lashes you have ever seen! Micah just turned one in January.

We stayed Friday and Saturday night and got home later on Sunday. For me...I turned the weekend vacation into a 5 day vacation from work. Doug took off Monday, so he had 4 weekend, but all in all Harrison beat us both in taking 6 days off of daycare.

I didn't realize how many photos I took on our weekend stay, but it was FAR, FAR more than I anticipated, imagine that. :)

Here are some photos from recapping our mini vacation. As for a BIG vacation, we are thinking of taking Harrison on his first cruise ship in a few months. But, I would love to buy a boat, so do we save up to buy that? Doug grew up on a lake and I grew up spending the summers at my grandparents home right on the river. We both have so many good memories of growing up with water, we would love to have Harrison experience a piece of us. I am SO indecisive about things sometimes... I am sure this is one of the many things and I am Doug loves about me.

Now, enough words---here are some (or a lot) of peeks from the weekend.

Yep, this kid still loves to taste water.

Splashing with Daddy

He went down these slides all by himself!

We added a little Mickey Mouse :)

Apparently someone had too much fun...

 Apparently both boys had too much fun... Kristi and I came back from riding a few water slides and found this. ADORABLE!

 We stopped back at Buffalo Phil's restaurant again this year and look who made an appearance.

For those that don't know Buffalo Phil's---food and drinks comes delivered to your table on trains like this. What two year wouldn't love this? Heck, I am 20 something and still get a thrill out of this.

 Love this next photo (bubbles)---I even included myself in the mirror.

 After dinner and before story time at the tower Harrison and I (and Mr. Bear) enjoyed a sweet treat from the sweet shop.

We also had fun outlet shopping. Harrison cruised around in a car stroller rental that had been abandoned by someone (yeah, saved us $5...nothing wrong with being thrifty, heck we are already at a outlet). I made my co-worker Amy happy and traded in my "mom purse" for a smaller grey/powdery blue Coach purse. Harrison ended up with some adorable green Nike's and of coarse a trip to Baby Gap.

Stay tuned for my favorite photo from the weekend that I will post on my Linked 52 post on Friday. The theme this week is "spirit."

I am also due for a 27 month Harrison update (can't believe in just two months he will already be 2.5 years old), for now I am going to curl up my man and watch, "The Big Year." Talk about the BIG YEAR we are already having...I have to say it again, we love this little boy, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him!