Winter along the North Shore

Eric and I were able to get away last weekend, so we headed up to Duluth and spent 2 nights in a B&B (The Thompson House...Highly reccomend this place!!!).  Since Saturday started off warm, we headed up to Gooseberry Falls.  We enjoy taking the kids there every summer, but I've never seen it in the winter.  The week before most snow up north was melted, but the day we got into town....they had 5" of snow in Duluth and about 8-9" near Gooseberry.  It was stunning. 

 

We hiked around the Falls like usual, then hiked down to Lake Superior.  It was quite a hike through all the snow, but with 1 last day before the deep freeze we had to take advantage.  There were rollers coming into the shore....made me think of San Diego, only a bit colder.

 

Split Rock is closed in the winter, this is as close as I could get



Sunday morning before we left, I had to stop at Canal Park.....the warm water combined with the Frigid air made some really cool frozen steam.  A couple days later that part of the lake was frozen.  Really a beautiful sight!

Snow Day!!

Wow....I forgot all about our 1st big snow storm of the season!  Eric was out of town hunting when the storm rolled in.  We got about 12 inches of snow....started overnight, we woke up to about 6 inches.  Continued snowing all day long. Thank goodness we have a snowblower (along with my in-laws stopping to help me on their way back up north).  Before I got to work, the kids and I went out to play in the new fluff.

 



Bransons & Jellybean

Baby Jellybean....due in February.

 I was honored to shoot some pictures of Danielle and Phill before baby comes.  We had a beautiful (slightly cold) day at the cabin, so we headed out in the backwoods....the fresh snow made an awesome backdrop. 

Can't wait to meet our new niece!

 



Skiing

During our long weekend up north, we took a family trip to Ski Gull.  Blake was pumped to get on the slopes again, and Olivia was out for her 1st time skiing.  They both were bundled up and ready to go....and had a blast!  Olivia wanted to go faster with Eric, go figure with this wild child. Once this January cold snap is done, we'll have to get them out again.

 

Blake and Auntie Kiki ready to hit the slopes

The Whole gang....minus myself (taking pictures), Danielle (who can't ski while pregnant) and Denise.

Olivia waving to me as she comes down with Eric

Blake and his entourage

This is the life...

Christmas 2012

Long time....no update!

 

Christmas has come and gone (a month ago now...for some reason blogger wasn't working right, I couldn't get pictures to upload).  We had a busy couple weeks, spent a long weekend up north and gotten back into our normal schedule. 

 

Grandpa Chuck and Grandma Denise worked hard building the kids gifts.  Blake got a really cool barn, stocked with animals.  Olivia got her Doll house book shelf for her room.