Fawn Doe Rosa

 To end our fun mini- vacay at Ryan and Kristie's family cabin in Osceola, WI... we hit Fawn Doe Rosa Wildlife Educational Park.

We had 3 toddlers under 25 months (it would have sounded more fun to say under 2, but the big #2 just passed). It's a great park that boasts a good amount of wandering room for the animals and many of them are just wanderin' around so you can pet them! We had a great time thanks to our great friends who introduced us to this place!

And even more Minnesota!!

We spent over a month in the great north so of course, more pictures! We were able to spend some time with family, hit some other pools in the area, and get our "play" on in the woods at a friend's cabin too!

Having fun with Grandma Karina (and in Grandma's homemade rompers)!

Me and Lucy at a cabin in Osceola, WI

Enjoying the sun at the new Como Park Pool

Maybe not everyone:)

Having fun with Grandpa!

I can't believe they are TWO!

Everyone says time flies with kids, and I know they are only two, but it feels like it has whizzed by! Of course the weird thing about time is that it also feels like the day they were born was so long ago... how does that work?

We planned a birthday celebration in just a few days and I think we pulled it off. I went park hunting a few days before the big event (on July 22) with the girls in tow. We were looking for a place where we could have a BBQ, that was easy to get to, and had a playground (doesn't sound too hard right?). Well, it was a little more complicated with all the summer festivals and fun-runs going on, translating to neighborhoods and streets blocked off; to top it off I94 was shut down for several miles as well.

Needless to say we made it work. We decided on Minnehaha Falls Park. The Wabun picnic area had everything we wanted and more. There were picnic tables amidst tall trees- not one but two playgrounds right next to each other, and as a bonus, there was a great wading pool with a fountain to boot!

The next challenge we had to conquer was how to make sure we got one of the two picnic areas that I had my heart set on. So... even though the party didn't start until 12, I woke up, got a latte, and headed over to the park at 8:30AM. I got the spot. It's a good thing I did, as about 15 minutes later someone came over and respectfully said she was bummed out because she was aiming for the same place.

I set everything up with table clothes, balloons, flowers, set out the bowls and plastic ware, set up the toy area- then it started to rain. Of course:) I succeeded in getting everything to a dry place and then Dave came to take over the "watching of the table". I went back, got the ladies, and we arrived around 11:30.

Our spot in the park-- I think Luna might be dipping into the cake early!

Stella and Lucy with their birthday boas getting ready to party!

Lucy having her cake and eating it too.

Stella and the huge balloon

The five ladies... kickin' it in the 2 inch deep water at the wading pool

We had a great time! We had a good number of folks that were able to make it- which was great on such short notice:) Thank you to our family and friends, and family friends who came to help us celebrate the big number TWO x2!!

Northern Minnesota... finally!!!

It had been almost 2 years since we were able to stay at good ol' Twin Pines. Whenever we would travel back to Minny, the stay would be too short to be able to go... there were already too many things to do and people to see in the cities.

I was elated that it worked out this time. We were able to enjoy it up there (and the great 70-80 degree weather) for 10 days! Dave worked remotely from the cabin and various coffee shops, so unfortunately he did not have as much time to enjoy, but on the flip side, the fact that he even could work remotely was in our favor.

We stopped in Mooselake on the way up to celebrate the fourth of July and then continued on to the "Little House". Here are a few shots of our trip!

Stella, Avery, & Lucy on July 4th

Stella checking out the bug collection jar

Its hard to stop running after coming down the driveway!

Master teepee builders

Luna, Lucy, Nico, Stella

That's where the boys are!!

Don't bother Mom!

Stella peeking through the stairs

Reading before bed... we've have those cabbage patch sheets since I was their age!

Brave Penny

Missy and Gus with a gaggle of assertive visitors!