The Covid Year Continues

In the fall, we spent a lot of time finding new hiking spots where we could check out the leaves. One of our favorite spots was the cliffs by St. Thomas. They have a neat ravine with forts to climb around in. We also liked other spots we found near the Mississippi River.

Over MEA weekend, we visited a smaller German community and went on a hike around the area. We also stopped at a fall outdoor art show.

We still participated in Halloween (covid style, of course). Many neighbors put out treats by hanging them from clotheslines, sticking them in the ground, or placing them at the end of their driveways.

The end of 2020 and start to 2021 was a welcome event. Everyone was looking forward to the new vaccination that would be available starting in February to our age group. The girls favorite gifts this year were their PJs that matched their stuffed animals and their glampor. Besides getting their own gifts, the girls filled baggies full of quick snacks for people without food.

We still tried to get out for a few events over the winter but mainly stayed indoors. We tried cross country skiing as a family for the first time and the girls loved it (although we don't have any pictures). In February, we had some really cold days. The girls braved the cold and went to see the Valentine's lights in downtown Stillwater.

In March, Dan and the girls took at trip to Wisconsin and Illinois to visit family and see the community where Dan grew up. They got to see the two houses Dan grew up in and visit with grandparents as well as Dan's aunt, uncle and cousin. They also visited the Amish "Walmart", the Madison zoo, the Milwaukee Natural History Museum, and Lake Michigan. Emma was excited to see some of the art she had learned about when they visited Chicago.

Once things warmed up, we took a family trip to Afton and camped in a yurt. The night was cold but we survived with a wood burning stove that was in the yurt. The hiking was wonderful and we hope to return there in the future (perhaps a bit further into May).

Besides camping, we were able to go on a hot air balloon ride the day before Easter. Everyone was a bit afraid when we saw how big the basket was that we would all ride in. After we were in the air, only the girls were afraid of the loud noise from the burners. As we descended, the balloon almost hit a tree. We landed in someone's backyard and the family came out to see what we were up to. Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Mark, Uncle Mike and Aunt Mara came to trail the balloon with their car. They took some nice photos for us and came out to greet us when the balloon finally touched back down.

Now we are into the month of May. The girls just gave their school performances for what was called, Chronological Quest. Emma dressed as Catherine Parr and Analise dressed as Princess Dido. Both girls did amazing when they performed for the whole school. They also participated in music concerts and an art show. Emma found out she will be playing clarinet next year in school. Analise is excited for water day and the final all school picnic. We have tons of summer plans that we can hardly wait to start.

Emma celebrated her birthday with family and a friend over on Memorial Weekend. There were lots of gifts to open and a large yard sign to celebrate the day. Since Covid made it hard for friends to gather this year, Emma and Analise will have a joint celebration with friends (Evelyn and Elsie)over the summer. We will be visiting Wild Mountina Water Park.

Together Again

Last weekend we gathered together with our friends, Patience and Mikea and Colleen and Mike. Our children have all grown up tremendously since we have been able to get them all together. We met at Central Park for some playground and waterfall adventures. It was great to catch up and find out where life has taken everyone.

Violet, Charolette, Evalyn, Claire, Audrey, Analise, Simon, Emma (where is Oskar?)

2020

2020 started off with us returning from our trip to Disney World.  The girls got a trampoline for Christmas from grandma Jan and grandpa Bruce.  Over the past months, the trampoline has been a way to unwind especially when the weather was not the nicest.  

Analise celebrated her sixth birthday in February.  Her friends came over for a snow themed party.  The kids played outside, painted pictures and jumped on the trampoline.  Analise wanted hot cocoa and ice cream for her birthday treats.

Snow birthday party!

When Dan traveled to India this year, both girls got violently sick and Erin had a tear on her cornea.  The whole family was suffering.  Dan had an elbow injury from skating that was very painful.  When Dan came back, we got another round of sickness.  Thankfully the sickness ended by the time we were ready for spring break from school.

It has been about half a year since we began our new life with the pandemic.  This past spring, the girls worked from home.  As a family, we were all lucky to still be able to attend school and have our jobs.  It was a stressful time and there were limited things to do beyond going for a walk or bike ride.  As a result, Analise learned how to ride her bike without training wheels.  Both girls had their first experience riding on the bike trails on their own bikes.  We also purchased a small swimming pool so the girls could swim every day.  Besides the pool, we walked and biked to the lake on almost a daily basis and fit in a few canoe trips.  We are lucky we live so close and the beach is sandy.

Our chore chart...To do, In the process, done

It lasted about a week.

Ani mastered the moon ball game and made it to the end space

An outdoor play for Erin's birthday

                                           The new window seat Dan built for the girls' room

Mini toad we found while walking in Stillwater

Stopping for a picnic dinner after some canoeing down by Hastings

We took a few family trips to Madison and the Iron Range.  While in Madison, we spent a lot of time on the boat swimming and fishing.  We also got to see some fireworks on the Fourth of July as well as lightning bugs.  Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bruce have a nice new house on the prairie and there are a lot of wild animals.  

Lots of swimming off the boat

Lots of Groundhogs...Erin put her head a bit too close to the silo.

In Mountain Iron, the girls got to visit where their great grandma Burrell had lived.  We swam in Mott Pitt, one of grandma Burrell's favorite places to swim.  Erin could feel grandma's spirit at the pit.  We also took photos outside of grandma's old house.  The neighbors came out and talked to us for a bit.  They still remembered her.  We toured the town and learned where grandma Kathy grew up.  Analise found some wild plum and crab apple trees.

The fall of 2020 started with hybrid learning.  The girls go 4 days a week to their regular classroom and a 5th day with the Tier one worker program in a distance format. 

 First Day of 3rd Grade and 1st Grade

This fall we are spending a lot of time outside biking and hiking.  We have visited a few apple orchards too.

Florida

We escaped the snowy Minnesota weather during the holiday season and visited Florida for five days.  The girls were excited to visit Disney World but in the end realized that they did not enjoy standing in lines and walking around all day.  The adults were more passionate about the beach and gulf.  While exploring the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, the girls enjoyed meeting Cinderella and Elena.  Emma's favorite rides were Pirates of the Carribean, Spinning Tea Cups and Frozen.  Analise liked Peter Pan, Frozen and the Crush the Talking Turtle.

Emma and Analise decided on the second day that we would only spend half a day at Epcot and that we would spend more time in the pool and venture to a nature preserve.  We did manage to make it to a nature preserve and got a surprise.  We were looking for alligators but Erin almost ended up stepping on a baby diamond back rattler.  It was small so we didn't think it was as dangerous.  However when we got back to the condo, Erin looked up information on the snake.  The babies are more dangerous because their venom is more potent and they tend to be the risk takers in the family.  So Erin decided for the rest of the trip she wouldn't be visiting any more nature preserves.  Now we know why many of the people were walking with dogs or walking sticks.  Our knowledge of ice and snow is superior but we are very unskilled when it comes to defending ourselves from the local Florida wildlife.

Vivian wants to see this castle Mommy.  Take a picture.

 Main Street decked out for Christmas

 Elena liked to close her eyes for the pictures just like grandma Kathy.  Finally got a good one.

Now if we could just get the girls close enough for a picture

Wildest Ride...Tea CUPS!!! 

After surviving Disney World with the crowds (Erin has never seen that many people walking in such small areas), we enjoyed exploring the beach.  Dan went on a jet ski while the girls and Erin took time to visit a giant inflatable water slide and sand bouncing activity.  We also got to view a sand sculpture contest and took a trip on a pirate ship.  The girls became pirates and discovered a hidden treasure while adults drank and danced on the deck.  While on the ship we saw dolphins swimming alongside the boat.

 Shell castle.  Why is Ani still wearing socks?

 The willing release of the water bottle that was just to heavy to carry over the bridge

Pirates Wanted...Will Train 

 I do Ski Do.

 Emma learns how to flip on the trampoline

The largest inflatable water slide

Erin was able to see a lot of life in the sea while out walking.  Somehow she captured images of stingrays and dolphins while everyone else slept in and missed the sea critters.  The best was the dolphin that was following her down the beach about 10 feet from the shore.

Shell and dolphin hunting

We were very thankful we missed all the rain and frozen roads that occurred while we were away.  We saw pictures of people skating down the sidewalks.  We were thankful our plane arrived in Minnesota safely and on time.

After such an exhausting trip, Dan and Erin agreed that we would not be taking a trip like that again for a very, very long time.  Too many lines, waiting, and tons of patience needed the whole trip.  Glad to be home.