Duluth

One of Tyson's all time favorite things in the world is trains.  One of my all time favorite things is a little roadtrip and exploring this new state we live in.  One of Rick's all time least favorite things is taking time off.  So in the spirit of all that, we took a little trip to Duluth to ride the Northshore Scenic Train. This was a BIG deal for Tyson and we heard the word train at least 7,600 times on the drive to Duluth. Much of the time in the same exact question.  Mile 1:  "Are we going to ride the big train?"  

Mile 2:  "Are we going to ride the big train?"  

Mile 3 through 60:  "Are we going to ride the big train?"  

Then, when he finally stopped with that question, he started with "But I want to ride a little train."  

Sigh.

This is the outside of the building that houses the ticket window and a theater.  The train station is right below it (not pictured).  I just love how this building looks.  They were decorating for a wedding reception in the banquet room that is inside as well.  Never in my life did I want to crash a reception so bad as this one.  I imagine it was a beautiful party.

Tyson holding his golden train tickets and waiting in line to board the train.  It's an hour and a half ride, from point A to point B then back to point A.  It runs along the water and had some great history told by some guy over the loud speaker.  I think he may have been from the Price is Right.  Same voice.

Getting ready to leave the train station.  Kids all excited about staring at a wall because they are doing it from a train.  There wasn't much for a kid to see on this ride, but it was fun anyway.

Did you ever just look at your family and feel like you will burst with pride over how great they are?  I feel like that when I look at this picture. ** I forgot to mention that Rick and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on October 6th. I don't have a clue what he sees in me, but I've got my claws in him now and he's required by law to act like he likes me. In my younger days, I wasted a lot of time doing stupid stuff and making terrible decisions that make me cringe if I dare think of them now.  But marrying this man was the best decision I ever made, and the beginning of other choices that have made my life what it is today, joyful and full of love.  Thanks be to God.

Here is Rick, obviously holding back his enthusiasm.  Tyson, on the other hand, cannot contain his.

This is the face of a baby that has put up with a long car ride, a night in a hotel and a train ride that she is growing very bored with.  This is the face that says you have about 10 minutes to get me off this ride before I make a scene that will end with your ears bleeding. 

There was a museum at the station as well.  Lots of old trains and information about how it all started.  It's a really neat place.................

.....for adults.  Our son was really more interested in the train track in the lobby that is almost identical to the one at his grandparent's house that he plays with ALL THE TIME.

                                      
Here is our darling little girl at lunch, in a bar, eating french fries, by a bottle of beer, with her brother on a bar stool in the background. Again, I could not be more proud.

Construction

Construction on the new cabin is underway!  We are adding a duplex, Cabins 6 & 7.  Just as the family at Young's Bay expanded this year, so do the guest beds.  Dirt work first.  Rick's Uncle Steve owns an excavation business and comes up from Warroad to help with the beginnings of the cabin.

Rick and Uncle Steve putting in the draining something or other.  (Tyson helping, of course.)  As you know, I don't know the technical terms for construction and I don't plan to learn in the near future.  Should all the men of the Angle be swept up in a tornado and taken away, I will not be the next in line to build things.  Sorry to disappoint.  I'm not even third or fifth in line to build something.

Tyson was particularly fired up about them covering up the pipe with rock.  Nice and loud and dirty.

For anyone familiar with our resort, this new cabin is going in right by the old duplex, next to the Marina parking lot.  Lakefront naturally.

The following week, the actual building started going up.  Big Rick and Brian used to build cabins for other people every winter, making them well versed in this area.

Look at that beautiful blue sky!  It has rained everyday since I took these pictures and the productivity is at a standstill.  We have reservations for this cabin next summer, so there is a deadline looming.

I will keep you posted on the progress of our new cabin.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn some construction lingo and throw it at you.

Wild Hog Run

The 1/2 marathon in Grand Forks was FANTASTIC. Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts coming my way that day. The Angle ladies stormed in on a Friday afternoon, did some shopping, had a delicious dinner and good conversation with the men and then pounded out 13.1 miles the next morning.  Success.

Nikki headed in at the finish line.  She is an avid runner and dedicated to her sport.  She lets me know about all the races coming up and has been a fun running companion, though we don't actually run together!

My big finish.  I am generally quite a distance behind Nikki.  But on this day I locked my eyes on her runner's buns and trailed her.  Between her steady pace and your positive energy coming my way I was able to set a personal best and take 14 minutes off my race time.  14 minutes!!!!!  To say I was elated about my final time would be an understatement.  We came in at 1 hour and 53 minutes, with some seconds on there.  Nikki was ahead of me by half a minute or so.

Post race drink at the beer tent.  This race was very well put together and had great gifts.  Not just the usual shirt, but also a glass with the Wild Hog logo on it and a free beer after the run.

2 happy ladies right after the finish.  It was a beautiful day and a great course.  We got there in the dark and freezing cold, but it didn't take long for the sun to come and reveal blue skies and smiling runners all around.

While we ran, Rick and John got some breakfast and did a little boot shopping.  They were there in time to see our crossing of the finish line.  John is a runner as well, but didn't get signed up in time and had to run on his own early that morning from the hotel.  That is dedication I tell you!

I post this goofy picture, even though it is not all that attractive,  for one reason.  This is the picture of pure happiness.  You've put in so much work and sweat.  Dreaded it some days, reveled in it on others.  Blisters and zits and joint aches.  Nervous jitters the days leading up to it, which can't be explained because you know you can do it.  You cross that finish line and have this feeling of utter and complete joy.  Especially this race where I surprised the hell out of myself when I realized how much time I had shaved off.  I have found no other occasion that can compare (well, except childbirth!).  For one day you have conquered the world and done something you know a lot of others can't or won't ever do.  I thank the Lord for an able body, the opportunity to share it with friends, the knowledge that it is all worth it and the mindset to commit and execute.

Storm

                                                                                 Snow.

Last Thursday we had a winter storm come through.  Snow, wind at 45 mph and a temperature of 35 degrees.  Some places in Canada got about 12 inches of snow.  We ended up with about 2 inches.  But the storm knocked down over 100 power poles through Canada, which is where our power comes from.  So we were without power for around 41 hours between Thursday and Sunday.  Everyone had been saying, "I hear it's going to be a mild winter."  I'm trying to get an appointment to talk to the mild winter guy, but no one has called me back.  We spent 2 nights at Big Rick's house, where the generator was keeping things lit up and warm.  There was a generator running for 2 of our cabins that we had guests in, who were waiting to go out fishing. Rick kept busy running around making sure they were all full of gas. We ate over half of our meals at Jerry's, who also has a generator.  Warm building and hot food! On the last day Rick and Brian wired a generator in to our house and had everything going....for about 4 hours and then the power came back on.

The kids kept warm at home in the daytime by constant movement.

                                                        and balancing things on their heads!