Our seven year old was living his best life on the day we visited Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store. The store’s row after row, shelf upon shelf and aisle after aisle of sugary treats is dizzying. The quantity of candy is too numerous to count. In addition to candy, the store also has salsas, bread mixes,…
Itasca and La Salle Lake State Parks
On a sunny Saturday in late June, we decided to make the trip to Itasca and La Salle Lake State Parks. Both my husband and I had been to Itasca State Park before, but never with our kids. Ironically, our oldest son had recently learned about several state and national parks in fourth grade and…
Pine Grove Zoo
The zoo. My kids love a trip to see their favorite animals. High on their list of critters to have a close encounter with; lions, zebras and monkeys. Since animals need a lot of space to roam, a visit to the zoo can require lots of steps and preparation to ensure a positive experience. We…
Southeastern Minnesota State Parks
Hardwood forests, sweeping prairies and dramatic bluffs dominate the landscape of southeastern Minnesota. Our family climbed the steep terrain of those bluffs, meandered through its canopied forests and listened to the tall grass of the prairie to experience all the offerings of ten state parks in southeastern Minnesota. We accomplished all of this in four…
Build Your Own Treehouse
Our adventure-loving little boys needed a place to put their outdoor creativity into action. So, we scoped out a sturdy tree in our backyard and set out building a treehouse. To build your own treehouse, you’ll need to start by finding a tree that’s straight and large enough to support the structure. Our backyard has…
Super Father’s Day
Dads are super and it’s fun to celebrate all the ways they make our lives better. My boys’ dad is known for his lawn mowing and snow blowing skills, sense of calm when there’s a spider and jokes that make us all roll our eyes. To recognize the major impacts dads have in our lives,…
What to See in Paris
Right behind London, Paris is the second most visited city in Europe with just under 16 million visitors annually. The art, the history, the architecture and the food all make Paris a top destination for travelers. With so many top notch attractions, it’s hard to narrow down what to see in Paris. Our visit to…
Minnesota Bucket List
A bucket list: a list of all the things, experiences, places and moments you want to create in your lifetime. I maintain a few bucket lists; professional, travel, etc and a couple years back decided to create one for my home state. A Minnesota Bucket List. Often, we look to far off and unfamiliar places…
Last Day of School: Ice Cream Party
Gooey toppings, an obnoxious amount of sprinkles and a tower of whipped cream. These are the three key ingredients to a successful Last Day of School Ice Cream Party. Our kids have overcome many unforeseen challenges this year to adjust to distance learning. Their efforts and tenacity call for a few scoops of ice cream…
Last Day of School Party
Your kids have probably been counting down the days until the last day of school/distance education for weeks. The final school bell or the last time they log off their iPad will mark the official start of summer and an excuse (much needed this year) to plan a last day of school party. Our annual…