October Visit

Ani and Grandma at the new park

The first week of October Anika's grandparents made the trek here from Green Bay.  We had a great visit!  Anika was all smiles and she got her naps in so she stayed smiling.  We were in the middle of the Pagami Creek fire, which burned 92,000 acres of the BWCAW - and there were hundreds of firefighters all over town.  There literally was no place in the inn.  AND of course the garage we had envisioned being complete by September was still just a concrete slab.  Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise... the only place that had a room for the weekend was the Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast. 

Grandma Sue and Anika playing

Grandpa Gary and Anika

Of course I had planned all meals for the weekend - then I don't have to think or hit the grocery store multiple times - and we have learned that bacon, eggs and pancakes are not a good breakfast. Too much food and then chasing after Ani is not a good combo.  So I made carrot cake muffins from the Jenc Family Cookbook.  They were fantastic and could be used for desert - which was good because the Blue Heron Bed and BREAKFAST implies, no actually states, breakfast is included.  Little did I know it was a gourmet breakfast.  Wow.  Every morning I asked Sue what they had for breakfast and every morning I was impressed.  We should have been sending Kevin's parents there every time they have come up to visit.  Instead of stale donuts and coffee at one of the 30 hotels in town, they could have been having fantastic food and giving me recipes!

My birthday party was a few days after Kevin's parents were here so I needed to make cake pops while they were here.  Dang it to heck.  Cake pops are a lot of work.   But so worth it - when I have help and take a few shortcuts.  Have made cake pops a few times - Elmos for Leif's second birthday and blue and yellow pops with sprinkles for Emilie's birthday this year - and the hardest part is dipping them in the candy coating and then putting them upright in styrofoam.  So I shortcutted a bit and put mine upside down on parchment paper :)  They taste just the same and are MUCH easier to serve! 

Anika in her new sweatshirt

Whew.  It was a jam packed weekend full of fun in the sun!  Anika got her birthday and Christmas presents early AND a new pink sweatshirt - a 3T.  She wears it all of the time.  It is one of the few fall jackets/layers that is long enough for her torso.  Thanks Grandma Sue and Grandpa Gary!