In May, Sue and I started to finally wind down our project at
United Health and were able to spend a bit more time having fun. I
returned to Colorado on May 8th with no firm return plans (which Sue and I have
subsequently decided neither of us like). My stay in Colorado lasted all
of 4 days, at which point the girls and I decided to take an impromptu trip back
to Minnesota for the opening of walleye fishing season (just an excuse).
This was the first time Katie and Rachel had seen Sue's new
place, and they enjoyed the chickens, horses, guinea hens, and the go-cart.
After a day on the farm, we drove up to Aunt Linda's (Sue's aunt) cabin on Lake
Mille Lacs, where we camped for the weekend. Though quite chilly, we all
had a good time at the lake and are looking forward to going back.
At the end of the month, Sue, LeAnne, and Andy flew to Chicago
for the Memorial Day Weekend and a trip to the American Girl Store on the
Majestic Mile. We stayed in the Marriott Courtyard hotel one block off of
Michigan Avenue and spent three wonderful days enjoying the sites, sounds, and
tastes of Chicago.
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LeAnne & Kaysha riding Tyron |
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Feeding the chickens |
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Rachel was so excited when she found out that there's a chicken coop on Sue's property. Lynne (the chicken owner) let Rachel go in and feed them. |
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Katie & Rachel had a ball on the go-cart |
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Goggles are a good thing |
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They managed to find some mud puddles while driving around the back pasture. |
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LeAnne helps Katie get on Tyron |
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Katie takes a spin around the pasture |
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Aunt Linda's at her cabin |
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The opening of walleye fishing is like a national holiday for Minnesotans. The Baldwin's descend on Linda's cabin at Lake Mille Lacs each year for this special weekend. We certainly enjoyed their hospitality! |
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Travis caught the ONLY fish on Opener |
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The opening of walleye fishing in Minnesota is a BIG deal (like a national holiday or something). Several of us had bites, but Travis landed the only fish that weekend. |
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How'd she get stuck with that? |
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Travis catches 'em, Mom cleans 'em. |
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The water trampoline |
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In mid-May, this lake is still COLD. That didn't keep the kids out of the water, though. |
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Everybody enjoyed jumping |
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or were they just trying to get up out of the lake?? |
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All bundled up and ready to fish |
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Dad Baldwin's pontoon boat was large enough to hold all of us. |
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Navy Pier, Chicago |
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For Memorial Day, Sue, LeAnne, and Andy visited Chicago. On Sunday, we visited the Navy Pier, a large arcade on the shore of Lake Michigan. |
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The ferris wheel offered great views |
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Chicago Skyline |
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Looking southwest from the Navy Pier |
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Chicago Harbor Lighthouse |
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This lighthouse was originally built at the entrance to the Chicago River and later moved out into the harbor when Navy Pier was built. |
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Chicago skyline, North |
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Looking northwest from Navy Pier. We went to the top of the Hancock Tower, the tall building in the center. |
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Street Performers |
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These two ladies were really cool. If a child put a tip in the bucket, the "statue" would slowly turn and hand them a rose. |
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Chicago Tribune building |
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I just liked the ornamentation on this building. |
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Sue and LeAnne at Navy Pier |
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At the top of Hancock Tower |
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Hancock Tower, Chicago |
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We went up to the top of this building for appetizers and drinks. This building is almost as tall as the Sears Tower. Looking up from the bottom is a lot less scary than looking down from the top!! |
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