June 1st!

Yesterday was Katie's 8th Birthday! Hard to believe. She is the lucky one in the family, having a summer birthday. It usually shines on Katie's birthday. To celebrate we had cake for breakfast and opened presents. She got a brand new bike, Spongebob legos, the Enchanted CD & a new BRATZ doll that I found on sale for $9 after Christmas.

After that we packed up the van and with the addition of our friend Tanie, jumped in and went to Itasca State Park for the day. We had never been before so it was a great adventure. We had a picnic lunch and then headed up to the Headwaters to check out the start of the Mighty Mississippi. The kids of course wanted to play in the water which we did after we went for a short hike. When we got back we took off our shoes and dipped our toes in the Mississippi. It was quite cool but refreshing. We told the girls not to climb across the rocks, but 1/2 hr later we noticed they we halfway across. We told them to come back and Meghan fell in. I had brought extra clothes for the boys, but not the girls. Oh well. She got mad at us because we didn't tell her the rocks would be slippery. Mind you we had 3 times and there was also a signed posted saying the same thing.

We went hiking a bit more. Drove down the wilderness trail and saw the largest White Pine in the park as well as hiked to the old Fire Tower. We all started up. I am terrified of heights but wanted to give it a whirl anyway. Katie made it 1/4 of the way up, I made it halfway, and Meghan made it 3/4 of the way. Chris, Ryan and Tanie went all the way to the top. Ryan just kept wanting to go, so up they went. I was so proud of him.

On the way home we stopped at MinneSoda for some ice cream. It was a nice treat to end the day.

Cake for Breakfast. 3+5=8 - I ran out of candles so we made due.



Katie jamming to her birthday card. It plays "It's a perfect day!" from the movie Legally Blonde. It was so fitting for Katie.



Touching the Mississippi waters.



Look how clear the water was!



At the Headwaters. The Mississippi starts 1475 feet above the ocean and travels 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.




The Mississippi starts from Lake Itasca



What a cute family!



The four of us crossing the wooden log to the other side of the Mississippi



Aaron getting his toes wet.



Our Friend Tanie - Straight out of Urban Outfitters!



This red pine was blown over in the storm in July 1995. Chris and I remember another storm very similar to it in July of 2001, I think, where we were in Biwabik for the 4th and ran home in the pouring rain with our Vi's pizza in a trash bag so it wouldn't get wet. We remember driving home the next day and seeing trees down everywhere!





The tallest White Pine in Itasca State Park. The kids are way down at the bottom. Squint - they are there I swear.



The old fire tower. Squint again and you can see Chris and Ryan at the top.



I was fine till the wind started blowing up there. Way freaky. Plus I have this great fear of seeing my children plummet to the earth. Yikes!



My sweet, beautiful girl on her 8th birthday.



Aaron playing drums on my head as we walked back to the van after seeing the fire tower.



Eating ice cream at the Soda shop. Katie had bubble gum, Meghan, Chocolate Cookie dough, Ryan had cotton candy, Chris had Cookies and cream and I had Chocolate peanut butter revel. YUM! Tanie had peppermint bonbon. Even better!



And as usual the boys passed out on the way home!