Brainerd

We just returned from a vacation to Brainerd with my parents. We stayed in a cabin at Sullivan's Resort on North Long Lake. It was so relaxing and I am pretty sure we all enjoyed it. We enjoyed our days hanging out at the pool with Audrey and listening to her ever growing vocabulary. She kept us entertained the entire time, she is learning so many words and is able to hold a conversation with us, which is really fun and hilarious at times. She has started the stage of "why" and "What's that Mama, What's that Daddy, What's that Grandma." She asks many, many questions. She is curious about everything.

The weather was nice, it rained a couple days, but other than that it was cooler outside, so we were glad their was an indoor pool. We went to Paul Bunyan Land where Audrey was scared of pretty much everything, she rode the train but that was all. She hated the talking Paul Bunyan. My mom, Audrey and I went to Nisswa shopping one day and my dad and Brent stayed behind where Brent learned to play cribbage. We enjoyed a bike ride from Merrifield to Nisswa on the Paul Bunyan Trail and then my dad and Brent checked out the go karts at Billy Bones.

We went out for supper at Iven's on the Water, and felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. We felt a bit underdressed and the host kept saying he would see what he could do to get us in but they had so many reservations that night. The restaurant was not very full and never was the whole time we were there. Oh well, we enjoyed our time there, but I worried the whole time about Audrey pulling the white table cloth right off the table. Not a good place for toddlers, ha.

Two big steps on our vacation was Audrey and the potty and letting go of our uppies (pacifiers). She is doing fabulous going potty. We had to stop a couple times on our trip there and back for Audrey to go potty at a gas station, even while swimming at the pool Audrey would have to get out to hit up the potty. We brought an entire box of diapers on the trip and used about 10 of them. We are so excited for her and so is she. She gets such a smile on her face when she goes on the potty. We are ready for pull ups now! She says she doesn't want to wear big girl underwear, but someday. Audrey has always called her pacifier her "uppie". I was getting sick of her having all the time when I know she isn't allowed to have them at daycare. So, we took them away from her during the day and she has an uppie box they go in and she can have them for naps and night time. It has gone really well and I think that might be why her vocabulary has shot through the roof lately.

We had such a fun week, but it's so nice to be home and in our own beds. Audrey was such a good traveler. She slept great and napped great.






This shows you how incredibly scary Paul Bunyan is for a two year old.

Riding the train at Paul Bunyan Land.

Trying on hats at the Paul Bunyan store.

Me showing Audrey how fun the slide in the lake is.

Audrey like helping Brent build a castle, she actually likes him to build it and then she can step on it.

Heading back to the cabin after swimming.

The hail during the day is stormed.

Reading with Daddy.

Fish face

Audrey cruising around on her trike. We brought everything.

Audrey spent tons of her time texting her BFF!

Grandma making a pie over the fire.

Audrey after she enjoyed the cherry pie Grandma made:)

Audrey making her own omelette in a bag.

Audrey worn out from riding in the trailer to Nisswa.

Enjoying some chocolate truffles from the Chocolate Ox in Nisswa.

Brent racing at Billy Bones Raceway

Grandpa racing.