One of my favorite places to visit in Minnesota is Como Zoo and Conservatory.
Not only is it historic and beautiful, but it’s FREE (though donations are appreciated).
The animals are nice and they are definitely what lure my children here, but my favorite part is the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory.
The Conservatory was built in 1915, and is one of the few remaining original Victorian style glasshouses in North America. Inside are two acres of beautiful flowers and greenery ‘under glass.’ The display inside the conservatory changes five times a year, so you never know what beauty you’ll encounter when you visit.
Como Zoo and ConservatoryGorgeous Foxglove
Because of Covid, they are asking everyone to book tickets online in advance (there is no charge for the tickets). This is one of the few Covid changes I like, because it means there are only a select number of tickets they give out each day, so it’s not crowded! (Click here to reserve your space.)
The animals came before the conservatory. Como Zoo started in 1897 when the city of St. Paul was gifted 3 deer and created a fenced in area to keep them.
Como was the first zoo in the world to successfully hand raise Siberian tigers.
Besides tigers and deer, there are many other animals to observe and enjoy. Luke loves the Arctic foxes and penguins, George’s favorites are the monkeys (we all like the monkeys). Paul likes the sloth and fish, I love the birds and giraffes, Clark liked the cougar and giant Polar bear.
The Como Zoo has exhibits inside and outside, so you can enjoy this place all year long.
In the summer, be sure to visit the beautiful Japanese Garden:
After your visit to the zoo, plan to visit the fun playground across the street. There are plenty of tables, perfect for a picnic.
The state’s oldest Dairy Queen dates back to 1947 an is just a mile away. (720 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113) This is a fun way to end a spectacular day!
Click here for a peek into one of our visits to Como Zoo and Conservatory! What animals do you spot?
Now that I have a house full of guys who enjoy football, I’ve started watching the actual football game and not just the commercials (though those are fun too!) My favorite commercial is at the end of this post.
During halftime, the boys were playing “flag” football in the family room, and Wrigley joined in the game. It was all fun and games – until Wrigley missed the flag and bit Paul on the side of the leg.
Clark had always dreamed of having a dog that could play football with him, and his dream came true on Super Bowl Sunday!
I was COMPLETELY impressed with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. What a game!
Serving With Our Neighbors
In 2020, my neighbor asked if we’d want to get together for a service projects on a regular basis. Um YES!
This month we met at a local Feed My Starving Children site to pack food for the hungry. It was an amazing experience, and as we were leaving, Clark asked how soon we could come back.
Baby it’s COOOOLLLLDDD outside
We’ve had a fairly mild winter, but February was FUH-REEZING! Though most of the south shuts down when it gets to subzero temps, Minnesotans are almost un-fazed by it.
Since I’m not a true Minnesotan, I prefer to be INSIDE when the weather dips below zero. The boys and I have been playing games like Spoons, Rat-a-tat cat and Skipbo. We’ve also tried a few things from this list.
Our hope is that this video inspires other small acts of kindness. If 1 out of every 100 people who watch this video are inspired to do something kind for someone else – that means more than 30,000 acts of kindness were done!!!
Back to Basketball
Paul playing ball
There was a six week hiatus from sports, but now Paul, Clark, and George are all playing basketball again. They are so fun to watch. Follow me or Ted on instagram to see their best plays.
Back-to-School
Clark, Paul and I joined Luke in going back to school. The three of them are finally in school full time and I’m teaching a couple days each week. Because of Covid, no parents are allowed to have lunch with their kids, but when I’m teaching, I get to eat with my boys! What a treat!
It was TRICKY and HOT teaching with a face shield AND mask. Thankfully, as of last week, shields are no longer required!
Valentine’s Day Fun
“I chews You!” George made this alligator box for Luke
Clark wanted to ‘sWish’ everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day
Paul hopes your Valentine’s Day was a touchdown!
Life with Wrigley
Wrigley is sleeping through night and mostly ringing the bell when he needs to go out. He likes people and playing catch. The boys love him sooo much!
What I’m listening to:
I love Bob Goff and enjoy his podcast. This episode was so inspiring!
What I’m watching:
Has anyone watched this series on Apple TV? It’s so good!
The pond behind our house is frozen – at least 12 inches of solid ice – so it’s become the boy’s blank canvas to ‘create!’
They’ve made an ice rink to play soccer and skate, they’ve made forts, trails and whatever else they can imagine!
Clark’s snow angel
Their ice rink
After a recent snow storm, the boys noticed an elderly woman shoveling her driveway all by herself. All four boys grabbed their shovels and helped her finish.
So many books, so little time
I have a goal to read 50 books this year…here are a few I plan to read. Have you read any of these? Which one should I start with?
Life with Wrigley:
Luke and Wrigley both up at 5AM!
Having a puppy really is like having a new baby – so I’m kind of exhausted. The boys are amazing at taking him out during the day – but I’m up with him EARLY!
We’ve been “sleep training” him by putting him in the crate at night. The first two nights he whined a lot, but is now sleeping through the night. At first he was up by 5AM! He woke me and Luke up with his barking and whining. Now he’s sleeping til 6AM. That still feels too early, but I know he’s a baby and all my ‘babies’ like to wake up early.
Wrigley enjoys playing outside. Usually he’s only out for 30-60 minutes. We take him for walks (or he takes us for a walk)…and he plays with the neighbor’s doodles.
Luke completed his FIRST FULL WEEK OF SCHOOL! Though kindergarten began in September, he’s never spent 5 full, consecutive days in the classroom until now. Clark and Paul will start in February and George will continue distance learning for now.
It was a cold day with LOTS of snow. All four boys shoveled two of our neighbors driveways.
We played with our dog, completed a Christmas puzzle, then watched White Christmas (one of my FAVORITE Christmas movies).
Luke and Paul were excited to go to bed that night because they could hardly wait for it to be Christmas morning!
After the two littles fell asleep, George and Clark helped me put presents under the tree, then George created a scavenger hunt from the “elves.”
Clark set up some games around the house for everyone to play on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day:
Scavenger hunt for the littles:
George created a scavenger hunt from our ‘elves.’ He wrote a clue, that led to another clue, that led to another … all around our house. The final clue led to a gift from “Santa.” The gift was a game called “Ticket to Ride.” I’d read good reviews of this game so I thought my boys would like it.
I made the mistake of trying to play it with them right away, without having ever played before. I didn’t realize how many details were involved. I tried to read the instructions and play at the same time. This was a FAIL! I didn’t understand how to play, let alone how to teach all four boys what to do. We all got frustrated and quit.
Afterwards, I watched a YouTube video on how to play. I finally understood and asked my boys if they wanted to try again. The boys said no, they just wanted to open their other presents.
Opening presents:
Clark got football cards
Luke got an art set
Hanging new ornaments they received for Christmas
Our big Christmas gift to the boys was a dog (Read that story here) …but other family members had gifts for them to open Christmas morning.
I filled their stockings with some fun treats, hid the stockings in my closet, tied a long string around them, and wrapped that string all around the house. I gave the boys the end of the string, and they had to follow it to find their stockings.
The boys also did a “Secret Santa” gift exchange with each other. After Thanksgiving, I put the names of the boys in a bowl and they each drew a name. They have a $15 budget and get to pick out a gift for each other.
Luke drew George’s name and got him a puzzle (see below).
Paul drew Clark’s name and bought him football cards.
Clark drew Luke’s name and got him a remote control car.
George drew Paul and bought him some Pokemon cards.
Christmas Day Scavenger Hunt for the Parents:
Clark created “Wheel of Fortune”
Ted came in first
As a Christmas gift for me and Ted, Clark created a super fun obstacle course for us to complete. We had targets to hit with a nerf gun, matchbox cars that had to get past a certain line, a box to tear open to find a clue and a quarter, basketballs to get in the net, then a word to complete in a “Wheel of Fortune” type game. When we completed all our ‘challenges,’ we had to race to put our “quarter” on the winning circle to win a prize (see picture above). I won “Wheel of Fortune” and the matchbox car game, but Ted is way better with a nerf gun and basketball. He won and got a big chocolate bar. I was second and Clark gave me chocolate coins.
Christmas Day Walk:
It was COLD outside (7 degrees), but Ted encouraged us to bundle up and get outside with him, and I’m glad we did!
Christmas Dinner:
Steak, Brussel Sprouts, Bacon Wrapped Asparagus and …. French Fries. (I forgot to take a picture)
We Watched:
A Christmas Story – Ted and George love this movie. Since they watch “White Christmas” with me, I watch this movie with them.
We read:
The Christmas Lizard: this is a cute story of the Lizard climbing up the tree and hearing the different reasons Christmas is celebrated. The Nutcracker says “tradition,” the elves say “parties,” etc. When he gets to the very top of the tree he finds the Angel and the angel points to the manger and tells the lizard that the reason we celebrate Christmas is Jesus.
After Luke and Paul went to bed, I was able to talk George into giving Ticket to Ride another try. We both really enjoyed playing! I would only recommend it for ages 10 and up!
The Day After Christmas:
Luke got George’s name as his “Secret Santa” gift exchange. I helped him create a puzzle as a gift for George.
We put it together and it turned out so cool!
We also went ice skating with friends.
One friend lifted his hockey stick to hit a puck, and accidentally smacked Clark in the eye. It hurt bad at first (and looks really bad), but Clark was playing again in ten minutes.
We took another walk and had a snowball fight:
Get Ready …
Get Set …
Fire!!!
My boys received this “snowball maker” toy last year – it makes these perfect, round snowballs and saves your hands from freezing or your gloves from getting soaked:
Hope you had a Merry Christmas friends! Sending love from our family to yours!
Here’s a peek into our fall and winter. I love how my iPhone can take pictures and videos and turn them into this:
Because of this unique year, we feel incredibly blessed to have spent a week with our Oklahoma family.
Here are some highlights:
One of the blessings of this season is that we are exploring more outdoor spaces. Of all the years I’ve lived in and visited Oklahoma, I’d never been to the Redbud Nature Preserve. My sister and her family invited us to join them here for a hike and we absolutely loved it!
.
The Gathering Place
This is a phenomenal outdoor park in Tulsa. (Click on this link to look at this place!) The big boys played football with Ted, while I explored the play structures with Luke.
.
Thanksgiving Day
What’s your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving? My favorite dish on Thanksgiving is the mashed potatoes and gravy – I’ve loved that dish my whole life. It might be my favorite because I only eat it once a year – on Thanksgiving!
My mother-in-law made turkey, ham, and the most delicious mashed potatoes and gravy. I made green beans, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin and pecan pie.
I forgot to add the sugar to the pumpkin pie recipe so I just sprinkled some on top before I baked it. It was a ‘healthier’ version and not super sweet, but still tasted good. This might be the way I make it from now on?
3 generations of great men
My family with Nana and Papa, and my sister Brooke
.
Fishing adventures
Papa and Ted took the boys fishing and they each caught a big one!
.
We celebrated Paul’s 9th birthday with cousins and cupcakes!
Paul wanted a real animal – but he had to settle for a stuffed one. We had cupcakes with cousins, then went on a hike and found an abandoned hive.
Clark and cousin Elle
Paul and cousin Ava
Nanny with her grandkids
Thanks for reading! Whether you stayed home or celebrated with family, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too. In spite of this challenging year, we all have so much to be thankful for!
There were about 30% of our neighbors with lights out, not participating.
About 20% of neighbors had a bowl or baggies setting out.
The remaining 50% passed out candy as usual.
100% of kids had FUN and collected way too much candy.
.
Basketball Begins
Paul played his first ever game of basketball!
He made FOUR baskets.
Eight points for his team.
The final score was 18 to 13 and it was SO fun to watch them play.
.
Pumpkin Pancake Contest
I made two different kinds to see which was better.
The Trader Joe’s brand was more work but tasted better.
The Birchbenders only required water, and were easier to make, but I didn’t think they were as good.
My kids loved them both!
.
The Tale of Two Georges
George and I finished reading this ‘George Washington’ biography together and now George wishes his middle name was Washington. We have so much admiration and respect for our first president. He was a true patriot who worked tirelessly to create, protect, and lead the United States of America.
Did you know George Washington decided the leader of our country should be called “The President of the United States?” (or “Mr. President” for short)
.
It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas
Our lights outside are covered in snow!
We put up our Christmas tree and hung lights outside.
The Christmas tree and lights bring us JOY and we need more JOY this year!
.
Back to the Classroom
All four boys are in school now (two days a week).
While they were in school, I worked on earning my Minnesota teaching license and applied to be a substitute teacher in their schools.
My first day was teaching 7th grade language arts and I LOVED getting to teach George and lots of his friends.
I was a little nervous about teaching middle school, but the kids were TRULY “Minnesota nice” and I can’t wait to do it again.
Here’s what we’ve been up to in September and October:
My boys and a couple of their friends at a local apple orchard.
Luke wakes up and waits at the steps for me to see him, say good morning and give him a hug. I haven’t asked him to wait…it’s just become a tradition.
The boys are in school two days a week, and do school at home three days a week.
Luke in Soccer
Paul in Soccer
Clark in football
This was our first season of FOUR boys in sports! Luke, Paul, and George were in soccer. Clark was in football.
Paul and his friend caught Pike!
Then…it started snowing….
The wonder of snow!
Catching snowflakes
And didn’t stop snowing…
So much snow!
Here the boys are selling hot chocolate to neighbors.
All the snow means SNOW SLUSHEES!
Life Hack: Buy a sweatshirt that makes you look and feel like a teddy bear to get more cuddles!
Rain or shine (or snow) – Paul is ready to fish!
Amazon had a sale on animal crackers. They inspired me to make my favorite childhood treat for my kids – Circus Sundaes! Vanilla Ice Cream, strawberry syrup, animal crackers and whip cream.
Paul asked if he could sleep by Luke. When I checked on them, I found this!
Last Saturday was a beautiful fall day, so we decided to explore a new spot in the Twin Cities – the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Founded in 1907, the Wildflower Garden is the oldest public native plant garden in the United States!
.
There is no charge to explore and hike, but there is a minimal parking fee.
Most days the park is staffed by naturalists and volunteers who are happy to tell you what’s blooming, where to explore, and to answer other questions you may have about birds or flowers.
There were ‘scavenger hunt’ sheets available for kids at the entryway, and my boys loved being on a ‘hunt!’
.
The boardwalk was so really cool.
.
Once inside, there’s a marked out “trail” for you to walk. I was grateful for this because I have a tendency to get lost if I’m allowed to wander aimlessly. The marked trail is less than a mile and even our youngest son walked all the way through without complaint. (There is also a longer trail for you to explore, but we took the short cut.)
There were so many things to enjoy – different trees, small animals, lots of birds and so many plants. The signs throughout the gardens teach you about the various wildlife.
.
.
Eloise Butler Garden and Bird Sanctuary is beautiful and I look forward to exploring it in the spring when the flowers are blooming!
Since the world seems to be enveloped in ugly unrest, we could all benefit from getting outside and surrounding ourselves in nature. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is the PERFECT place to go. The Arboretum is made up of 1,200 acres of natural beauty, professionally-maintained gardens, rare plant collections, and accessible trails.
When I told my boys that we were going to the Arboretum, they weren’t as excited as I was, especially since the most kid-friendly parts of the park (the hedge maze and the giant willow tree fort) are closed due to Covid. So how did I get them excited about going? I came up with a contest…
Whoever could take the most beautiful picture would win one dollar.
My competitive boys were all in!
When we arrived, I was thrilled to see that there is a paved, 3-mile loop around the Arboretum, with parking spaces every half mile or so. We drove the loop, and when the boys or I would spot something we wanted to see up close, we’d park and get out to explore.
The fact that my boys were on a hunt for something pretty and unique, made this visit so much fun! They were pointing out and capturing the most fascinating things! (See pictures below)
I appreciate that the Arboretum has something special in every season. Currently, the fall colors are in full bloom and they are breathtaking (our pictures don’t even do it justice). If you come in the winter, you can enjoy the light display. The spring and summer are full of floral beauty.
Below are a few of my favorite photos.
We let the neighbor kids vote on who should win the photo contest. Read the captions in each picture to find out which kid won. Leave a comment to tell us which picture YOU think is the best.
Pictures I captured:
Clark enjoying the view while he rests on this slanted tree.I love this pumpkin tree!My boys thought the Flintstones vehicle was pretty cool!
Luke was intrigued by this stone harp in the Sculpture Garden
My boys wanted to play in this amazing fort made of willow tree branches. It’s currently closed due to COVID.
Clark and two friends under a beautiful Gingko tree
Luke loved the little housesClark
Paul was on the hunt for flowers – he found some! Unfortunately, the lighting in this picture isn’t ideal.
Luke
Pictures by Clark, my 11 year old:
The boys spotted this wasp nest and asked me to stop.
Clark asked me to stop the car so he could take this picture – and it’s the one that WON the contest!
Pictures by Paul, age 8:
Mushrooms
I love the reflections in the water (This is my vote for best picture)Paul pointed out this amazing curved treePaul was on the hunt for flowers and found some!
Pictures taken by Luke, age 6:
Since I asked him to smile for a picture, he asked me to smile for one too!
Looking up!
This ‘contest’ made me realize what good photographers my boys are! I’m especially intrigued by Paul’s pictures.
It was Ted’s Birthday weekend and we wanted to get out of the Twin Cities and do something fun. A visit to Duluth had been on our Minnesota Bucket List for two years – so we booked a place to stay and invited some friends to join us for the weekend up north. (Bonus, our friends used to LIVE THERE – so they knew all the best spots to visit!!)
We arrived in Duluth on Friday around noon and started the weekend in Canal Park. We walked through a few of the quaint shops and got to the end to see the massive lift bridge. Every 30 minutes, the bridge lifts to let boats come into the Harbour from Lake Superior. You can click here to find the ship schedule.
Moose sighting (sitting?)Watching a glass-blowing class in action
Notes on Grandma's Restaurant: I didn't love the indoor 'vibe' of this restaurant, but getting a seat by a window or on the upstairs patio makes it nice! The food was pretty good, but not amazing. The reason to go here - LOCATION! I'd only go back if I had an outdoor table that overlooks the bridge.
Then we walked to the lighthouse at the end of the loooong pier. My boys were amazed that Superior is really a lake and not an ocean.
We walked back to our hotel to check in, then watched the trucks and tractors working behind the hotel – setting huge boulders in place and creating a large walkway along the lake. Each semi could only hold three boulders. After we watched them work for awhile, we drove to Park Point Beach, which is about an eight minute drive from Canal Park. The drive takes you across the lift bridge – which was fun, and the drive to the beach is nice because you get to enjoy viewing a wide range of homes along the lakefront.
Hanging out behind the hotel, watching the trucks at workThis long truck could only hold 3 boulders
When we arrived at Park Point Beach, we stood to observe the powerful lake and unique beach – full of soft sand and huge, heavy logs that had washed onto the shore. The lake is always VERY cold and since it was late in the day, we weren’t planning to swim. However, the chilly air, the cold water, and lack of swimsuits, did not stop the kids. They were playing in the waves within minutes of our arrival.
They watched the water for about 2 minutes…Then they jumped in and didn’t mind the freezing water. We found a couple cute Sea Turtles
After time at Park Point, we went back to the hotel to dry off and change, then walked to dinner at Canal Street Brewery. The restaurant has a great vibe, and huge windows overlooking the lake. Ted ordered a salmon salad and I had a grilled chicken sandwich with brie and asparagus. The boys ate burgers. We all enjoyed our meals and would definitely go back.
After dinner, we let the kids swim in the hotel pool, then we enjoyed s’mores on the hotel’s back patio.
We’d been watching the weather for several days preceding our trip, and the forecast showed rain and lightning all weekend. Clark asked if we could pray and ask God for nice weather so that we could explore outdoors. Thankfully, Friday was nice! It was warm during the day and just a little chilly at night. After getting into bed Friday night, it rained and thundered all night – but the storms were over by morning! Saturday’s weather was perfect for exploring.
We started the day with breakfast in the hotel, then drove about 45 minutes north along Lake Superior to Gooseberry Falls State Park.
Gooseberry Falls was SPECTACULAR!
It was one of the most amazing ‘playgrounds’ we’ve ever explored. There are so many trails to hike, but we spent hours just playing in the water.
Wear comfy clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
There are two large parking lots – if one is full, there is one just beside it. Both were nearly full when we left, but it didn’t feel overly crowded because the State Park is SO large!
If you are bringing children, I recommend following the trail to the LOWER FALLS. We started at the UPPER falls and found it was DANGEROUS for young, curious children. Our kids wanted to get really close to the edge of the falls, and could have easily fallen over. There is nothing to stop them. In fact, the day we were there, two children fell over the falls and had to be life flighted out. At the time of this post, all I know is that they are injured, but still alive.
Pack some snacks and a water bottle – All the hiking and water play will make you hungry!
20-30 minutes before you leave, call to make a reservation at the world famous Betty’s Pies. We tried to eat there, but there was too long of a wait. They told us we could call in advance to save our place in line.
Paul caught a HUGE frog!You can get so close to the falls – some people were walking through it.Love this place and these peopleExploring a quiet streamOh George 🙂
We happened to see a sign that said Grand Superior Grille as we were leaving the falls, and stopped here for lunch. The restaurant has sweeping views of the lake, and a well-priced menu. We practically had the place to ourselves and couldn’t believe more people weren’t there. The food and environment were fantastic. George said this was his favorite restaurant we went to all weekend because of the nice environment and good food.
Behind the restaurant is a phenomenal rocky coast.
Skipping rocks
Next, we drove to Brighton Beach but only stayed for a few minutes because it was way too packed. As an alternative, we went to Lester Park. It’s not a beach, but has trails to hike, a playground, and the best part – a beautiful creek to play in. The kids absolutely loved it and could have stayed and played in the creek for HOURS!
Lester Park Tips:
For a calm place to play, use the creek to the left of the playground.
The first creek you see (close to the parking lot) is usually filled with teenagers. Walking a little farther in, is a much better place for kids to explore.
Mom look, I found an L for Luke!Pretty Lester Park TrailsLuke and his friends
We talked them into leaving by promising ice cream. I was hoping to go to the historic Portland’s Malt Shop, but we drove by and saw a super long line, so we went back to our hotel and walked to Dairy Queen. While we ate our ice cream, we walked back to the Lift Bridge. The boys enjoyed chasing pigeons and sea gulls, and climbing on the rocks along the coast.
For dinner we ordered pizzas and salads from Vitta Pizza.
Notes on Vitta: Their food is fantastic! I shared an amazing salad with Ted and a couple different pizzas (both SO good). The kids loved the pizza too! I sat inside the restaurant while waiting for our food, and wouldn't recommend eating inside. It's crowded and the seats are uncomfortable. However, the food is perfect for take out. (Rating 5/5)
While the dads took the kids swimming, my friend Mary and I got to enjoy a little quiet time to catch our breath and chat. After dinner, the mamas took the kiddos to bed, and Ted went out with Mary’s husband to rent electric scooters and enjoy some guy time.
The weather was amazing ALL day and I’m so thankful! We got to pack in SO much fun!
Sunday morning we went to a quaint coffee shop called Perk Place. I had the most delicious latte called ‘Honey Bear.’ It’s made with a little cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. We drove around the Congdon area to see some of the historic, ornate mansions. We also drove through the downtown area and saw the famous Duluth Trading Company.
Did you know that Duluth once had most millionaires per capita than any other US city? People gained their wealth from the Iron Mining and logging industry.
Our next stop was the GORGEOUS Enger Park. This park has:
A Japanese Garden with a large bell you can ring,
Many paths to explore and rocks to climb
An incredible view of Duluth, the harbor, lift bridge and Lake Superior
A tower with nearly 100 steps and about 5 levels. There are 360 degree views on each level
Great views of DuluthThere’s a smooth path to the tower, but my boys would rather climb the rocky terrainThe Japanese GardenIt’s Ted’s Birthday!
After exploring the park, we headed home with happy hearts. It was an incredible weekend, full of fun adventures with good friends.
I’m thrilled that I finally got to see Duluth. There is so much history and beauty in that city – hills and large rocks, cool buildings and restaurants, falls and creeks, and of course, Lake Superior.
Here are a few things we missed this trip, but hope to see and do during our next visit:
Where to go:
Rose garden – Beautiful and overlooks Lake Superior
Glensheen mansion – explore inside and outside, located on Lake Superior
