May 17th, 2013

On Friday May 17th, 2013 Luke and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary! We celebrated together on the North Shore and stayed at Bluefin Bay. I'd have to say this weekend away was JUST what we needed. We've traveled a fair amount without the kids, but this was our first time away without the kids, ALONE! It reminded me of our trip to Bluefin exactly 10 years ago (our very first trip away), as we hiked, relaxed, drank wine and thoroughly enjoyed our time alone together!

We drove up Thursday night and stopped at Fitgers on the way for a beer. By the time we got to Bluefin it was a little later, but we unpacked and stopped at the bar for some food.

Friday we went on a few smaller, shorter hikes. We hiked up to Caribou Falls and we also took a hike to Sugarloaf. We took a nap in the afternoon...ahhh....and then went on one more hike later that afternoon to Carlton Peak. We went back, sat in the hot tub and then celebrated our anniversary by enjoying a bottle of wine from our honeymoon, while watching our wedding video and having some good cheese and salami! We ate at Bluefin again that night.

Saturday we hiked up to Eagle Mountain. The highest point in Minnesota. We'd done this hike before and it was a little drizzly/cloudy, but it wasn't too bad. I had a sore ankle, so that slowed me down a bit and the trail was wet in some places (and even snow), but we made it to the top, where we rewarded ourselves with a glass of wine. We always used to hike with a bottle of wine, but we no longer do that with the kids, so that was a fun treat!

We hiked down and treated ourselves to massages....a hot tub, more wine from our honeymoon and another fun night eating out at Bluefin!

Sugarloaf

Hike up to Caribou Falls

Caribou Falls

Caribou Falls

Carlton Peak

Eagle Mountain

Enjoying wine at the top of Eagle Mountain

It's been a fun 5 years....and I won't lie, it hasn't been "easy", but we are blessed and we work everyday to appreciate all we've been given and to not take anything for granted (even the temper tantrums)! :) Happy Anniversary, Luke! I know one thing for sure--you are a good, good man and and we'll always have fun, no matter where life takes us! To the next 5 (and we promised, we wouldn't wait 5 more years to get away just the 2 of us)! ;)

A very special thank you to our parents for watching the kids so we could enjoy some time away! We wouldn't have enjoyed our time away quite as much if it wasn't for you.....so THANK YOU!