Ice Caves and Duluth

My blog went in a hibernation mode these last few months.  

When my poor laptop broke, I only had a computer

for four kids who all used it for homework.

Erin would be on for 2-3 hours a night

researching for her social studies project.

Once I was done for the night, I was

to tired to blog.

I am hoping to get caught up and will keep a better

journal going.

I decided to take the girls on a surprise weekend getaway the first weekend in March

I gave them a few clues

and they never guessed it.

Elli and Jenny almost got it, but

I kept a good poker face and didn't lie.

Erin took this picture as we were driving to the cabin

We rented this cabin for the weekend.  

I use this great rental company (was our second time using this company)

We were really happy with it and it was 

the same price of hotels around the area.

The girls waiting in line for the shuttle bus.  

When we drove to where the ice caves were, there was a 2 mile long

walk to the entrance of Lake Superior.  Then

you would have to walk another 1.1 miles on Lake Superior

to get to the caves which were over 2 miles long.

I gladly paid 24 dollars round trip for all of us to be dropped 

off at the entrance.

Monika and Katie enjoying the Ice chunks on Lake Superior

If it isn't rocks or bugs that she collects,

it chunks of Ice.

Walking to the Ice Caves

Me with two of my girls (Katie and Monika)

Monika sing her heart out on top of an iceberg

Katie

Monika said she was sleeping like a polar bear

One of the ice caves we climb into, 

and then we slide down

Jenny

Katie

Monika

Elli

Erin was scared to climb up and down this

but did it.

Frozen waterfalls

Mine turn to climb up

and slide down

Elli hanging out behind the waterfalls

4 stooges

Monika and Katie finding the smallest openings to caves

a cleavage

Jenny and Monika taking a break

Elli and Erin puckering up

Jenny woke up on Saturday not feeling the best.  

Complained of a sore throat.

She tried to be a trooper.

She did well, just didn't play in the ice caves as much

mostly hung out in the open with Elli

Elli and Jenny stayed closed to each other most of the time

Monika laying on the ice

Katie laying on the ice

It was a nice day, didn't always have to have a jacket on.

The younger girls.  

The ice froze across, bridge like.

Inside some of the caves

Group shot.

We didn't get to see all the caves.  We were having 

a lot of fun exploring the smaller caves.

Erin had a great time taking a lot of different pictures.

To me there felt like there was thousands and thousands of people

walking to the caves.

The caves were open for about 2 weeks.

Once we were done with the caves we 

went back to the cabin and 

just relaxed.  Jenny and 

Katie took naps (Katie complained 

of a sore throat Saturday morning too, but

it didn't bother her after we started to hike the caves)

Sunday we stopped in Duluth before heading home.

 

Erin standing in front of a structure that is about 100 feet into Lake Superior.

Last summer when we visited, we watched

some people swim up to this structure,

somehow climb on top and dive off.

Erin said she wanted to do it when we visit again.

Hard to tell in this picture, but

the 4 kids are all looking out 

from different parts of the structure.

 Monika playing around while climbing up the structure

 showing how to do it

 Katie got the hang of it

 Jenny almost there

 Elli just chilling

 Katie tired out.  Sitting on top of the structure

 Monika doing a handstand on Lake Superior.

She said it is bad handstand because her chest/stomach is sticking out

 Me inside the structure

Inside the structure

Katie (white) and Monika (red) doing a 

double stag on the ice of lake Superior

It was a great weekend for the girls and I.  We enjoyed our time.

Found out Monday that both Katie and Jenny tested positive for 

Strep.