On Christmas 2015, Sue and Scott purposed a two-day family event to celebrate the life of Grandma Olley on the one-year mark of her passing. It turned out to be in the form of pool time and pub time.
"Family times are the best of times!" - Auntie Sue
POOL FUN
Day One brought splashy fun for both kids and adults at Auntie Sue's pool. Laura has come a long way with her swimming. She can jump in without a life jacket and dip her head underwater with confidence. Ryan likes the water toys to scoot around the pool.
PEDALPUB
Day Two brought the celebration to NE Minneapolis for an intimate experience with the "Bike with the Barrel!"
The PedalPub is a fun way for adults to get some exercise and wet the whistle on suds while touring Nordeast on a big Dutch-made bike.
No joke about it, the PedalPub is not an easy joy ride. I was definitely "feeling the burn." No question, you'll sweat! Thankfully, we stopped a few times for a breather, a beer, and a snap of snuff (even Mom tried it).
Tony Jaros - Drank a "Greenie"
Gasthofs - Inhaled Snuff off of a snapping board
Betty Danger's Country Club - Dinner and a few more drinks
At Christmas, Matt surprised Laura with a gift to attend a WNBA game with him this summer. This was an appropriate and timely gift since Laura was excited to begin basketball camp.
Game Day.
We started the day with lunch at Tuggs on Saint Anthony Main - an old stomping ground for Mom and I. Fun to be back in the area.
Post lunch we dropped off Matt and Laura at Target Center for the Lynx game.
The rest of us went back to Matt's apartment, toured his building, and then stopped by Lakes and Legends Brewery for a game of Sorry and a flight of beer.
Laura had a great time watching the Lynx breeze to a 20+ point victory and spending time with Uncle Matt.
What to choose... What to choose?
Oh looky here. A flight and Sorry = everyone wins!
This year's Canadian Fishing Trip will be remembered more for the accommodations than the fishing. Well, that's not completely true. Our two boats caught more "big" walleye (20" plus) than I can ever remember. Heck, I finally caught a walleye over 25" - a goal I have been chasing for 10 years. With all that said, the lodging defined this year's trip.
Cabin on Tug Channel - LOW.
Our group arrived Saturday afternoon at a cabin on the Tug Channel on the Lake of the Woods. No one was there to greet us or unlock the cabin. Annoyed, we didn't want to lose a day of fishing, so we decided to head out and check in later.
Several hours passed, and the cabin remained locked. No note was displayed or directions given. Nobody from the resort showed.
With nightfall quickly approaching, we could have traveled to the main lodge but it was an hour away and navigating these waters in the dark is dangerous.
Somehow, one of us found a way inside. From that moment, my trip dramatically changed. The cabin was SUPPOSED to have a TV, functioning appliances, running water, etc. None of it worked. Eventually, management sent technicians to fix the water, appliances, and other issues. But what was discovered next ruined my trip.
Mouse poop EVERYWHERE. TONS of it. Inside drawers, in the sink, on the counter, in beds...EVERYWHERE. So disgusting. I was uncomfortable, on edge, and didn't sleep that night.
Despite all that, I made the best of it. The scenery was beautiful, the food was great, and hanging out with the guys was so much fun.
In the second half of the trip, we moved camp to Redwing Lodge, the resort we stayed at last year. Unfortunately, this cabin didn't have enough beds, so I was assigned to the couch bed. At this point, I had enough. Tired, sunburned, and fed up, I didn't want to endure four more nights of this, so I threw in the towel. Jeremy was heading back to the cities, and there was my chance to get out of Dodge.
This brief taste of the 'olden days' puts into perspective what our forefathers endured and what we take for granted today. I have the utmost respect for those pioneers who lived on the prairie 100, 200, 300 years ago.
Jeremy shows us how to make and eat Walleye Ceviche. I did not participate in this!
A bear taking advantage of a berry patch. We saw this bear run and stand up.
Doesn't look like it, but this is the largest walleye of the trip. 28 incher.
The outside deck was an incredible place to hang out. Notice the garbage on the roof. With bear and raccoons in the area, the roof is the best method for disposing trash.
Lakeside campfire. Absolutely beautiful scenery.
Stunning view from our cabin at sunset.
Brian lands a 24" wally.
On Saturday, the muskie opener, Max lands this 47" gator. Incredible.
Rick with his runner-up 27" walleye.
For an unknown reason, the cabin had a creepy doll. We named it Oscar.
Our former daycare provider's daughter is about to graduate from HS this week. She had her grad party yesterday and many came out to support and celebrate with "Shell."
A Reunion
There were a few familiar faces - now much older - at the party.
Here's a flashback picture of Laura's first year at this daycare. The bottom picture is from the grad party.
As you can see, Ryan, Grace, Audrianna weren't even born at the time of the first pic and look how old they are now!
2011 - Aiden (Blue Shirt), Laura, CJ (Brown Shirt)
Over Memorial Day weekend, we had spent a few days at G&Gs house. Obviously the kids were excited to see G&G but, of course, Ryan had another motive - fishing.
Ryan received a "big boy" fishing pole and tacklebox from Great Auntie Sue and family a few weeks earlier at his birthday party. He could not wait a single minute to try it out. He begged to try it in the driveway. Unfortunately, a month earlier, with his old pole, he repeatedly aimed at the tree in the front yard and we put the kabosh on driveway fishing.
Fast forward to Memorial Day.
Ryan and Laura went to the dock and dropped their lines into the water. A few minutes later, Ryan's bobber submerged and we yelled, "You've got one! Reel it in." He slowly reeled in a small sunfish. And then another, and another. In a casual tone/voice, he said, "This is the life. Fishing."
Ryan cautiously touched the sunfish. By the end of the day, he wanted to touch its eyeball. Gross.
Then Laura caught on fire. Catching 8 fish in 20 minutes. BUT screamed every time a fish was on. "AHHHH, it's heavy!"
In that hour stretch, Ryan reeled in 9, Laura 11.
I reminded them that fishing is not always this active. Many times you sit and wait. Patience.
Next time, my goal is to teach Ryan how to 'set the hook' instead of slowly reeling in the line.
While many of us would have chosen a bedroom or bathroom as a location to read in privacy, Laura selected a leaf-less tree.
Doubling Up On Undies
This is the most astonishing occurrence of all. Ryan came home from daycare, immediately went to the bathroom and discovered - just then - he wore two sets of underwear that day.
