Last but not least!

 

 

 

 

We did have a chance to play at the park after our walk. Mini-B continues to be more bold and able when it comes to the climbing areas. We shared some nachos, a hot dog, and some ice cream. But I think her favorite thing that day was playing on the tire swing. Here are some pictures of that.

Duluth

 

 

 

 

So we've been busy. A few weeks ago we decided to make the drive up to Duluth, MN, a port city on Lake Superior. I'd been there once before on the way to go backpacking along the North Shore of Lake Superior, but Mrs. B and Mini-B had never been. It was a beautiful drive. We walked along the Lake Walk and stopped at the Duluth Rose Garden. It's colder and much windier in Duluth because of the lake, but sometimes the sky would clear and it would be gorgeous. Our trip was cut a bit short due to the weather and the long drive (it's about three hours to and from Minneapolis), but we're definitely planning to return, probably sometime in the spring.

More Duluth

 

 

 

 

Sweet Duluth

 

 

 

 

So as I said previously, it was a windy, overcast day in Duluth and there weren't tons of people out. But we did see a small gaggle of folks lining up for ice cream at this place. We thought that it must be good stuff if folks were lining up to buy it on a cold day. It was! We think the building must have been a gas station at some point (they just don't build gas stations like they used to). Unfortunealy for her, Mini-B was asleep and this point so she missed out on the goods (fortuneately for myself and Mrs. B because that meant more for us!)

Afton State Park

 

 

 

 

Here are some photos from our trip to Afton State Park. That's right, we've been putting our state park pass to use and we had a great trip a few weeks ago to Afton State Park. Afton is located on the St. Croix River, just across from Wisconsin. This is a beautiful river and it's also quite significant in the history of this area. The St. Croix served as a major waterway for French trappers. I hear it's still one of the most popular places to float a canoe.

More Afton

 

 

 

 

Even More Afton

 

 

 

 

Final Afton

 

The day started with a hike that took us down to the river via a multi-use trail (hiking/biking/horses/people dragging canoes on short trailers). Then after playing at the river, we had a great walk along the river's edge for a half a mile, then we climbed back up the bluffs and passed through this area that the park staff is trying to re-establish as a prairie before making it back to our car.

Minnetonka Apple Orchards

We decided on a whim to spend a Saturday at the Minnetonka Apple Orchard. It was a beautiful fall day and we got to pick 12 pounds of the BEST apples available Honeycrisps. If you have never had one you are missing out. We also got to eat a homemade carmel apple and some apple cider donuts. We had a great time. Enjoy the pictures.

The finished product!! Good ole' apple pie

The State Fair

Check out our video of the 2007 Minnesota State Fair. It was a great time. We saw lots of stuff (like giant robots and marching bands and RC Cola and a space needle) and ate lots of crazy food. In no particular order the Bojangles consumed a foot-long hotdog, a bacon-wrapped turkey tenderloin on-a-stick, a plate of cheese curds, a funnel cake, a snow cone, and a deep-fried Snickers bar on-a-stick!

Company Retreat

So we went to northern Wisconsin for the QBP Company Retreat. We had a great time and went on a cool nature walk.

Visitors from the Republic

Stay tuned for some photos and videos of the visitors we had this summer!

Mini-B's New Groove

Now, our daughter likes to sing and she likes to dance. We are excited about that. We encourage it. We've said that we wouldn't be surprised if her interest in these things grew when she got older. But we didn't think that older would mean 19 months!

If you don't know what she's dancing to, scroll down and click play.

Yes, that's right folks, Soul Train. We were watching a show about Adventure Racing and then I went into the kitchen to get something. The next thing I know, my daughter changed the channel and was groovin'!

The 4th

Mini-B is learning to swim!

I was swimming with Mini-B at the pool in our apartment complex. That is nothing unusual. She really likes the water. But today she starting venturing out and swimming (well, sort of..) Check out the video!

More fun at the parks!

This weekend we made it back to Hyland Park, which is located right next to where I work. We parked at QBP and took a nice walk through the woods along the hike/bike trail. That led us to this great play area. Check out the video of Ru playing and then sleeping in the car on the way home. Come to MN and you can play in the park with us!

More fun at the parks photos!

Here are some photos of Ru at the park and of her sleeping with her new baby doll on the way home.

Nature Valley Grand Prix

So every year about this time, Minnesota plays host to the Nature Valley Grand Prix - the Midwest's premier cycling event. The Bojangles turned out for two of the five days of racing, both the Friday night downtown criterium and the Sunday finale at Stillwater, MN. Check out the video!

Ru's Visit to Texas

Ru with her friends from College Station

Funny Pictures at Nana and Papaw's

Ru cuddling with Nana