Celebrating Dean turning 11

Okay, it's been FOREVER since I've posted on here (I know, I say that a lot don't I) ... but I'm trying to change things up.

So, Groundhog's day meant Dean was turning 11 this year and we had been thinking for some time what to do.  See, by this age the friend circle constricts and they're ageing out of doing things like 'parties'.  What to do?  Well, we asked him and he wanted a sleep over party (he had one last year).

But, we knew he liked going to Duluth for that Adventure Zone (kinda like Wacky's, but kicked up a notch with mini-putt and laser tag).  And he likes going to hotels for the pools and waffle makers breakfast.  So we had the idea to maybe take a few friends with him to the States.

In the end, we did both.

On his actual birthday, we had him have 2 friends sleep over.  They played and partied until the wee hours of the night (they had just missed the Marshmello concert on Fortnite - who doesn't love a little Marshmello, *I* even bought the skin  - and there was going to be a 'replay' at 2am).

Then for the Sunday, we held a family party and he invited a couple of other friends over for that too.

It was a long day and even though he had been up until 2am and inundated with family and party for Superbowl Sunday, he still squeaked in some quiet video game time.

Apparently, they are playing together.

Dean has wanted only a few things in his life.  He's liked a lot of things, but he loves his video games.  It was tough, but we impressed upon him the importance of saving his money and with money he received from his birthday he was able to finally have enough to purchase a Nintendo Switch.

This was the first major purchase he'd ever made and it was with his own money.  Some he got as gifts, some he earned ... but it was his now.

He even went to the store and I got him to think about shopping around.

The result was one very happy kid.

Switch in hand he was set to embark on the Duluth trip.

We set out at an early 950am in Thunder Bay with 2 friends, devices in tow and snacks at the ready - finally arriving at the hotel for 430pm Duluth time.

We started out and got across the border.  Our border guard wasn't exactly enthused to see us hand over our passports but then 3 kids worth of birth certificates, health cards and letters from parents.  But we got through and stopped at Grand Portage for some snacks.  Dean couldn't wait to share the wonders of the mysterious Whatchamacallit.

Oh, and Mountain Dew.  For some reason, over the past year Dean has developed a desire to drink that caffeinated beverage ... ugh.  I don't know if he actually likes it, or likes the idea of a drink that makes you go crazy!

Well, with sugar, caffeine, video games we decided that we couldn't just drive - we'd need to find a break from the screens and an outlet for all that energy and made a couple stops with them.

We first got out at Temperence River state park.

 It was a fun little hike ... the area had had a lot of snow and the typical simple hike was a little more slippery - but it was so much fun.  Can't  you see it on their faces?

Gotta do the obligatory dab pose too.

The neat feature of Temperence (north side hike trail) was they have a waterfall with a 'corkscrew' pool area.

The water comes from the waterfall and hits a little area and swirls around and over a long long time it has a corkscrew effect boring into the earth.

It's very neat.

And very fun to throw stuff into when it's all snow.

Then we went a bit further to stop on at Gooseberry State Park.

They have a fantastic visitor centre and several hiking trails and cross country trails.

Was really cool.

If anything, it was nice to get out and walk around somewhere that's not just outside in the cold.  Kinda prepped us to do a little hike.

They even had a fireplace inside to warm up before and after.

We went along a simple walk and there was a ton of snow everywhere.  The steps were very slippery and you were warned everywhere to do it at your own peril.

That doesn't stop kids from wanting to try. 

Climb up and then slide down.

This bench was barely visible being covered with snow.

We found a nice little cave ... debated leaving them there.

I'm sure they would be warm enough.

After that we rolled into Two Harbors.  There we went and got Dean a fancy 'birthday cupcake assortment' (they had a sale on cupcakes and figured it was easier than finding a birthday cake - and they could pick their own styles).  We got more snacks for the hotel party and had lunch at Culvers.

By 430PM ... 7.5 hours after we set out, we landed at the hotel.  It took us some time to unpack everything - but as soon as possible we hiked out Canal Park to make it to Adventure Zone.

It's hard to take pictures in there as they wing and zing around playing laser tag ...

readying for the battle that is laser tag - the literal version of Fortnite's "Team Rumble"

... mini-putting, playing arcade games etc...  They were literal sweat bags after a few hours there.  It was great.  Time to get back to the hotel for some swimming.  We ordered pizza and just hung out for a few hours - chowing on pizza, eating some of the carrots, but mostly they played a lot of video games.

Everybody woke up for breakfast downstairs at 7am and despite their interest, never did make their own waffle or use the 'pancake pooping machine' - maybe still full from the snacking the night before. 

We requested a late checkout to do a little more swimming (they found a pool toy - baby shark) and had a fun time.

Then it's time to cram back in the car (better get the chargers ready for the devices) for the ride home.

Mandy needed a stop to make for sewing supplies - and the gang went to a game stop.

Then it was a drive back home.  We only made a stop for a couple of snacks and leg stretching.

One near Split Rock Lighthouse (they are closed, but this lookout nearby lets you just see it in the distance).

And then one little stop for a lookout near Mount Josephine.  Dean had literally just woken up.

Who's ready for home?

We sure are... but it was a great weekend.  And would enjoy doing that kind of thing with Dean and his friends again.  Hopefully, memories made for a lifetime.