Memorial Day Weekend

Andi and I spent Memorial Day weekend at our Wisconsin cabin. We drove up together Friday after work and beat cabin traffic. Single best thing about our new cabin this year is the shorter drive and the various ways to get there. It makes such a difference when we drive up after work. None of our friends were due at the cabin until Saturday morning  so Andi and I putzed around the cabin and went to dinner at Hilltop Retreat -- a restaurant we'd hear about from a few locals. It was literally in the middle of nowhere but totally worth the drive. Andi and I sat at the bar like we always do (is it weird we'd rather people-watch over dinner than share meaningful conversation? That's our style, I guess). We chatted with the owner's daughter - also the bartender - over dinner and learned some great tips about the area. Dinner was good too - Andi ordered the fish fry dinner and I had chicken strips and a baked potato. We'll definitely be back again this summer.

Follow the signs to Hilltop!

Saturday morning Andi and I woke up early and took the boat out on our lake, just our little family. It was a perfect way to kick off Memorial Day weekend. We bundled up in sweatshirts, grabbed coffees to go and the little pooch and took in the morning on the silent lake.

We spend the rest of the day outside. Our friends Nick and Julie came up with their two little boys. Our Jess came up to spend the day as well. We cleaned out the boat and then took it out on the water for an afternoon of wakesurfing.

Brian wakesurfing behind the boat

Just soaking up the sun

I was so proud of Chloe! She's finally become accustomed to having big hunting dogs around (not her favorite) and she played well with them. Or at least she acted as cool about it as she could.

Favorite photo of the summer thus far
What a snooty little girl she is

We closed the day with the first campfire of the season. No marshmallows this time; just friends and a few cocktails.

Brian drinking Spotted Cow
(have to try one of these WI beers after the baby ....
everyone was raving about them!)

Jess

The weather wasn't so great on Sunday so we laid low around the cabin. The boys took the boat out for a quick wakeboarding / wakesurfing session. I stayed behind and painted my fingernails and read magazines. All very relaxing. The afternoon concluded with some yard games and beers for the crew.

Mason and Brian playing the Frisbee game

Most of the crew headed to Turtle Lake casino, a few miles away from the cabin, for some late night gambling. Brian's girlfriend Melissa and I decided to stay back at the cabin and head to bed. One of the many advantages of being the pregnant girl - I just don't care what people think; I need my sleep.

Memorial Day Monday was a crappy weather day. It POURED all morning so we all decided to pack up and head back to the Cities. Once back in town, Andi and I hung around at home for a while (he worked; I organized the nursery) and then we headed out to grab dinner and scout neighborhoods / open houses. As much as I love the cabin, it was nice to be home for a few hours to relax and prepare for the week ahead.

Another wonderful Memorial Day weekend with friends. Summer's off to a great start!