We're back to our normal (as it gets) life now.  The weather's been so awesome so we've been outside a lot working/playing in the yard and constructing a giant play system in the backyard to occupy four little boys.  Also, we've all got sore throats now (at least the three of us who speak) so we had ice cream for supper last night and chocolate milk for breakfast this morning.  Didn't help much.

Duluth was a success in that we saw what we went to see: Thomas, big ships in the harbor, and a hotel swimming pool.  We rode on a train pulled by Thomas, along the lakeshore; Axel's been suggesting we should ride on a train for some time, so we thought he would love this.  Telling him we had a surprise was maybe not the way to do this - he was hoping his surprise was cake.

Here we are on the train - Magnus is attached to me in a Bjorn so he didn't make the picture.

Axel and Thomas

Axel and Sir Topham Hat - he was kind of odd.

We walked from our hotel downtown to The Depot and then to Canal Park and around.  The triple stroller is a blessing and a curse.  For our purpose of moving about four small children it works wonders and rolls nicely, plus holds a lot of stuff in the storage areas.  On the other hand, it creates for us poor sidewalk etiquette and does not fit in any standard doorways.  Jesse was soon not a fan of the thing, and I pushed it back up the hill to our hotel/car.  The whole thing was making us kind of crabby, so we decided we were done with Duluth after less than 24 hours there.  We checked into staying at a couple of casinos but they were booked, so we headed to our favorite hotel by the Mall of America for some metro area entertainment. 

Remember, however, that Jesse was now hating the stroller, so anywhere indoors was undesirable.  We intended to take in the King Tut exhibit, but decided against it, as well as the Children's Museum.  I know those places are regular-stroller friendly, but we were not sure about the triple rig, so we decided we'd return another time without the babies.  They don't care about science right now anyway.

We ended up here the next day, another place Axel adores and has no width limitations on strollers.

At this point, Axel refused to stand with us for a family picture.  He ran in circles nearby watching his shadow.  Sometimes I swear he's that kid on Parenthood who runs around with a bucket on his head.

He was willing to take a picture with just me, and also of himself by some huge hibiscus.



Axel fell asleep after that so we went back to the hotel for naps, where we stayed the rest of the day and he got some more time in the pool.  The next day we hit the big Mall, as our stroller did make it through the doors and into elevators, as long as removed one back wheel.  What a process.  Jesse and Axel played with Legos while I lapped the Mall and fielded stares and questions about my babies.  Even in Nickelodeon Universe we were a spectacle, a place with giant Spongebobs and roller coasters.  We nourished ourselves at (you guessed it!) Hooters.

I asked him to stand by this crocodile in the Disney Store. 

He pretended it was eating him.  Close enough.

We returned home that evening resolving not to do that (vacation) again for a long time.  It was more work than fun much of the time, and I guess that's why we stay home a lot.

Wednesday was the 15th anniversary of my 16th birthday.  I celebrated by leaving the house alone for a haircut and as much shopping as Willmar offers.  When I came home Axel wanted to play bat and ball, which for him is equal time hitting and pitching.  I got one hit and was hit by a pitch three times.  Jesse and I went on our bimonthly date that night, to Melvyn's in Spicer.  Since it was so beautiful I requested we took one of the convertibles in this family - one I'd never ridden in other than for a parade.  I call it the Cruella DeVille car.  It offers unobstructed views, and close quarters to allow for good conversation.  It also does your hair for you on the way.