Summer hodgepodge part two

These are random photos from Ryan's phone. 

Quite time in the beaver lodge at the Aquarium.

It's been a long day. :)

Time with Frank, Erin and a fashionable Shakira.

Snacks at the Zoellick-Maragi house.

Getting her feet wet.

Lucy and Elmo wishing Aunt Kelly happy birthday.

On our Hartley canoe trip I ended up portaging quite a bit as well - backpack, lifejackets, paddles and a 27 pound toddler. It was the only way to keep her from running into the woods. 

"Row Row!"

These are a few photos from the rain event and flooding in Duluth this summer. This stream is just a blocks from our house.

Lucy and Ryan often visit me at work on the weekends. 

Confident girl walking a less than confident dog.

Rocking her birthday outfit from Uncle Neal and Aunt Kelly.

Naked splashing and rock throwing in Lake Superior.

Legos are a huge hit right now. It's as team effort. 

Summer time potpourri - Volume One

Summer has been busy and wonderful so far. We have been enjoying time in the backyard, along the lake and with each other. This post is a hodgepodge of photos from my phone. Enjoy the eclectic snapshot into my life (both work and play).

We went for a paddle at Hartley Nature Center. Thanks to Ryan for portaging our canoe without portage pads. Oops. Next time we'll bring everything. (right.) Lucy still talks about this. She paddled with a spoon and now says "row row" everytime she sees a spoon or her lifejacket. We're gotten her hooked! Awesome. I can't wait to do more on the water with her. 

Lu got a bike for her birthday.

Grandma and Grandpa Erickson brought these little tables recently. The chair Lu is sitting in was from the one room school house Pam attended when she was little. 

After the flooding - the Lake Superior Zoo's otters came to live at the Aquarium for a while. This is particularly fun because their holding space is a few steps from our offices in the basement. And they are very playful. What a nice treat to walk in and watch them frolic between emails. Here is the male, Otto, taking a sniff of Tara (our otter keeper). 

A lovely day on the waterfront. 

These are dwarf cuttlefish. Here they are strobing their colors and looking very alien. These males are establishing a pecking order. 

Lucy and Ryan's evening routine. A bedtime snack and books. She's pretty particular about Ryan being there for this. 

The kid pool has been well loved.

This big guy is Zeus. He was made by Mary Plaster, a local puppet maker and artist. He is at the Aquarium to announce an upcoming youth theater production of the "The Oddest Sea" - a Lake Superior spin on the classic tale. Up close this puppet is a little frightening. We'll just keep him up there on the balcony. 

A favorite activity. Hopefully this ends before high school. 

A constellation turtle from Uncle Ben and Aunt Trish. 

Jellyfish have arrived in the salt water gallery. 

A walk along the waterfront in Two Harbors. 

After the walk on the waterfront.

Summer hydration is key. 

As is a cute outfit. More often than not though pool time is naked time.