Bedhead

Caleb went straight to bed last night after his bath, i.e. with wet hair.  And we found him this morning with a particularly charming hairdo.

It was especially awesome because, no matter what we do, the combover typically wins out every day.  It was still vying for attention this morning (despite the crazy hair), but in the end I think the bedhead won out.  It makes me want to put this kid to bed with wet hair more often!

Nose and Cheeks

Caleb's nose has seen its share of battles this week.  Only one of these marks was witnessed during its creation, the others randomly appearing as the days go by.  The current count is 5 marks/scabs, just on the nose.  What a way to portend the boyish rough-housing days to come!

And just because I couldn't resist sharing a profile of those cheeks....

I cannot begin to count the number of people who've commented on those cheeks.  The grocer at the store, the postal worker at the post office, the nursery lady at church, the sandwich maker at Subway, the random customer at the souvenir shop....everyone, everywhere, seems unable to resist commenting on the joy of those cheeks!  This boy's cheeks have brought more smiles to strangers than I ever would have imagined.  It seems they're a gift from God to bring delight to those we encounter in our little world.  What a blessing they have been!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Winter Walk to the Waterfall

There's a waterfall within walking distance from the house we're staying at, and today we ventured out in the cold to find it.  It's frozen and beautiful.  We could hear the water flowing underneath the ice and it was a marvel to behold!

Have I mentioned how much Caleb loves being outside?  He LOVES it.  Even if it's cold.  There are few things that make him happier than walking out the door.  

We're enjoying these last few chances to enjoy winter before spring comes.  We truly love all four seasons and are glad to explore this beautiful place while we can!

Grand Marais

We're finally here: Grand Marais!  This is a lovely little town on the North Shore (it's essentially the last stop before Canada) where we get to spend three weeks during Eli's rural rotation.  We love this town.  We've dreamed about living here someday.  It has a population of 1,300 and is an outdoor paradise.  It sits where the Sawtooth Mountains meet Lake Superior and where the soul's need to breathe meets the freshest lake air a Minnesota winter can offer.  We are finally feeling the rest and refreshment that's been eluding us for months.

sunrise over Lake Superior, as seen from our front porch

Eli is working at the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, helping whichever doctor is on-call each day.  Yesterday he traveled to Grand Portage to work on the Indian Reservation there.  He's staying busy despite being in such a small town, but we're looking forward to his 4-day work week and enjoying extra time together as a family.

We're privileged to be staying at a doctor's home while we're here.  This particular doctor is on faculty at the residency and still has a home on Lake Superior from when he used to work here in Grand Marais.  He and his wife were gracious enough to let us stay in their home during our time here and we are enjoying it immensely.  It's a beautiful home and Caleb has plenty of room to explore and play.  More than anything, we love hearing the water hitting the shore as we lay in bed at night, and love waking up to the sunrise over the lake each morning.

our beautiful residence while in Grand Marais

there's a wood-burning fireplace, which Eli adores, as does Caleb (hence all the dining room chairs strategically placed to block his regular attempts of crawling on the hearth)

We don't have cell phone service here (T-Mobile is notoriously bad in rural areas), but we love the freedom of having our phones turned off.  We like the separation from the world.  Everyone needs that from time to time, and we are needing it now.  It's been a salve to the soul to spend time connecting with each other and to enjoy playing with our son, all three of us together, with no interruptions, no pressing matters to attend to, no need to rush.  We're slowing down and remembering what it's like to be a family.  We've got three weeks to enjoy this pace before heading back to the insanity of residency, and we are thankful to God for granting us this time and this place to be.

Sleigh Ride

One of Eli's fellow residents lives in the countryside and has two Percheron draft horses.  Today she and her husband invited people to come out for a sleigh ride!  Even though Eli couldn't come, Caleb and I had a grand time.  It was chilly, but we bundled up and enjoyed snuggling while the horses took us for a breathtaking ride through the country as the sun was starting to set.  It was glorious!

Caleb also got to meet the horses, Prince and Pete.  He wasn't sure what to think at first, but soon enough he was trying to say hello :)  

Eli and I often say, "Someday, someday, we won't have to live in the city anymore.  Someday, someday, we'll live in the country."  This is why:

Glorious, isn't it?

Seven Years Ago Today...

...we made the best decision of our lives.  We chose each other.  And we'll continue choosing each other till the day we die.

 

"He who is in love is wise and is becoming wiser, 

sees newly every time he looks at the object beloved, 

drawing from it with his eyes and his mind those virtues which it possesses."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mariner

I took Caleb to the Maritime Museum in Canal Park today.  He loved the ship's steering wheel!  He was bouncing and turning the wheel and shouting excitedly.  I should've taken a video.  He was too cute.  I'm looking forward to bringing this little mariner to watch the boats come into the harbor this summer!

Balloon

Eli brought home this white balloon from the hospital last night, and Caleb was intrigued and delighted to discover it this morning.  It entertained him all morning.  This kid truly loves the simple things in life :)

It's a little hard to hear, but he burped in my face as I was saying Good Morning.  Lovely :)