My birthday was fabulous, I thought I would let you all know, because I’m sure you’ve been holding your breath. On Friday night we went out to dinner and drinks with some friends, and then proceeded to go back to our house (by way of a bar for me and DQ for Ryan) to continue the party with drinks and an ice cream cake. It was awesome.

Saturday morning we got up and it was pretty foggy, but that’s how a lot of mornings start off in Duluth in the fall and spring. So we packed up and went on our backpacking trip with our other friends, Chris & Erin. The day got brighter, and by the time we got to the trail head it looked like it was going to be gorgeous. And the hike out was. It didn’t start sprinkling until after we had camp set up. But it didn’t really stop sprinkling/raining until the middle of the night (I was sleeping, but I heard from Chris and Erin that the moon was shining on the lake at 4am). The morning was very dewey and overcast, and before we could get camp totally broken down it had started raining again. It rained for most of our hike back to the cars (about 2.5 miles I think). Obviously by the time we got back to the cars and then back to Duluth we were very thankful for a hot shower and a yummy meal at the Brewhouse. And then Ryan and I watched “Anatomy of a Murder” and went to bed. It was a very fulfilling weekend.

I honestly have to say that I’m glad we went camping. I really wanted to go backpacking this summer, and this was our first and only time all summer. But I really wish it hadn’t rained almost the entire time. We spent most of the time at camp in our respective tents or standing around shivering, waiting for the food to be done. We did go on a hike without our packs, and the forest up there was beautiful. It was all maple and birch, and the maples were just starting to turn. Unfortunately, because it was raining almost the whole time, we didn’t even take the camera out.

This week is “clean up our disgusting apartment!” week, I’ve decided. Especially after coming home with everything wet from backpacking, our place is a disaster. And it wasn’t helped by the fact that we went and “completed” one of our bridal registries last night, so now we have more stuff to put away. Not that I’m complaining! I love having curtains! And a roasting pan! And a card table and chairs so we can actually have people over to play games! But yah…we need to do some organizing/cleaning. ASAP.

Also, just to share; Oktoberfest is in 2 weeks! My grandparents on my mom’s side have been HEAVILY involved in their hometown Oktoberfest celebration since it started (I think Grandpa and Grandma may have been the initial instigators??), and my family tries to go every year. And by my family I mean me, as many of my sisters as can make it, as many of my mom’s siblings and their families as can make it (she has 7 siblings) and usually 1 or 2 of my grandparents’ siblings. We kind of take over (it’s a small town). And it is AWESOME. So yah. Ryan and I will be heading up north in a couple weeks to drink beer, eat yummy German food and dance the waltz, polka, schottish and two-step. And attend Polka Mass in a tent on Sunday morning. Because you can’t go to Oktoberfest without having Polka Mass with a live band in a tent. I will take pictures, don’t worry. Probably not of Mass, though. That’s kind of frowned upon.

In closing: a photo of my sisters and myself at a wedding we attended this summer. My youngest sister was a bridesmaid, hence the blue dress. Also, we are klassy at home, and some of us *cough*youngest sister*cough* keep cigarrettes in our cleavage. Or something. Don’t mock – you know we are fun!