Winter quiet in the north woods

My family and I were fortunate enough to escape for a long weekend to a cabin up near Hayward. It's a beautiful area full of lakes and wilderness.

We try to make a point to go at least once during the summer and once during winter. My husband prefers to go in the dead of winter, and takes great comfort in the quiet and solitude that a cabin in the woods provides. The kids enjoyed exploring the frozen lake, looking down while standing on black ice is pretty intimidating!

My 5-year-old's wish for the weekend was to see the northern lights. So we bundled up late one night, and with only the moonlight to guide us we went out onto the lake and looked up. While we didn't see any sign of the aura borealis, we did get a front row seat to a beautiful sky full of stars. It's so nice to be able to check out from the rat race of everyday life and slow down together.

We even managed to put together a 1000 piece puzzle! I cannot tell you the last time I did a puzzle, and what great pleasure we took to work together to see it through.

It's not everyday that we get to have time to watch a movie in the middle of the day, or just play a board game. You don't need a cabin to do these activities. But there is something a bit magical about getting away, wearing comfy clothes all day, and just taking pleasure in being together doing little things.

Who knows, maybe next time my little girl's wish will come true and we will get to see those northern lights after all.