August slipped by in a blur of happy moments. Ian and I celebrated five years of marriage, attended local summer events, and gathered together with my family at Devils Lake to wish my brother and sister a happy birthday. It was a month full to the brim with outings, but we loved every moment of the chaos.

Last summer Ian and I attended The Iron Horse hotel’s anniversary party and won a free night stay. We decided there was no better time to use this voucher than on our five year anniversary.  While the hotel is only 15 minutes from our home, there was an element of excitement to stay downtown for the night. We took advantage of the hotel’s walking distance to the Third Ward’s moon festival and listened to jazz under the stars.

To keep our anniversary celebrations going, we booked a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan. I had yet to go beyond the breakwater, so I was anxious to see the city’s skyline from the lake. The view did not disappoint! I’m already looking forward to booking another trip.

In true summer fashion, August was sprinkled with weeknight excursions to local ice cream shops. We made a point to try all of the little independent stands in our neighborhood, which resulted in lively debates on which ones are our favorites.

To celebrate my brother and sister’s birthdays (both in August), the family planned an afternoon at Devil’s Lake. We grilled out, splashed around in the water, and rented a paddle boat. Many laughs were shared as we took in the beautiful views around us.

We ended the month being serenaded at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum. With live music wafting through the grounds, we felt like we had been transported to a Mediterranean estate. Watching the sun set from the terrace was a beautiful sight and it felt like the perfect way to say farewell to August.

To catch a glimpse inside our daily life in August, watch the video below!