Final Camping post

Our family plus Black Grandpa took a hike on a scenic overlook trail while Grandma stayed behind to enjoy some peace and quiet.  Lucky Grandma.

Grandma usually helps Grandpa on the steps, so Sophie took it upon herself to be sure he got down safely in Grandma's absence.

This was the view at the end of the path.  Wow!

Camping was awesome!   And now I can finally get to the first day of Kindergarten pictures.  Stay tuned!

More camping

This is the view from the "troll bridge" as we hiked near sunset one evening.

My mom and dad, Yellow Grandma & Grandpa.  They joined us for part of the weekend.  The kids slept in Black Grandma & Grandpa's camper, and these two slept in ours.  The kids may have gotten the better deal...there was air conditioning in the other camper!

We had marshmallows as big as your head for making s'mores. 

We hiked down to an overlook near the river so we could watch some crazy kayakers traverse the wild waters.

We were in the midst of potty training Owen that week, and since we were at our maximum time between potty stops and nowhere near a toilet, Greg took Owen for his first trip to go "wet in the woods."  I have another cuter picture to commemorate the event, but it involves partially bared little buns, so I didn't want to post it here.

Finally, the kayakers made their way down the river...the crazies!

We had fun watching them put themselves in harms way for our entertainment.

On the way back to the campground, we also checked out a pioneer cemetery.  Pioneers did not generally live terribly long lives. 

Later that day, college friends of ours who live nearby brought their clown car full of children by to visit and have a campfire.  Our kids enjoyed their kids.

And everyone enjoyed cooking over the fire.

Michelle...and a few of her kids.

More of her kids.

Mike and Greg were roommates one year...I think sophomore year.

They still get along really well. 

We enjoy spending time with Mike and Michelle whenever we get a chance, so it was fun to have them visit us while we were camping.

There are still more camping pictures to come.  I hope you can stand it!

Catching up...August Camping

At the end of August, our family went camping with Black Grandma & Grandpa.  Yellow Grandma & Grandpa joined us a few days later...they'll be in a later post.

We went to Jay Cooke State Park, and it was magnificent!  We loved hiking near the river.  This was the "troll bride," as the kids called it.  Which was fitting because they traipsed along the bumpy hiking trails like little mountain goats.  The river water looked like "root beard."

The kids (and grandpa) found a dead snake on our walk.  We had to look for it each time we passed this spot throughout the week.

Cute little campers!

One of the highlights of this camping trip (for the kids...and grandpa) were whoopie cushions.  One of our favorite quotes from Owen:  "I want to whoopie you!"  The kids weren't very subtle in their whoopie cushion placement, but they sure got a kick out of the various fart noises!

Grandma and especially Sophie spent a lot of time reading through this book.  By the end of this week, they'd read every story in the collection!

We spent a day in nearby Duluth.  We rented a surrey with a fringe on top (I don't know if that's the real name, but it beats "6-person bicycle-thingy"). 

Grandma and Grandpa rode in the back so Greg and I could handle the brakes and steering.  Except that my steering wheel was merely for show...but that didn't keep me from desperately trying to steer us out of danger anyway!  I think we determined that the heavy effort of the pedaling must have come from the back of the bike, as Grandma & Grandpa were huffing & puffing the whole way and constantly asking to stop for breaks.  

These little slackers just enjoyed the ride on the basket on the front.

After our delightful bike ride (we laughed until we cried...or at least I did!), we had a lovely picnic.  Part shade, part sun, to please everyone.

Then we went down to the water to climb on the rocks.  The kids used this one as a slide.

Christmas picture??!!