Grandma's Cabin 2011

With all the camping we did this summer I have to say our weekend spent up at Grandma's cabin was one of the tops. It's a quiet lake, there aren't other campers/tents just feet from ours, we have the docks all to ourselves, and the fishing gets better & better every year! Best of all, Grandpa, Grandma, & Gr-Grandma are there! This year the lake is WAY up with all the rain we have been getting and to the point that the "big dock," as the kids call it was completely submersed under water. The other dock was close but still above and the fun Brie & Conner had swimming between the two was just awesome. They were literally in the water after breakfast, came out for lunch and didn't stop until supper time! Reminded me of when I was little swimming at the lake with my cousins, brothers, & sisters. We feel extremely blessed to have this place in the family and intend to spend more time up there next summer. This weekend truly spelled relaxation for us. Look forward to returning many more times in 2012!

Grandpa & Daddy joining in the fun w/Brie & Conner

They jumped off the docks, over and over and over again. They created some great new moves too!

Grandma & Gr Grandma were able to relax & watch it all on top of the hill under the gazebo, it was just a gorgeous weekend!

Grandpa and what is by far the BEST way to dismount from a kayak, having the dock under water served so many great purposes!

After a later evening meal here are my kids, completely water logged, exhausted from the constant jumping & swimming but still not ready to leave the waterside yet. Brie read for a while, Conner just sat & listened to all the wonderful sounds & the spectacular scenery.

Brienna & Noah racing back to the dock, these two are such peas in pods, so great my kids have such amazing cousins.

Kayaking time with Mommy, he's ready for his own next year! Will miss those fun times on the lake with my little man..... Next year it will be like bumper boats..

One, two, three, and go! Carter, Conner, Noah, & Brie!

Carter paddling around...

Conner chasing after Carter....

And vice versa!

Taking a break on the sunken ship, oh I mean dock!

Little Lily was not a fan of the dock & preferred the beach setting so for a couple hours we headed into Starbuck to allow her a little time on the beach there. Well at least what was left of it, Minnewaska had just a tiny sliver of their normally enormous beach above water. Here's Conner doing his best cannonball of the dock there!

Every picture tells a tale, this one speaks of a familiar scene of boys & their rock collections. Here Conner & Noah had found a particularly cool one that they just had to show Uncle Jason. Our camper has been turned into a storage facility for Brienna & Conner's vast rock collections. Of all the toys, gadgets, etc... in the world, our kids are forever fascinating by rocks! So now you know the rest of the story.....

The girls head out for a tour around the lake, it was a beautiful day for it, got pretty close to a loon too!

Jason tossing Carter off the dock, even the big boys got in on the fun!

Lily finally got to play in her sand.....

Slide time! That never gets old.....

Finally, the kids waited and waited for the Bastin's to get there! Noah & Carter casing the place & ready to get suits on!

Tugboat Conner...

Brienna out of the water, just long enough to grab the tube, we're heading out a little farther from the dock with Mommy, boats should have no problem spotting her!

Conner's ready to go - hurry up Mommy get on that floaty - and NO there is not a pic of that thank you very much!

Jumping and jumping and jumping - you'd think they were frogs!

Walking on water...

Nice expression Brie, Conner that's going to really hurt! Remember we talked about belly flops!

Go!

Ready, set...

Fish two

Fish one

Band Camp Concert in the Park

Thursday night we found ourselves enjoying a beautiful night at Walnut Park watching Brie's end of band camp concert, it was warm but with low humidity for once. This was her first summer participating. She had such a blast that she's already indicated that she WILL be going again next year. For two weeks these kids met & worked really hard preparing for this, many came from surrounding communities & several from out-of-state that are here staying with Grandparents for the summer. Once again we were suprised at how well they did, you could easily recognize the songs, our favorite was Accidentally in Love from Shrek, but at the bottom of this post was another favorite which I think you'll be able to guess easily. We have thouroughly enjoyed watching Brie learn to play her flute over the last school year & look forward to hearing the progress continue year after year. We're so proud of you peanut, you make beautiful music, keep up the great work!!!

They spent one afternoon of camp tie dying t-shirts to wear tonight, they were also allowed to wear sunglasses & bring funky hats & stuff to the concert too.

Conner was less than thrilled & spent the better part of the begining this way - truth be told he was pouting because he was told he couldn't go play on the playground set on the opposite end of the park until the concert was over.

Brie with best bud Katelyn

Conner's Soccer Jamboree!

The Manchester United soccer team ended the season with a bang, they technically don't keep score at this age but overall they lost only two matches, not bad at all! It was such a blast watching these little boys run up & down the field this past season, they are so stinking adorable!!! The league holds a huge jamboree for all rec teams at the end of the season, below are some shots from that event. They have fire trucks to soak the kids, pizza & pop, a K-9 demonstration & the teams hand out medals to all their players, he was pretty excited & REALLY wet by the time we got home....

Pre-soaking photo
Bring the rain......

Here comes big Sis too, even though she's on the competitive traveling league she couldn't resist joining in on all the fun - don't blame you Brie!

Brie & Isabelle (B's coaches daughter, we've gotten to be really great friends with that family)

Two Parks in Four Days!!!!

Our family vacation was cut short this year by our wonderful state government, ultimately we made do and below is one of my many "MEGA" posts. A mega post is defined as a massive conglomerate of photos that I don't want to include in a slide show because they don't allow enough characters in the photo descriptions to satisfy my long windedness! So here we go again, documentation of yet another unforgettable summer get away!

The first leg of our adventure started at Schroeder Campground near Annandale MN, it's one of our late summer hot spots because of its amazingly vast beach & clean lake. So when the heat of the summer hits, you can count on this beach not being "scummy!" Conner taking a break from the awesome sun & sand!

Holes, yep he's not committing a beach crime by using the lake as a you know what, but instead digging massive holes for the unsuspecting swimmer to disappear into! Steve was also a participant & might have spear headed this whole concept I'm afraid! The kids loved it!

While Daddy fishes tirelessly in his kayak off shore, the kids are netting their own on shore!

Brienna caught the most - surprise surprise! She has more patience than her younger brother!

Mommy's floaty was the "live well" for their big catch, each hole was filled in no time! I give them an A+ for creativity!

Daddy surprised Conner with a floaty of his own, yep a big red lobster! Not sure who had more fun with this over the weekend, Conner, Brie or the adults!

There is a reason the package listed an age range of 6 & under.... attempt #1

#2

& #3, in all fairness, Brienna did prevail & was able to enjoy relaxing as well. This red lobster was such a hit this trip, it's unclear whether it was Conner or the rest of us!

P.S. what you won't see (because the camera lady was in the water as well) is Amanda attempting & succeeding in floating on this colorful floaty - but it was said during her attempt "Amanda, what you're doing to that floaty just aint right!"

A great game of Farkle, pretty sure Ashley wasn't the winner for once!

Ryan, aka Jungle Gym was constantly being pulled in every which direction, what a trooper he was!

Friday at noon we were allowed to come & camp at Lake Carlos State Park in Alex! We got word late Thursday night so plans were hatched for an early departure from Schroeder campgrounds Friday morning. Once set in place we took off to the race track for some good ol racing fun!

This was on track #3 at the park, not too fast but not the kids track either!

Ryan ready to get this race started!

The "gals" - they must go fast enough because even Brie didn't make the height requirement to race this track by herself - next year Brie!!! Think tall all year long okay!

LOVE Conner's expression on this one!

I can't post them all, even though it looks like I did, but in each photo of these pretty gals, Brie has the most hysterical expressions! This is one of the best ones!

Another great one of Conner & Steve - but notice what looks like a bored Ryan smashed in the middle, totally never got the break away he wanted!

Not bad, but still a funny grin peanut :)! Love that you're so goofy - never stop please!

Off to track #1 and the fastest track they had, lots of curves, it was a blast! Conner & Daddy in the Edina Realty car, as Conner puts it, red means fast.....

Ryan's sponsors for this race were: Stony Creek Dairy, Old Home, & Eiden's Food Fair

The girls are at it again in the Cinema9 car - go Ash & Brie!

Speaks for itself.....

Under the bridge they go & then back up to the right over on the bridge, was a really fun track!

Ryan rounding the track!

Racing with your eyes closed AND my daughter in the car - ASHLEY!!!!!

Finally, track #2, the kids only track - go Brie! See how she's crammed in there, under the adult limit but above the kids - sorry peanut, there's always next year!

Conner in the M&M car, out in front & ready to race all by himself for the first time! Man was he stoked!

Rounding the 2nd turn and in the lead - go Conner!

Stalled, clearly the "no bumping" wasn't enforced well here as Brie jams both herself & Conner against the wall half way through the race!

Or was her genius ploy to get out front, she finishes in front of her brother as a result!

Daddy & Ryan going it alone once, while Steve started out ahead, Ryan finished in 1st place!

Ashley & her pit crew!

Off to the winery we go! Carlos Creek Winery for some wine tasting, music, & more relaxation!

New this year is this huge pergola that I had Steve promise to build for me someday, it's beautiful!

Kiddos climbing near the pond at the winery

A giant chess set is always another favorite for the kids, I can just hear Conner thinking "where should i put this thing"

The gals under the pergola enjoying some music

The guys were there too!

croquet anyone?

Conner is inspecting something in the grass, can you guess what bug he's after?

A cricket maybe?

Getting closer, a grasshoper possibly?

NOPE! A slimy FROG!!!!!!

Last stop, Bugaboo Bay for Supper! Yum :)!

You'll find Conner in his usual place right by the salt water tanks, this time he had his admirer with him, she was such a doll & he was more than lovin' the attention!

Like we haven't had enough fun, we thought it's time to say goodbye to the training wheels. This park would be the best place with it's paved flat trails throughout the campground so off they came.....

and off he went! While Daddy was telling him all the right things "I won't let go, I'll run right here beside you, don't worry I'm right here!" Conner just paddled away round and round he went, clearly we should have done this A LONG TIME ago!

After sticking the dismounts we're only left with a little work on pushing off to get started - can't wait to hit the trails this fall with everyone on bikes!!!!!

Ashley, you will always amaze me but your ability to unwrap a starburst in your mouth only using your tongue still has us all impressed!

Kisses for Ashley!

Another first for Conner, playing cards, he's never sat still long enough to play or shown an interest - look out everyone he rocks at playing WAR! Care to take him on?

When Amanda arrived late Friday night the kids were just blown away, they kept thinking good grief this keeps getting better & better! So in true fasion we showed Amanda why we love this area so much and off to the winery we go! Steve said he could sit there all day, it's one of his favorite's to visit while camping there.

Silly gals! We also had to follow this up with another fun meal at Bugaboo Bay, only this time we sat out on the patio! It lightly drizzled away while we enjoyed the music under our huge umbrella not even realizing it was misting out.

This time the bikes were free for the kids to use - they appear to have the hang of this but wait until you have to try & paddle this contraption UP the big hill in back - I can attest to the impossibility of it!

Before I could warn Amanda she was off on another trip with the kids, she too learned the folly of taking it out behind the building, while it's crazy fun to scream DOWN the hill in this thing, it's another matter to get it back up!

You may be asking how many you can cram in a wine barrell?

Anyone who know Brie well, understands her desire to be constantly playing games! She also cheats if you don't watch her too! Sorry peanut but you do!

It was much cooler our last night there and we were all okay with that, really enjoyed the fire that night!

Packing up was really sad this time around, we stayed right up to the check out time, this place ranks right up there with LBBC for us and hopefully will always be in our kids' hearts as much as that place is. This is how Conner helps with packing up - hides in the most unusual places, this time we caught him & have it on record!

We had just an amazing time, even when faced with the government shutdown causing us to split this vacation between two campgrounds, it still was one for the record books - super fun! Thanks to Ashley, Ryan & Amanda for making these fours days incredible, we will cherish every second & remember the giggles forever! Love you all!