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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
