Camping on Mille Lacs

I know y'all have been wondering when I was going to show all the pics from our camping trip to Father Hennepin on Mille Lacs.

 The answer is now!

We had such a wonderful time camping. The weather was great. Not too hot. It was pretty windy but that was a good thing because the mosquitoes were really bad.

It was beautiful. The beach was long and sandy. The trails were paved and the boys spent alot of time riding their bikes on them.

After we arrived and got camp all set up, we headed out on the trail to find the beach. It was probably a little less than a mile there through the woods which were really pretty. The kids had fun running on the beach and sticking there toes in.

Brrr...that water was cold!

Audrey went right in the water right away ( in her clothes!) and then proceeded to get caked with sand!

Ben and the boys collected so many pretty rocks on the beach. We came home with a quart jar and a couple other cups full of them!

Remains of a Crayfish

The next morning we set of on the trails to attempt to take some pictures of the kids. 

Here are a few of almost 200 I took. Hardly any turned out and the ones that are somewhat acceptable aren't the best. My camera has been having problems with focusing.

Blake

Clint

Owen

Ethan

Audrey

The whole gang

 I'm not really sure what was going on here. I was adjusting the settings on my camera and noticed this when I uploaded it to my camera. I like how Owen's finger is in his nose and the other boys seem to have found something interesting on Owen's head.

 It is really really hard to get a picture of all 5 kids even looking in the same direction, much less smiling. And then my camera wasn't focusing very well so I didn't get many group shots.

I guess I have to be happy with what I got.

Later in the day, my parents and 2 younger brothers came to camp with us. The boys had so much fun, mostly catching these..

 You might be wondering what these are...they are crayfish. And you are also probably wondering why they are catching them. To eat them of course!

Yup, they cooked them up and ate them. I even tried one and they weren't bad. Kinda tasted like little lobsters.

The Cray fishing gang.
Blake, Ethan, Michael, Clint, Ben, and Josiah

While the boys were busy fishin', my mom and I took Owen and Audrey swimming. It was so cold they didn't go in the water too far.

There were hundred if not thousands of Dragonflies everywhere at the Park. If you looked up in the sky they were swarming everywhere. It was really neat. Owen just kept repeating "dragin tchry" over and over and over!

We found one on the beach that was just about dead and Owen played with that thing for a long time.

This is an Albino Deer we saw as soon as we drove in to the campground. I've never seen one before and I guess this park has several living there. Very neat to see!

We had such a great time at this park and we will definitely be going there again sometime next year.

5 on Friday

1. We have been enjoying our Toddler Tuesday group so much this year. This week's was my favorite. Collinwood Park. Great swimming beach and playground. We would have stayed longer than the 5 hours if the little ones weren't getting so tired and crabby. Its encouraged me to plan a Momma Day at the beach ( without kids!). I can't wait!

2. On Wednesday, sickness filled our house. From throwing up , fevers, and sore throats. I was so happy this morning when everyone woke up healthy. Glad that it was a quick one! There are a few lingering sore throats but we are going to attempt our camping trip anyways.

3. Yea!! I'm so exited about camping this weekend! We are camping with my whole family ( minus my brother and his family) And let me tell you my family knows how to camp! My mom is Camping Queen. She loves her some rustic camping. Even though we've learned from the queen we've givin' into the Camper rather then tenting it like she and a my 2 other sisters do. But be sure to know that my mom will be cooking the entire HUGE camping breakfast over the fire! Yumm! I can't wait.

4.Speaking of Miss Camping Queen. Take a look at this. She is really going to hate me for putting this up- but- hey, she's the one who posed for the camera and should know that I would totally put this up!

And Another one....

Yup, she's c.Ra.Zzzzz.EEEE!
We love her!

You can tell we are all like her too!

5. This is totally strange and you will all be probably thinkin I'm a crazy. But remember I was borne of the woman above ;) Plus I'm trying to come up with a 5th topic here people. So hear me out!
 I always have really weird dreams, but I had a really weird one the other night.....
I was shopping at a store when this little troll like man was following me and every time I tried to pay for something he would pinch the inside of my arm. It really hurt. So I picked him up and threw him over a balcony and he fell and ended up with a spear going through his body, but he just wouldn't die. He had a really freaky face and I was scared to go to bed the next night thinking he might invade my dreams again. but he didn't . So, anyone have any thoughts on interpreting that dream?
Yup.
I'm crazy.
Or weird.
You are probably thinking " I don't know why I'm reading this pointless blog and I need to stop before I become crazy like this lady"
To all of you that will continue to follow me- I thank you. From one crazy blog writer to you crazy readers!
Love ya!
Have a wonderful weekend!
I'll be having a blast with my crazy LOUD family!

Happy Campers :)

My handsome husband called me on Friday at noon to inform me that we would be camping that night and the following night as well with our friends Josh and Serena.

 Of course  I was excited because we love camping! Remember?! If you don't, click this :)  The only thing I had a problem with it was the little fact that I had a Personal Shower to go to at 4 for Ben's sister.I didn't know if I should go or not, but we decided that I would still go and just meet Ben and the kids out at the campsite when I got done over there.

This whole situation made for a stressful afternoon.

 I had to get laundry done and every one's clothes and everything that we'd need for the weekend packed in the camper before I left.

 I had to go get by brother so he could babysit until Ben got home.

 And to top it off we really needed groceries so we didn't have much to bring for food, so after the shower I had to go to the store.

 I didn't get to the campground until 11pm! Thankfully all the kids were already asleep and we were able to sit around the fire for a few hours.

We had a great time relaxing and just enjoying the weather. Ben took Ethan and a couple other kids that we knew that were camping there fishing. And I took the rest of them swimming. My little baby brother Michael {who is Clint's best friend} came with us and the boys had a blast with him.

It wouldn't be camping without the s'mores...

Blake trying to eat 2 at a time!

Ethan  loves his s'mores burnt- yuck!

Dad loves picking on Clint!

We went through a six pack of Hershey bars, a bag of marshmallow and a whole box of graham crackers!

We had some sticky kids!

Down at the beach

No matter how many times you try it....

....it's still nasty!

Best Buds!

Is it tasting better yet?

Mr. Handsome

These boys know how to have a good time! ( notice Ethan's holding onto a little fish that he caught)

Even through the stress of preparing for camping, it is SO worth it! Nothing better than the Great Outdoors and the people you spend it with!

This is how we spent our weekend....how did you spend yours?

This is the way we camp....

We were planning on camping this weekend with a bunch of friends but its not to be. We had a big unexpected expense that came up last week that emptied our bank account( the pick up had big problems!) It ate up our money for the next week and a half. So instead of having a wonderful weekend relaxing with our friends, we'll be working on projects around home. Its probably best since I need want to have Audrey's floor painted by her party next weekend and its going to be a BIG job.

I thought that since we won't be camping I'd let you into our world of camping with pictures of our recent camping trips. So here we go........

Camping @ Weseman's Farm

I was just messing around with the camera and this is what turned out..

.looks kind of weird but kind of cool too

Mr. Serious

Camping @ Lake Ripley

Looking for cool rocks

 

Our "home"

Camping @ Lake Koronis

We loved this campground!!

Yes, Heather, I told you I wouldn't put this on here, but since you posted a pic of me on yours, its payback!!

Josh is probably going to be REALLY mad that I put this up for all to see, so don't tell him ;)

The Men.

Little G

Look at that toothless smile!

Uncle Matt

Look at those lips!

pretty ladies

Brrr....

beautiful babe!

Carter and Ethan thought it would be fun to ride in the lake

I love chubby baby legs

...............We have had so much fun the last few weekends. Can't wait to go again :)