Day 5 Up North

Every day up here is just perfection.  The kids get to do so many things, including playing volleyball in the sand court just in front of Papa and Grandma's.

They get trained by the best card sharks there are in the family (I've heard Grandma LaVonne is THE bets there is!).

Even Chloe is learning to play and love spending time with the Grandmas and Aunt Louise while the guys go out fishing after Todd and I have left.

Owen challenges Uncle Roger to some Tae Kwon Do moves.

Bean stole cousin Lisa's sunglasses.

As the sun is getting close to setting, we head out for our last night of fishing.

Owen is held close by his Daddy as we soak up these last few hours Up North.

My toes are an excellent fishing rod holder.

Owen has been catching a lot of fish and is again getting the hang of removing them from the hook by himself.

A campfire with S'mores has been long awaited since we arrived Up North.

Fourth of July Fireworks

Some Japanese lanters were released before the sun was completely gone, but none of those shots turned out.  Boo hiss.  The fireworks started once it was completely dark.

 Love the big star fireworks!

I tried experimenting and holding my shutter open longer to see if the fireworks would illuminate the barn and people sitting in the field in front of me.  The people are a bit blurry because I didn't hold the camera completely still.

 This one looks like it was taken closer to sunset, but this was taken after 10pm and my shutter was open for 10 seconds.

Happy 4th of July!

In the morning, the kids decorated the golf cart with Grandma Sharon for the parade.

Todd and I went on another run/rollerblade together and I shot the signs.  Skiers, snowmobilers and horseback riders were allowed here.

But snowmobiles were not allowed here.

Akeley is only 6.3 miles away.

The railroad that was repaved is now called the Heartland Trail.

So many birch trees line the trail.  I love the sound of the wind blowing through their little leaves.

 The boat parade started up shortly after we got back.  See the Cheeseburger in Paradise?

Santa came down to enjoy the warmer temps and to take a break from making all the toys.

There was even an aircraft carrier this year!  There was an airplane flying close behind this one.

Once the parade ended, Bean went out kayaking.

And Owen chilled (Owen, you better be wearing a bunch of sunblock laying out in the sun like that!!) on a lounge chair with his sandy feet.

My feet are up like this over much of our time Up North.  It's awesome.

Day 3 Up North

Another day of perfection.  Jogging/rollerblading on a quiet trail.

A game of catch before eating dinner.

Delicious food where waaaay tooooo much was consumed in one sitting!

Hanging out with family.

While trying to stay cool.

The day ends with a another fishing trip.

Every time we go out on the boat, it seems we have herons flying overhead.

This boy loves going barefoot.

Uncle Roger took his girls out fishing, too.  There might have been taunts, teases and promises tossed between our two boats.

Itty bitty dragonflies liked the fishing rod.

As sunset moved in, we headed back to the dock.

We constantly ask how we can make these days last longer.  All of the fun and relaxing passes us by too fast!

Day 2 Up North

The morning started off with a run (or Todd ran and I rollerbladed next to him) along the trail that used to be railroad tracks.

 

We had a boy patiently waiting for us to get back so we could go out fishing.

 

He couldn't wait to help lower the boat.

 

Dragonflies hung out on our rods.

We waited patiently for fish to jump on our lines.

We had happy captains.

With a beautiful view.

Life doesn't get much better than this.

Long leggity beasties flew overhead.

And we fished some more.

Some of us take a more laid back approach to fishing that others.