Couldn't get enough of the beach

and before even noon arrived it would look like this

and then it was back out to break ground for the sandcastle contest

some weren't even interested in building

it was hard work

Dad couldn't stand to just watch and decided to dig a hole-

a big hole

and then some snuck away to the snack bar when no one was lookin'

This guy constructed this one

and the First Lady built this one which won first place for most unique

of course dinner every night had to be something on the grill

and I have to admit we did cheat a little with the no TV in the cabin situation.
We used the DVD players from the car to watch movies at night
Most of the time though, the view outside won.

First hike and first time in the boat

Yes, the Lost Forty. Actually a National Forest with a unique history and not the moniker of the driver actually that age who got lost trying to get us there.

Lil' lady eager to be outta the car seat and on the trail. Her hike was short lived as she spent most of it on mama's back.

Just one of the 350 year old pines
and since she saw everyone else touching the bark she had to do the same

Gee, only 348 years between them

The hike was a mile long with a stop half way through at the river. It was here we heard some odd noises. Not sure if it was a bear, hoping it was a moose or deer we high tailed it out.

We thought this root looked like a bird's foot

This one barely made it out of the forest. I think I heard him mumbling the word McDonald's over and over. I didn't have the heart to tell him there wasn't one of those for over an hour away and we would not be going. Luckily I had cookies stowed in the car.



Back at the cabin it was all about the lake and who could get in what

Everyone got a ride in a kayak, some just not pictured

First trip out in the fishing boat

First day at the lake

Lil' Lady had a minor meltdown when we arrived. Could've been the 4.5 car ride, but mostly she wondered where in the heck we brought her to. Once we brought her high chair into the cabin and set her up with her blankey, music and snacks she was "home" again, and it was all good.
View from the cabin

Our cabin is between those trees

First time in sand

Not the first time in sand

This guy had looked at the pictures of this water trampoline for weeks

He couldn't wait to get out there and get on it

Lake was a bit cold at first, and some weren't quite sure what the the excitement was all about

She decided early on the lake wasn't her thing and preferred to spend her time

in the sand
in the chairs, or in the heated pool up the hill
to everybody else though, swimmin' in a Minnesota lake was quite refreshing
stay tuned...even more up north pics to come