3rd Annual Camping Trip with Karlssons

We got back on Wednesday from a 5 day camping excursion with some really great friends.  We had a wonderful time, lots of relaxation, and lots of fun!

Our little family left on Friday night to head to Rush City where we would join Jason, Emily, Aaron, and Simon on this adventure.  We stayed over at their house one night and headed out bright and early on Saturday morning.  Our vehicles were loaded with camping gear, including boats and canoes. 

Our vehicles.  The RV was Jason and Emily's home for the weekend...our tent was about the same size (it's a huge tent). 

 Once we got to Nine Mile Lake we headed out to find the perfect camping spot.  There are only about 25 sites to camp here, and only about 10 of them are on the lake.  We didn't get a lake view site the first night, but we staked out a couple and scored one on Sunday morning.  While it's not fun to have to move everything, it's well worth the improved view.

Heading out to find that perfect spot.

 Anna was in love the moment she saw the lake.  The water and throwing rocks were her favorite activities of the week.

 Anna and Aaron are about three months apart.  They played together so well this year.  Much time was spent pushing one another in the stroller or blowing bubbles or digging in the dirt or throwing rocks (in the water, not at each other). 

 All three kiddos were troopers through the whole camping experience.  Anna and Aaron were much improved campers from last year now that they are 2 and Simon was a fun little guy at 11 months old, crawling around in the dirt gettin' good and dirty!

 The first night we had a fun dessert after supper...cherry cake in the dutch oven on the fire.  It was really good!

 Sunday we spent time around camp, resetting up at our new beautiful location and Anna spent a lot of time throwing rocks in the lake and getting dirty.  We also went fishing on Echo Lake and Anna got to watch her daddy reel in a rainbow trout.  She had never actually seen a fish caught, so she was VERY excited and pumped up about it!  "My daddy caught rainbow fishy!"

Monday our little family headed north for our traditional trip to Grand Marias.  We stopped along the way at lots of random spots for rock throwing...

Anna at Lake Superior.

Throwing rocks of course!

Big one!

Throwing the really big rock.

It didn't go too far!



We had a DELICIOUS lunch at The Angry Trout Cafe.  YUM.



More rocks!

At Paradise Beach dipping our toes in the COLD water!

Family Photo Op!

After Paradise Beach we headed back south to Grand Marias for delicious custard and a little relaxation on the beach. 

Fun ship in the harbor.

Back at camp on Monday night we went out for dinner at the Tressle.  A yummy, in the middle of nowhere restaurant we always stop by when we are camping. 

Before supper we took some good shots around our campsite. 

The path from our campsite to the lake.

Deep thoughts down by the lake.

Sunset. 

On Tuesday morning our friends were packing up to leave, so Anna and Aaron made sure to get some quality time in before they headed out. 

Eatin' apples.

Group shot.  Anna didn't want to be a part of the group shot, so this was the best we could do.

Jason, Emily, Aaron, and Simon.

Brian, Chris and Anna.

Anna, Aaron, and Simon.

Smiling!



Hugs before they go!



And a Kiss too!

Hugs for Simon too.

On Tuesday after Karlsson's headed south, we headed to the Temperance River State Park for a lunch and hike. 

Anna's favorite part of lunch was her chocolate chip cookie.  She ate it first.

Our shared chocolate milk. 

Resting.

The river.

The river meets the lake.

Anna and Daddy loved throwing rocks here.

Good form, Anna.

Anna had no problem hiking down the hill, but up the hill was another story.

Fix your hat Dad.

Cute.

After packing up and breakfast on Wednesday, we began our journey back southward.  We stopped in Duluth for a break and just so happened to stop when a HUGE ship was coming through.  We stopped to see it go under the lift bridge. 

The last picture on our journey.

 

We had a wonderful time.  We hope there are many more annual camping trips to come.  It's definitely become a tradition for our little family.  While we did endure some bug bites and a little sun, we all came back happy, healthy, and relaxed.  Ahhh...vacation.