MN Fishing Trip - 2022 (round 2)

 August hit and my dad was heading back up to our spot in Minnesota for another week of fishing. We couldn't join for the full week, but could make a few days work! And with a shortened week, this would be a great time for Blythe to join us for her first fishing trip! We packed up and rolled out early Saturday morning, all smiles as we hit the road!

Our traditional first pit stop, Cabela's in Owatonna

...a few short hours later, we arrived at the lake!

Trigg found a little friend

Then they quickly discovered not just one but lots of small frogs

(a good sign to throw some top water frogs when fishing for bass)

Next to-do item, set up hammocks!

and then make sure the boat is working!

Unpacked and ready for some fun

We finish each night playing cards in the cabin, we play "31" and it gets pretty intense!

My dad and I go out early each morning fishing for bass...and usually find them! My dad caught a nice bass!

We head back in for breakfast and then load up the kids for some more fishing. Blythe was quick to pick up fishing!

She caught plenty this trip!

Not to be outdone, Trigg caught lots of fish too!

And Garrett knows how to catch lots of fish!

Blythe helping Grandpa drive the boat!

Trigg got his turn at the motor

Blythe enjoying the great swing set

and finding shells on the beach

Garrett got busy building a sand castle/fort

Flexin' on the blue mat

Playing

Thumbs up from these three for a beautiful day!

Back to building

We did lots of trips around the resort in the paddle boat

These two!

More cards

Trigg joined up for one early morning fishing adventure!

Garrett helping Grandpa at the motor

There are a few different biking/hiking paths around the cabins, these two explored them all!

Enjoying the hammock

More beach time

enjoying the beautiful day

More flexing

The epic castle/fort

So big, all three can fit inside the compound walls!

All fishing adventures must come to an end, these two enjoying the evening as we got packed up. 

Our traditional breakfast spot, Countryside Restaurant in Motley, MN, on the drive home

Tuckered out for a full couple days of fishing!

Oh yeah... I caught a couple bass too!

New personal record; 4 pounds 11 ounces (getting closer and closer to the 5 pound mark!)

Backbone State Park

 We decided to take a driving adventure. We tasked the kids with finding a state park within driving range and do some research about what there is to do at the park. They landed on Backbone State Park in Dundee, IA

Lots of great hiking trails and some good bouldering rocks! Our adventure started with a great hike that took us through these huge rock structures!

G found this great bouldering rock and wanted to try and climb in.

Trigg, being our resident climber (or the oldest) went first

He made it to the top with a flex!

These three are fearless and willing to try anything!

Blythe with her "adventure" spirit, showing her flex!

Trigg giving it another go

G man made it to the top!

Then we hit some more trails and discovered some fun slots

and some cool caves!

More adventuring

And another cool cave to end the trip!

We left the park out of the north side and found Scoop There It Is, a fun little ice cream shop that totally hit the spot after all our hiking! Highly recommend this stop if you are exploring Backbone State Park!

Weekend at the Lake - Lake of the Ozarks

 After our successful vacation with friends down to Florida last year, we wanted to go again. This year, due to all the summer sports schedules, we found a weekend to head down to Lake of the Ozarks for a few days on the lake. We have friends, the VanderWells, that have a lake house down there that we rented for the weekend. We packed up and headed down!

The kids had a blast playing off the dock, in the water and on paddle boats!

Pirates, attacking with squirt guns!

Brandt on the inflatable jet ski!

Lots of fun on the big blue mat

Thumbs up for this guy

Out for a spin

We were having so much fun, we didn't even care that it started raining!

Captain Ron's is walking distance away, so the last night we headed there for some pizza

and found another pirate!

We forgot to take a group picture but the Vocelka's, Pine's and Comfort's had a great weekend together playing at the lake!

Adventureland

 Foster Group closed the office on Friday and took all their employees and families to Adventureland for a day of thrills and spills! The sun was shining and there were rides to be ridden...let's go!

We found Bernie Bernard, the official mascot of Adventureland

He is a friendly St. Benard

Family photo with Bernie!

One of our favorite rides, The Galleon

It's a big ship that swings back and forth for an exciting ride on the high seas!

It brings lots of butterflies...

and smiles!

Parachutes were next!

Get dizzy on the hot air balloons!

These three!

Flying planes!

We had a great day at Adventureland and I think it is super cool that Foster Group closes the office and makes time for families to spend a day together making great memories!