Weekend get away to Long Lake with friends Aug 21-23rd 2009

The view from our camp ground, in the tent looking up!


I HAD to add this picture of Freya, she is such a beautiful girl! Rouge would not play in the sand, at least not this close to the water...to muddy...

Camping at Long LakeI took all sorts of pictures, I loved all the Wildflowers so I had to post one!

This is our NEW tent!

Dylan tended to the fire all weekend, I must say he did a great job!

S'mores! Every night we let the kids toast their Marshmallows for S'mores and to my surprise no marshmallow was lost to the fire!

Eli, Rouge, Sonya, and Freya

Dylan on the beach

Ah, yes the hike! Such a LONG story! What was to be a 1.5mile walk ended up being 3.5 miles. Yikes!

However the kids had lots fun, Amber and I where the first to start whining.

Bump along the road

Ah, yes back to the treats!

Do you see a lid?

Well Amber and I could not find it ANYWHERE!

The best baby camper!

Girls are roasting wienies for lunch

The boys where working on sand castles!

Amber and Alexander

The water at Long lake was very clean, and the beach was super nice!

Well on our hike, the plan was to go to the looking tower and see the view. However since we did not go the right way we ended up going the next day.

Walking up MANY MANY steps

All of us at the top of the Tower!

The view was BREATH TAKING!

This was our first camping trip, and I have to thank Amber for inviting us along. The kids loved the whole thing and so did I. (Minus the bugs)
The weather was beautiful all weekend, all the kids stayed in wonderful moods and we really got to talk to each other, taking time away from technology. No phones, no computers, no electricity-but we did have bathrooms with water! I need toilets and to brush my teeth!

I really can't wait to go again, the smell of campfire is still in the car letting me hold on to the peace and quite we had in Mother Nature.

Mt Olympus with Grandma and Julie Aug 19th 2009

A day trip with Grandma and Julie On our way to the Dells we stopped in Montello at the waterfall to feed the Swans.

The birds ate right out of our hands! It was a nice stop to stretch and enjoy the morning.

Here are the fish that ate the bread before the Swans got to it. The kids and Grandma saw a big Cat fish...I was too busy with the camera and missed it.

Here are the two black Swans....they did not come as close to us as the white ones.

When these two opened their wings they exposed lots of white feathers underneath..

BEAUTIFUL

Here is the greedy bird! He snapped at my camera thinking it was another piece of bread! Sassy bird!

Dylan and Rouge on the small coaster...Rouge rode this ride at least 6-7 times!

Dylan and I just got done changing...my head was still on my side!

This picture was the last of me...my cluster headache was in full swing, and I ended up napping on a lawn chair. Thank Goodness for Grandma and Julie, the kids still got to have lots of fun! (Sorry guys-I really wish I would have had more fun with the kids)

Rouge drove like a Nascar driver! Look out world, in 9 years this speed demon will be on the road!

Hmmm...how many years before Rouge will be able to ride all the rides?

On this ride the maximum is the same as most of the minimum.

Dylan was however tall enough for all the rides, and headache or no headache I held true to my word about making Dylan go on the roller coasters. Since I was the only person available to take him, and he has never been on a big one, I took Dylan on the Hades. Climbing all the stairs was almost enough for him! He begged me to let him turn around, but I reminded him a deal is a deal. At the fair I went on the sickening rides that go round and round, and now it was his turn! Once we got on the coaster he was still a little scared, but as soon as it dropped down...:"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!" "THIS IS AWESOME!!!!!"

And as soon as the ride stopped: "I WANT TO DO IT AGAIN!"

This was all possible thanks to my Mom, and our Boss Nancy for giving us both the day off to do this! So thank you to both of you! And I'm sorry to everyone that I punked out for most of it. This just means we will have to go back!

Dylan and Rouge LOVED this trip, it has been a long time since the kids got to have a fun day with Grandma.

Maybe next time we will let the men come....

Then again....

Date with Dylan

I love the lights, and the smell of the Fair!
Fun House Mirrors

Dylan's Favorite ride!


I went on this one with Dylan-We felt like Superman!

Pirate on stylize!

Having fun together!

I Love You Dylan!

The Fair form up above

Bumper Cars! My FAVORITE!

The ride in full swing!

This is the ride where the 'Carny' flipped Dylan before he started. He loved it!

Dylan and Me

Date with my little man! 8/7/2009

Dylan and I went to the Winnabago County Fair tonight, just the two of us. Eric had to work all night, and Rouge is on a fun outing with her friend Lexi. They got to go to the Kalahari in the Dells. I'm sure Melissa will share pictures with me so I can post a few.

It was SO much fun to get to have some alone time with Dylan, he is now 10 and seems to have a better social life then I do. He is always on the go, and always with friends or friends are at our house. It was nice to slow things down and be able to talk to him. I really just miss my little boy that sat on my lap to watch a movie, and the boy that ran to me when he scraped his knee and needed a kiss. Now when he scrapes his knees if there is no blood he does not even know he did anything to it.

So Dylan this note is for you:

I Love you with all my heart! I enjoyed hanging out with you today. I think you are an amazing boy, well on his way to becoming an outstanding young man. You are the best son a mother could ask for, and the best big brother any sister could have.

Whenever I need you Dylan, I know that I can count on you!

There are days I think our life has made you grow up too fast, please remember to be a child as long as you can!

You are smart, funny, handsome, and best of all you are my SON!

Love you!

MOM

P.S.: Sorry Dylan for not being able to go on too many of those ROUND and ROUND and ROUND and ROUND rides, but I never could do those!

The best part of this whole trip was spending time with you and seeing you have a good time. Look out-I'll get you on all the roller coasters at 6 flags!