Camp Croix

Over Labor Day weekend we headed to north western WI to camp with much of my family. We spent three days swimming, fishing, canoeing, cooking over the fire, sleeping in a tent, laughing a lot, enjoying good company, and just having a great time.

1. The moon was full or very near full and provided a beautiful moonrise both Saturday and Sunday evenings. Nathan enjoyed playing nature-photographer and snapped this of the moon over the lake. If I were to title it I'd lean toward "Evening at Peace."

2. Hans and Nathan spent a few hours out fishing just the two of them. Hans was eager to get the opportunity to actually sit in the seat and paddle. Here he's showing off the bass he caught.

3. A shot of camp before we left. Here my Brian and Katy had already left so their camper is missing but you can see Cora and Bill's and then my parents behind that. We were farther up the hill in our tent. Hans and Joey are helping cut firewood right up front. 4. Camping with grandparents also means toys! Evan and Jesse are playing cars in front of my parents camper.

Me too!

Today Lydia went to preschool. She had a pink flowered backpack and a new school shirt and shoes. She let me put her hair in piggy tails. She stood proudly on the front step for her first day of school picture. Then at school she looked at me with her big brown eyes filled with uncertainty and said, "I just wanna stay with you Mama." I almost picked her up, took her home with me, and never let her go. Instead I gave her a hug and a kiss and left her with her two capable teachers. And she had a wonderful day. Since picking her up she has told me a dozen things she did and according to the teachers she was a model student. Happy first day of preschool Lydia.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

On Sunday we woke to clear blue skies and an entirely new day. Since checkout time wasn't until 11am we took the kids out for a little fishing. We caught at least a dozen smaller fish in the hour or so we were on the lake. The fish were bigger than bait-stealer but too small to keep. We did load up the live net and take the catch back to show Aunt Tammy and Uncle Michael but then they were each carefully released. The day passed quickly and all too soon we had to give hugs and hit the road. Once again the kids didn't want to leave after such a wonderful weekend. We'll see if we can sneak in another trip yet this fall or not. Here's hoping!

1. Heading out to a little fishing hole I know. (Or at least toward the spot Michael told us where we'd find the fish.)

2. One of the many Eagles that give the city the name.

3. Our family and our dear hosts, Michael and Tammy.

Raining

This weekend we were lucky enough to head up to Eagle River to spend some more time with Michael and Tammy. Nathan had his three hour afternoon class canceled so much to our delight we were able to hit the road three hours ahead of schedule. As we headed north we hit rain that not only hung on for the evening but lasted all of Saturday. What does one do at a resort when it's pouring rain? Play pool in pajamas of course! Enjoying chicken noodle soup for lunch, chili for supper, and roasting marshmallow in the fireplace instead of the campfire all made for great rainy day activities as well. Tammy and I, along with Tammy's mom Lorna, headed to Eagle River for the afternoon and did some shopping. There are plenty of little shops with northwoods charm to be explored in town. Nathan and Evan headed off on an adventure of their own and went canoeing in the drizzle. The highlight of their trip was observing a pair of swans and their brood of cygnets. Even the rain can't make a day up north a bad day. :o)

1. Playing pool. 2. Supper in the lodge.