Camping

The steps... 239 steps.  That's a lot of steps.

Tripp walked all the way up!

Camping

Beach day!

The kids planted seeds at one of the DNR classes, so Tripp is watering them.

Smore's and campfire!

Camping

After the rain, there was high winds and quite a view at the beach.

Ella watching the waves.

Tripp is pondering this windy, chilly beach. It doesn't look like the warm, sunny beach with all the people that we had the days before.

The water was washing over the boardwalk up to the sand in the channel.  It was creating (kids) knee deep pools on the sand. 

Ty was standing on the boardwalk looking at the channel and he stepped backward into the little pool of water. He was 100% soaked, but still smiling!

Campng

Our friends joined us camping and brought with them caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies!  It was very interesting and entertaining. This is the first butterfly that emerged. 

Tripp wanted to see it, but not hold it. So Ella put it on his shirt.

It's hard to camp without at least one rainy day. 

Camping

The DNR offered events and learning experiences throughout the week.  We stopped at a few of them.

 

One evening they offered fishing for the kids. Ty and Cort went with daddy.  Ty caught a fish soon after they started.

He was so excited for his fish!! 

Just as we were about to get the fish off the hook, Cort had a fish on his line too. 

Cort's fish turned out to be quite the fish.

 This is Cort's first fish!

 And Ty caught 2 more fish too!

Camping

Random fun activities this day! We walked to the general store for candy, went to the beach, played with bubbles, and the kids made a fort.

More Camping fun!

We did more camping and had friends join us as well. It's really nice to be outside and away from the house! And having the beach close is always a bonus!

 

Zoo

We took Grandpa E to the zoo.  It has been a long time since he has been to a zoo.

The bear was giving us his good side.

 

Chicago

We enjoyed a fun day in Chicago with all the kids. They did really well and it was great to get them to the "big big city".  

We saw the museum first.  Cort loved the train! 

We headed downtown for dinner and walked a bit down Michigan Ave.

There were many K-9 dogs that were all decorated different.  The kids loved all of them. Even Tripp is peaking around the back of this one.

Nana and Papa gave each of the kids money to spend, so they all got lego's! 

 

Other fun!

Ella and I had a day away which was fantastic!

A few weeks later, her and I went camping for 2 sleeps in our tent! It was very relaxing and fun!

  

Swimming

Ella doing the ropes course

Some fun downtown on the tractors

A beach day with the boys.  They didn't last near as long as I would have liked, but at least we made it there!