Up North.....

One of my favorite (guilty) pleasures is to corner folks on where their definition of 'going up north' for a few days is. If you listen to people talk about their trips to the cabin or their jaunts up 'north,' most will define it as Brainerd and around that area. Because for those folks living in the 7 county metro area-that is north! I'm sure at one time, yes, I was in that group but now that I have married a Warroad Warrior, my definition of going up 'north' for a few days has changed (and this is coming from the gal that went to college in Bemidji.) Warroad is as far 'north' as you can get. Heck, some people even tell me that Pine City is up 'north.' Um, no, it's not. If you want to go up 'north' for a few days.....let me know, I'll show you exactly where that is and it's not the Brainerd Lakes area. :)

So, speaking of being up 'north,' we had a WONDERFUL time.

Here were a few key benefits for me:

1. I lost track of what day is was, what time is was and what the date was.
2. I didn't have to sign my name a hundred times a day.
3. I realized that fishing AND sun tanning is a good combination. It's almost like multi-tasking.
4. I miss being around my kids and hearing everything they say throughout the day.
5. I was able to watch my husband get excited, over and over and over again at every stinking fish he caught or I caught or Tyler caught or whoever pulled one in. He's like a kid in the candy store.

On to the pictures and stories!
First thing we did when we got there was unpack and then head down the point to do some exploring.
Here are the kids making sure the lake is still there.
Logan just loves to be on his own watch sometimes......

Emma leading the way down at the walk way.

Emma standing for a pose at the look out tower.

Logie bear and Big Brother Tyler.

Tyler drinking his smoothie on his new jet ski across the lake.

I think the first day/night we were there, Kirby caught 3 really nice size walleye's off the wall in his Dad's backyard. He's one of them.
(see, it looks like he just ate a bag of M&M's doesn't it?)

Another pose and fish this time with Logan.

Emma loves Zippel Bay State Park. She always asks to go there whenever we talk about going to Warroad. So our 2nd day there we packed up some sandwiches and spent a few hours playing around.

Here are my toes on the beach. Not my ideal beach, but better than no beach right?

Logan having fun!

Tyler taking Emma out in the cold water.

She decided a piggy back ride was the better way to go.

Logan and I taking a break on the rock.

All of us on the rock!

Here's Grandma Judy with all the kids.

Thanks to some babysitting by Papa Tom, we were able to go out for a few hours with Tyler and do some fishing. Here is Tyler being oh so patient.

staying positive.....hoping for that big bite.

Got it!

Here is me fishing with my new pink rod and reel. I had just said to Kirby, "Hey, take a picture of me and Gunner with my new pole." when I got a bite and pulled in this little walleye. It's an even better picture of my new rod holding a fish.

Papa Tom and Grandma Rose took the kids out for ride in their new paddleboat. They loved it and are still talking about it. In fact we went to Walmart today and Logan saw one sitting out and said, "Papa Tom's boat!"

We went to a flea market in Roosevelt one morning and Logan picked out a pop gun. He was so proud to be carrying it around and shooting wild animals. Here's Emma taking her turn.

The point in Warroad has lots of activities going on. Kid runs, food, blow ups for the kids to jump on and a paper plate drop. For the paper plate drop, local business' put a coupon for a discount or something free on a paper plate and then an airplane flies over the point, dropping the plates out to those of us waiting below. Tyler was all geared up that he was going to get a plate. We waited and the plane fly over and then pandemonium hit! It was crazy! Tyler took off and I grabbed Logan and Emma and held on for dear life! People were running everywhere and were fighting and jumping in groups for the lazy plate floating down. Sure enough, 5 minutes later a sweaty Tyler comes back with a paper plate. He's such a competitor. Then the plane comes around again and he's off! 5 minutes later, he he comes walking back with another plate! The plane came around a third time and dropped some right in front of us, I watched him run out, jump up with a group of adults/kids (and the whole time I'm thinking about his $300 new glasses on top of his nose) and see him take an elbow to the cheek, watch the glasses fall off..... at this point I closed my eyes. I opened them up to see him walking towards us with his glasses back on his head and his comment was... "I'm done."

Emma and Logan got their faces painted. Emma got some stars and Logan went with the flag. Could there be a cuter cheek to put the American flag on? I don't think so...

The parade is always a good time. Lots of candy and lots of fun floats.

Logan working on his candy tactics.

The kids running out for the candy.

All of us!

On the last day we went up to the community pool and did a little swimming. This is a pretty cool pool as it has a sand bottom but is chlorinated.

Logan helping Daddy build a sand castle.

Later that day, Kirby and I went out for some last minute fishing. Here's my biggest catch. Take note of the rod and reel.

All in all, it was another great trip to Warroad. Lots of family time, good meals, great conversations and relaxing days. Thanks to Grandma Judy and Joe for letting us invade their space and for feeding us. Thanks to Papa Tom and Grandma Rose for the use of the wall for fishing, keeping an 'eye' on Tyler, playing with Emma and Logan and spinning them around and around and feeding all of us too. And of course, thanks to Tim and Janelle for sharing their boat with us. :)