The Great North Woods

What an adventure we had this summer.  A friend of mine from work asked us if we wanted to use his family cabin in Presque Isle, Wisconsin.  It was in Northern Wisconsin, about 20 minutes to the Michigan boarder.  We had never been up that way so we took him up on his offer.  When I told Mimi about the trip, she wanted to come too.  We were more than happy to have her with us.  

What we weren't prepared for was the 50 to 60 degree temps.  It was a lake house but too cold to get in the water.  The kids jumped in a few times but that was it.  We also were bombarded by the largest mosquitos I have ever seen in my life!  They were like killer birds.  

We arrived at the cabin and they swarmed the car.  We jumped out and tried to run to the cabin.  Mimi bravely grabbed the bug spray and managed to spray Emma right in the eyes.  You can only imagine what this scene might have looked like.  Total chaos.  

Now, on to the great parts of the trip.  We were comfy in the little cabin and were able to play cards and hang out.  The scenery was beautiful and the wildlife was amazing.  We enjoyed checking out the small towns nearby and even went up into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I'm so glad we were able to check out a new part of the country.

Much to everyone's delight, we picked up Mimi in Indianapolis.  She flew in at the halfway point of our drive and drove 9 hours up to Wisconsin with us.  I don't know anyone else who could stand being in the car with all of us.

Chillin in the cabin.

Myles worked on his card skills.  He did some shuffling and magic tricks.

Check out the cute baby that we found on the property.

There were kayaks for everyone

Catching critters

Grady was hooked on finding crawfish

They were the big invasive kind of crawfish

Another cute baby

Emma found this play well

Another cabin on my friend's property.  There were 4 in all.

There was even a kid play cabin

And there was a lot of fishing.  A lot.  

Unfortunately, no one caught a thing

Josh towing Emma

Our cabin

The entire family (minus Mimi)

Grady discovered Squirt

The boys paddling.  Notice the long pants and sweatshirts

There was one day that was warm enough to get in the water.

The boys found a ton of crawfish

One baby was up and walking

Still no fish

Mama deer checking in on us

The best investment of the trip, a bug swatter.

Dinner and the fishermen

Josh made a broil

Finished product

Myles started with a bowl of cereal, not wanting to eat their catch

Then he did some taste testing.

One day it rained a ton so we found an indoor water park

The next day was beautiful so we went up to the Upper Peninsula and hit the Porcupine Mountain State Forest.

The river flowed into Lake Superior

Water snake, not sure what kind

On the banks of Lake Superior

The Great Lake

What in the world was she pondering

Emma was tired of hiking.

Luckily, Grady was there to help her out

One of the cute little towns near the cabin, Minoqua.

On the way home we stopped by Madison, WI for a night

There was a pool at the hotel

Mimi watched the kids so Josh and I could check out Madison.  We got some cheese curds.  When in Rome, right?

School: That's a Wrap

Here are a few photos from the spring semester.  The kids wrapped up 6th, 4th and Kindergarten and are so ready for summer.

Grady and friends entered the talent show at school.  They did a cupcake eating competition.  They were amid singers, piano players, a band and then...... they put on a competitive eating extravaganza. It was hilarious.  The whole school went nuts with cheering them on.

Emma had to pick a "community helper" that she wanted to be when she grew up.  She chose to be a police officer.  We went to the police station so she could interview a cop.  She did a great job.

I can see her in law enforcement.

A bit of Emma's art.  Check out the screws glued to the snowman's mouth.  Haha.

Of course, there were a few "choice contracts" this year for Emma.

Here she is dressed as an officer during Parent's Night.

She had a ticket book and was issuing citations to every parent that stopped by her station.  Everyone was cracking up!

Myles was Sir Frances Drake in the 4th Grade Wax Museum.  He did a great job writing and giving his speech.

Grady built a Mars colony.

Myles and school buddies

Grady when to Camp High Rocks for his end of the year campout.  A friend was chaperoning and sent some photos.

I just love Myles art work.  He is so creative

Grady and Friends had a party for the end of the year

It was at a friend's farm

Summer, here they come!

Hank the Tank

Well, it happened.  It was an accident.  We got a 3rd dog.  Just what I needed, something else to keep alive.  Meet Hank the Tank.  One of Josh's subs brought him to the job site for a week or so and Josh was sending me photos saying how awesome he was on the site.  He was sitting under the saw while in use, following people around and chillin on his bed.  At the end of the week, the sub said he was taking Hank to the shelter as his wife didn't want him.  The rest is history.  

Hank is a pitbull/corgi mix and the weirdest looking dog ever.

He's stilly and lovable

Our dogs weren't so sure about him at first

Weird looking

He's like a pitbull with tiny corgi legs

Welcome to the family Hank

Heading to the lake

This beautiful beast still has my heart.

Pure perfection.