At the Cabin

We're back from our 2012 trip to my in-law's cabin in northern Minnesota!  Our 780 mile roadtrip went far easier than I expected it to go, which is a relief.  Our ipad proved itself as a great investment a million times over, and although I am extremely tired of hearing the Curious George theme song (Curious George is the new Elmo in our home these days), the $2.99 I spent on the Curious George and the Cows episode was some of the best money I've ever spent to get us through the last legs of our driving days.


Sam and Anna slept pretty well, especially considering we were pretty consistently delaying naps or bedtime due to travel and off our usual routine.  We still do not have car nappers, which stinks, but atleast we've got the traveling awake thing down. They slept until 8 am most mornings, and took a typical nap length so I was thankful for that!  I hope we are lucky with similar results when we go camping in a few weeks!

Last year the big hit with our 1 1/2 year old was the boat rides. Boat rides continued to be a big hit this year... even more so when they got a turn to help drive the pontoon. Anna (Miss Independent) didn't like anyone to have their hands on the steering wheel (adults included) when it was her turn and she would try to push them off. Sam was a wheel turn-er- we may or may not have gone in circles for a while during one of his turns. We checked out loons, blue herons, and even a beaver lodge on the lake.

This was last year's version of the above photo:

This year they still loved the boats but the hugest hit was swimming in the lake.  The lake was significantly high so the docks were actually partly under water.  The drawback to that was that the sandy beach was underwater, so Sam and Anna were not able to play in it.  The advantage to the high water meant that the end of the dock was the perfect toddler swimming area until they got more comfortable!  In no time, Sam and Anna were jumping off the end of the dock into waiting arms.  I am so glad that they meet the weight range for Puddle Jumpers this year too!  (Well, Anna almost does.)  Puddle Jumpers are fabulous for swimming compared to typical life jackets. 

 Swimming... on the dock

Swimming off the end of the dock

Both Sam and Anna became total water kids this year.  Not only were they jumping off the dock, but they discovered how to kick and move their arms to move.  They put their heads back into the water, and even swam out to the floating swimming dock (with adults close by).  I wish we could have stayed a week longer just to let them swim in the lake every day for seven more days. 

We even took them on a tube ride pulled by a jet ski.  Anna the daredevil grinned the whole time, and I'm sure she would have thought it was great to go by herself.  Sam was a little more unsure, but had fun going a little slower with the jet ski.

 Chillin' with the girl cousins on the big tube

While at the cabin, we took Sam and Anna fishing for the first time and both "caught" their first fish (with assistance).  They liked touching the fish and watching them bite the hooks under water.  We had a nice sunfish meal for dinner with the fish they caught!

 Sam's first fish

Anna's first fish

We went into town one morning and discovered a new playground.

Then stopped for a special ice cream treat.

Stopping for a small break by Lake Mille Lacs.

Our yearly picture in front of the big walleye on the way home.

last year in front of the big fish