A week of Family Memories!

We went to Minnesota for a week before Ollie and Joelle's wedding (post to come- This took an hour just to get photos uploaded and in order!). We got to do some sight seeing on our drive to Minnesota like Kitchitikipi and waterfalls.

Dave and I went to Kitchitikipi on our way to Munising to meet up with everyone else. It's a spring that receives over 10,000 gallons of fresh water a minute. The water is so clear it's like a swimming pool! This is a place we went as children and I wanted Dave and Jack to see it.

All my favorite men at a waterfall in Munising! Dad, Geoff, Jack, Dave, and front row is Brenden!

Mom, Dave, Brenden, Kylie and Jack took a stroll along the pier in Munising.

Here is a picture from the boat ride that shall never be talked about on the blog. I wouldn't want to incriminate Myles and Beth (Joelle's parents).

Our cabin in Minnesota was Amazing! Or as the locals would say "AWESOME"! It was big enough for the ten of us and we weren't tripping over each other it was really nice. Grandpa and Nana are awesome for letting us all stay in one cabin with them. Here is Nana and Grandpa with all their grandchildren!

The cabin wasn't child proof so we moved some things around, But Jack wanted to explore whenever possible!
The deck was very large and we ate outside whenever the weather allowed us (most of the time- but it was cool there most days). Brenden is blowing bubbles for Jack~ Jack really did like it!

Oliver got dad a charter fishing trip for his birthday. Dad, Dave and Geoff got to go. Here are the Chau's waiting for the guide to show up!

The boys are off! Good luck!

Dad caught a "Trophy Fish" and we are all so proud of him. His Walleye was 26 inches and 7.5 pounds, but in this photo is the smaller one that he kept.

Of course a fishing trip wouldn't be complete without eating all the fish that were caught. Dad caught Walleye, Geoff caught Pike, and Dave caught Bass on the guided tour. They were all trying to catch Walleye!

To make the trip that much better we were also able to get a pontoon for the week. Dave was out at least once daily fishing, and Geoff was often with him. Everyone got turns to go but with children we had to go in shifts so that there were babysitters. Here Dave and I are sitting on the dock waiting for the pontoon to return with mom and dad and the Chau Family. We were wondering if they caught anything!

Brenden and Kylie did well on the trip. They played together often, and here they are both enjoying their own freeze-pop.

Dave eventually caught something besides a Bass!
Dave and Geoff got the pleasure of cleaning any fish that were caught and kept. Here is one of the fish that was caught and being prepared for a fish fry.

Mom went Kayaking all the time. The morning of Ollie's wedding a few of us went out for a "stroll". It was so nice getting to Kayak!

Beth and Myles (the boat people) also had us all over for a family dinner once Ollie and Joelle arrived in Minnesota. Here they are with one of their dogs, Gizmo.
We did that whole camera timer thing to get everyone into a photo that night, but I only have a copy of a picture missing Myles and Beth. Hopefully that photo will be sent on. Here is the group that got to enjoy a wonderful dinner at the Blomquist cottage!
The next day they invited us over and Brenden, Becky and Ollie went tubing behind the boat.

Friday night Ollie and Joelle didn't have a rehearsal dinner (their wedding was laid back). But they did have a birthday party for Oliver. It was his 34th birthday the night before the wedding. Here is my favorite photo taken that week of Dave, Jack and Me.

Joelle and her grandma made a Jello-Cake (two actually) for Ollie the night before. Here they are lighting all the candles.

Of course Jack got Uncle Ollie Batman underwear from Walmart!! Jack is cool like that!

The sunset at the party was amazing! Here are a few shots....

Aunt Maxine, you might be saying "Oh I didn't know she went with you". Well she did but she doesn't like her photo taken. Even with a view like this one I couldn't get her to let me take a good photo.

Mom and Dad outside the hotel where the Party was.

Cousins that need to learn to smile for real, their faces do not match the backdrop.... oh well maybe we can go to a photo studio and have them put up a fake sun-set and try again! Jack is nearing his bedtime, but was a trooper like always. This trip was amazing and I will remember it forever!

on the drive home we stopped at the bridge.... who wouldn't!!! here is just one of many shots I took of Jack. The blanket.... he has become attached to it by this point in the trip!

Jack might be upset that the trip is over.... or maybe he just wants out of his car-seat.

I will get wedding photos up soon. These were only a few of the hundreds of photos taken over the week (I even deleted some off here accidentally_like the cabin photo, some of Ollie and Joelle....etc.,,,, so tired).

As we were leaving Brenden said "I wish we could stay another 4 weeks!" I agree Brenden, it's not often that family gets to spend quality time like we did our week at the cabin in Minnesota!