First Camping Trip

Ok, I managed to dig out my camera and get the pics off it. We really didn't take too many pictures while we were there. Apparently we were having too much fun. In all seriousness, we really did have a great time together. Everyone got along famously and Princess Ivy's expectations remained in check for the most part. She did much better than I anticipated.

So, without further ado...

This is our new tent, purchase on sale at Walmart for $78! Hubs and I slept on a queen size air mattress on the right side, the three girls slept on their mats and sleeping bags on the left side and the boy & his dog slept in the middle. We fit perfectly.

We had a very nice campfire area. We had a great time sitting around the fire at night, roasting marshmallows, making s'mores, and telling stories about a family similar to ours... only they had special powers and were super heroes. "The Gas Man", "The Cooker", "Stretch", "The Dazzler", "The Mouth", and "Taffy"... I'm sure we'll all giggle about that for a long time to come.

Here you see our dog, Skippy Joe, chillin under the pine tree. He loved being outside so much! I had to do a bit of research to figure out how to remove all the pine sap from his belly and legs. Hopefully, his coat will return to normal soon.

Ivy 'all smiles' while fishing. I can't believe how much she loves fishing. I would have thought she would be grossed out by the sheer ickiness of it. Alas, she has surprised me again!

Lily, who is currently in the lead for the most fish caught, is loving every minute of it!

Nadia, also having a super fun time catching the fishes.

Christian, being blinded by my good looks... errr... the sun. Poor kid spent more time uncatching the fish the girls caught and baiting hooks than he did fishing. He's a good big brother, though.

My incredibly handsome husband. After six years of marriage, I'm still head over heels for him.

I love this picture. It's the fishing dock at McCarthy Beach and my family fishing off it. Left to right: Nadia, Christian, Lily, Dan, and Ivy. They're my whole world.

Here we are wading in the lake. I was trying to coax Skippy into the water. He's never been swimming and I know that is a natural instinct dogs have. You can't see it in this small picture, but in the larger version, his eyes are wide and full of terror. Poor dog.

Ivy laughing hysterically at Skippy as he walked backwards out of the lake. He refused to turn around. Weird dog.

Skippy FINALLY swimming. I had to take him way out in the lake before he would do it. He's a big boy now.

Here we are, minus Dan as he was holding the camera. Christian, Ivy, Nadia, Me, and Lily.

So, there you have it. The very first Robb camping trip. We all survived.

A Camping We Will Go...

We're preparing to take our first camping trip as a family this weekend. Six of us and a dog crammed in a tent. Don't be jealous.

My youngest two daughters have never been camping before. Sheltered children, I know. We're working toward exposing them to more things. It's been difficult allowing ourselves to splurge on things like camping equipment when we seem to move once every two years or so. It appears that we're finally in a place (financially speaking and geographically speaking) that we feel comfortable enough to do it. Mercifully, camping gear is a one time purchase.

We've reserved the campsite at McCarthy Beach State Park. It's not far from where we live. Check in is at 4pm tomorrow. I have no idea if that is the norm as far as campgrounds go. It seems like a later check in time gives you less time to get settled in and ready for dinner. Setting up the tent should be a sight to behold. I haven't set up a tent in at least 10 years. I really hope the instructions are in English.

I have had to explain what camping means to my eldest daughter. She often has delusions of grandeur and very high expectations when it comes to doing something new. At some point in her life, she has determined herself to be "Ivy: Princess of All and One Who Should Be Put Above The Rest". So, I'm sure somewhere in her princess-head, she thinks camping will be nonstop entertainment for her. I did my best to explain that camping has some exciting times (usually when an unexpected storm rolls in at 2am and your tent blows away with you inside making you acutely aware that you are no longer in Kansas... errr Minnesota) but that, for the most part, it's a relaxing time to just hang out with your family and friends. I really hope she heard me or she'll be in for a big surprise this weekend.

I shall report back with photos as to the survival of the 6 of us and our dog, who, by the way, has also never been camping.

Ficky Pishes

Or picky fishes. Whichever you prefer. Last night, the family and I went on our 3rd fishing outing in 2 weekends. We have yet to catch a single fish. Now do you see why I call them picky? We've been to Embarrass Lake twice and went up to Hoodoo point on Lake Vermilion once. *raspberries to the fishes*

I think we'll try a different lake today. There are so many to choose from! Minnesota is the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" you know! We heard from one of our neighbors that Bear Head Lake is swimming with biting fish (remind me never to actually swim there). So, I think we'll head over that way some time today. It's supposed to be in the 70's for the first time this summer - the sun is already shining.

Let's hope we have the 'right' bait. So far, our minnows, our fake leeches, AND our real leeches have been busts. Maybe I'll try one of the kids and see how the fish like them.