End of Summer Vacation & Labor Day Camping 2011

We always go camping over Labor Day weekend with Andy's extended family at Vagabond Village by Park Rapids, so this year we decided to go a few days early and stay a few nights at Itasca State Park to make a little longer vacation.  It was such a busy summer we didn't get as much camping in as we usually do. 

Itasca is our favorite state park-sure we have been there a few times but there is something so peaceful about that park.  We enjoy just sitting in our campin chairs around a good fire! For us just entering into the park you feel relaxed and transformed into another world....it rained alittle the first day but otherwise we had great weather.  Got to hike alittle, relax alot, kids played-overall had a great time...

Riding their bikes back & forth along the road in front of the camper

Just Chillin'

He's huntin & campin in the dirt :)

Monkey Boy!

What a good looking family!

Not sure what she's searchin for out there?

What a awesome view!

She is well trained...posing so nicely :)

Such love!

Chippin away for dino bones...

Bayleann did awesome fishing at our favorite little Mary Lake at Itasca....yes they were barely potato chip fish but she caught one after another & loved it!

Needing more worms...hungry fishes out there!

Boog on the other hand didn't catch a thing...the fish didn't like his worms I guess...oh well...maybe next time

Always the goofy one!

 On Friday of that week we transferred over to Vagabond Village for the Family Gathering.  Right away Bayleann & Allie found each other and went to play at the lake....Hopefully Allie's dress came clean of the mud....sorry Amy grandma said she could get dirty! :)

Such cute cousins!!

They were soaked!


Probably the highlight of Bayleann's weekend was when she got to wear her new shirt...We hand made it so that she could tell the whole family her secret! And let me tell you it was killin her to keep that a secret!

Bayleann's going to be a BIG SISTER! Both her and Austin are pretty excited

Volley ball court into a sand box for the cousins

Ok there needs to be some explanation for some of the next pictures....otherwise you might wonder a bit what the heck is going on....Well each year we seem to have a theme and this year was
REDNECK MOEN CAMPOUT!
Here is Justin pulling into the campground with a Vikings camper and that outfit...WOW!

Spanky & Tim

Troy, Tim , Jenni & Spanky....
The scary part is that dressin like Rednecks came way to easy for this family...

I got buck teeth, a plugger and there is a skull on my shirt....watch out I'm dangerous!

These two are cute even with buck teeth!!

Let the games begin! Our ceremonial torch! Complete with a gator, antlers & beer! (No animals or beer were harmed in the making of this torch....oh wait their dead! oh well)

Jenni the official party planner decided we would play a t-p roll-transfer-from pluggers-stuck-in-between-our-legs game between couples....can't use your hands mind you....It's not as easy as it looks!  Hard to play since your laughing so hard and need to pee!

Andy & I won our first round....go Andy...then I decided to chase him with the plugger....

THE REDNECK PLUGGER GAME CHAMPIONS...MEL & SPANKY! They had  strategy...

The kids had to have some fun too since all their parents were in tears laughing so hard....

Jenni brought some luminaries for the kids to release down at the beach...of course Bayleann picked a pink one for our family. Her absolute favorite color. Eric lights the square in the bottom and it fills with air and off it goes into the night sky....It was so cool!

Bayleann asked if Grandma Judy would be able to see her luminary...if it would make it to heaven or not....we told it would and that Grandma would know it came from us since it was pink :)

Had to end with a sleepy peanut!
What a great vacation!