Playing catch up a little bit......

As I am going through some of the zillion camping pictures to get ready to post them I realize it's October already....our camping adventures seem like yesterday but yet are almost 2 months old already.  Every year it amazes me how fast the summer slips past us.  We are blessed that our kids are involved in some great summer programs-they keep busy and have a blast with their friends.  This year was of course Zoey's first camping experience and that girl just rolls with the punches!  She absolutely loved camping-granted she is a very outdoorsy baby.  Another summer and some more great memories made by the Moen's :o)

We had the chance to go on a few campouts late in the summer this year.  First to Lac Qui Parle and Upper Souix than onto Crow Wing and ended the summer with the annual labor day festivites.

Every couple of years we make the trip to Lac Qui Parle state park...we love it there.  We always get a drive through site-those sites have a big area in front of the camper for the kids to play.  The view is breathtaking and it is nice and relaxing.

We had a ton of fun with bubbles all weekend.  I think they went through two huge containers full!

We found a big tree :o)

Our 3 little monkies sitting in a tree!

Helpin Dad with breakfast

Snugglin with brother......

and sister

Well Hello everyone!

Walking around the lake....the view is awesome and the beach is a wonderful place to explore....and be king of the rock!

They may not admit it somedays but they really do love each other-melts a momma's heart

Our Princess

Our other princess

Hanging out by the campfire.  I love this little knit hat on Zoey!

The boys love this sign...if they could they would put it in the man cave!

We took a day trip (it was supposed to be a short trek but due to construction it took all day) to another state park down the highway... Upper Souix Agency.  It is one of those state parks that the sites are so tucked in the woods you'd never get a camper in there. We did some geocaching through the park, checked out a TP, went along the river and caught some new slimy friends.  This park was one of the many sites along that highway that was involved in the Dakota War so there was quite a history lesson that day too.

Our two new slimy friends...these were hundreds of little froggies hopping around along the lake...the kids had a blast trying to catch them!



We also found this cool museum that just recently built in Granite Falls.  There were several building and all were packed with original war vehicles and planes.  All the pieces in theis museum have been completely restored from their original condition and all are able to fly or drive!  Boog was in his glory!



Before heading to Park Rapids for Labor day weekend we made a stop for a few days at Crow Wing State Park... It was hot but relaxing anyway.  We meet this cool older couple that were the campground hosts.  The kids rode bikes all the time and Bayleann got rid of the training wheels! Way to go Peanut!

Two little peas in a pod! Bayleann and Allie played so well all weekend-too bad they don't live closer!

The perfect caption for this pic is....
Wyatt: "Why did she get all the hair!"
These two little bundles are only 19 days apart.  Next year they will be running around the campsites!



Only peanut could rock purple hair!



Let me taste your nose daddy.....



Pool Time... the kids love the pool and are constantly jumping in and trying to make the BIG splash



Flying Peanut!

Zoey decided to take a nap instead of splashing


Well another summer of camping fun in the record books!  Now it's fall and we are making the best of the great outdoors before Minnesota changes seasons yet again! 

It's that time of year again.....

School starts, the leaves start to change and that means hunting starts.  This is the time that the boys look so forward to and as with everything it always seems to go by so quickly.  Getting up at the crack of dawn, getting the decoys ready, hunkerin down in the blinds or boat waiting for the sunrise and sight of birds.  It's in a way a rite of passage-dad passing down his hunting skills to his son and maybe someday daughters.  While mom smiles and takes pictures of the whole experience.  I may not hunt but I also love hunting season....because I love what it means to my boys :o)

Daddy's & Booger's....makes a momma smile

If you remember about a month ago Austin got his first 20 Guage....he worked hard for his gun and really earned it.  And this goose-is his first prize with HIS gun! Way to go Boog!

Bayleann is a little princess all wrapped up in pink and tu-tu's with that take no prisioners not afraid of nothin attitude....she will go far in this world.  She loves to get her hands in the geese when the boys come home.

Boogers goose

Two peas in a pod

Checking out the tongue....

Gotta clean the geese

I got alittle too close to the action!

I love hunting!

This is what memories between a father and son are made of....

Wow a 5th grader and 1st grader!

After writing that title I had to stop and say to myself "self-where did that time go?" It seems like just a few years ago we were dropping Austin off at Kindergarten and now he's a 5th GRADER! Holy cow! And little miss Bayleann a big girl now in 1st grade-she was so excited for school today that she went to bed early and was awake at the crack of dawn this morning ready to go...she didn't even want to eat breakfast she just wanted to get to school.  I would have to say that I did not cry this morning! Pretty proud of myself :o) Andy, Zoey and I took them in this morning so we could get some pics with their teachers and give them good bye kisses (yes even Boog let me give him a hug and kiss)


Yes I fed them fruit loops for the first day of school! :o) Nothing wrong with that!

When I was taking this picture Boog asked me if I was going to do this every year til he graduated and of course I said YES!!

Gotcha!

Boog's teacher Mr. Denny...he was the teacher to get according to all the kids! He is awesome with them and I think Boog's going to have  a great year!

Bayleann and Mrs. Kellen....she is also a terrific teacher! Has a wonderful way with the kiddos.  Bayleann is so excited to be in her class!

Well it's off to bed with these little Panthers! Tomorrow is another day of school!