WI: Canoeing

Well, I'm back to updating about our big trip-
Everyday another sibling was able to join us up at the cabin. Then all (that could make it) were there together for one whole day so we decided to canoe the Namekagon River. We decided on about a 4 hour trip so Nana stayed back to watch the youngest two grandchildren and met us half way through when we stopped for lunch.
The hardest part for Rylee and our leaving Wisconsin was having to leave the Ariel life jacket behind. Man she loved that thing (and I was a teeny tiny bit glad her girl cousin has her older brothers influence and doesn't care much for over the top girly stuff {yet} so there wasn't even any fighting over wearing it :) )

The grandkids swapped canoes a few times and all seemed to congregate around Poc. Surprise, surprise, he had candy and snacks ;)

It was a fun trip. We saw a blue herring, a baby dear, and a bald eagle along the river.

There were a few traffic jams

Then we got out of the water for lunch.

The second half consisted of a bit more swimming. There were a lot of shells in the river so we'd jump out to cool off and grab a few and of course throw rocks.

I loved the reflection of the clouds/sky and trees on the water. It was really beautiful.

The spot where we needed to get out to get picked up was right by a bridge. It was a terrible spot to stop because that was actually the fastest part of the river (and the only time a canoe tipped). There was some sand to play in and then a few of us would walk up the river a bit and ride the current down. Kinda fun.

Its difficult living far away because by the time the girls warm up to family (as in Rylee's case, not only let them near her but actually ask for an Uncle to pick her up) its time to go :( maybe everyone will decide it really is better to "fly south" for the winter ;)

WI: tubing

Photo Warning: My sister in law got a bunch of really great shots and I had a hard time narrowing the photos in the post down. Consider yourself warned.

We were able to get a few good tubing runs in. Taking the girls out on the tube was hilarious. Rylee was scared: sqoze my hand the whole time and tried to hide behind whoever was on her opposite side (dad or auntie M). Kelsey (AKA: the thrill seeker) loved it. She found the handles and knew just what to do. The only time she let go was when we crossed the wake and then she'd clap her hands and cheer, lol. Ah man, I can't wait for her to be tall enough to ride the steel eel with me at Sea World :)

see Kelsey clapping?

After a few minutes, we ditched the girls so we could get up to an appropriate tubing speed. :) Team Mike and Trish was unable to be thrown from the tube this trip.  Not for lack of trying. Even when the twenty-something brother was behind the wheel and no parents in sight ;)

We did however catch some air:

and speed:

It is REALLY hard to hold on when you are laughing that hard, but you are swinging around so fast that you know it will hurt more if you hit the water at those speeds. And then Michael yells in your ear: "Hold on!! Don't let go!!"

so. fun!

After my arms turned to jello (and the random neighbor yelled at us to stop) we decided to jump off the boat for a swim.  Like most things in life: its much more fun to do with a friend.  Bonus points if that friend is a cousin.

WI: fishing

Michael was very excited to be able to fish on vacation. One day he came up to me all sweet-like and asked "what would you like to do today?" {mind you we'd had a bit of a rainy day or two) "I don't know maybe-" "We could fish off the dock. We could fish off the pontoon boat. We could fish off the speed boat. We could fish off the shore. We could fish off the beach" you get the idea. My sweet husband had a goal: catch a large mouth bass.

So, we headed to the local fish/bait store for a few new loors. We seemed to have the most success fishing from the dock. I may have even been able to grab them with my hands from the shore. They're fed plenty (enter leftover pancakes or ends of bread) and small fish congregate near the dock/beach. One even mistook a mole on my leg as food. But it hurt and I had a welt for a few days, that fish had to find his dinner elsewhere.

That evening on the pontoon boat Michael's dream of catching a bass came true.

The REAL prize catch was mine, if I do say so myself.  We were just about to head in and I let out a cast and quickly got a bite and reeled it back in.  Well, as soon as I could see the end of the hook I started laughing.  I caught a baby of a fish.  It was barely bigger than my palm.  Like 5 inches.

Michael teased "you caught it, you have to get the hook out"  which I promptly did. (after letting out a small yelp when the fish jumped out of my grasp. (For the record, I was more afraid of getting the hook in my hand than the fish itself)

We leasurely watched the sun set.  Michael was graciously asked to leave the poles home on the next boat ride :)