Vacation 2009 - Evil River Part II

Here it is, the big vacation update! Of course, it's been a month since we went, so the memories have already started to fade, but I've uploaded some pictures to our photo gallery and the site's slideshow is now showing them. Hopefully this gives a better idea of how the vacation went. To see all of the pictures in the album, either click on the slideshow, or try this link here.

In August of this year, our family joined the Zieglers, Johnsons, and Abholds on a trip to St. Germaine, WI to stay at one of the remote Black Bear Lodge resorts. The resort was pretty nice, 6 cabins arranged along the lake with piers out front, a firepit, a shared fish house, and a "game room." We selected the first off-peak week to book our stay, and were rewarded with some of the coldest weather I can remember on a summer vacation. The first day was pretty nice, in the low 80s, and the second wasn't too bad, in the mid to upper 70s, but that was the end of that. Weather ranged from the 30s at night to windy and 50s during the day. Our cabins faced west, so we took the full brunt of the wind most of the time. Luckily we were able to find activities to do that did not involve going in the water or being outside all the time...

One such activity was going to GI Joe. Early in the week, Ethan and I decided that we were going to see this movie during this week because we rarely get an opportunity at home to get out to the movies. Unfortunately we didn't end up going until the second to the last night, and that was one of the nights that was actually pretty nice from a weather perspective. Nonetheless, we both enjoyed the movie, Ethan moreso than me as he has, or more specifically had declared it his favorite movie of all time. On the ride back from the movie, Ethan was discussing the finer aspects of movie making and asking my opinion on whether they would make another one. He has pretty much figured out Hollywood already as he basically equates the likelihood of a sequel on the money the original takes in. Hopefully I don't spoil the ending, but Cobra gets captured by GI Joe (there, I spoiled it). Ethan summed up the potential of future Joe movies by saying this,

"Everybody knows the bad guys are going to get out, and they're probably going to make a lot of money, so I'm sure they'll make another one..."

Quin busied himself all week by perfecting several new skills. One of the ones he's been working on for awhile now is the ability to walk up and down stairs without having to sit down. I'm not sure why he is so intent on doing that, but once he sets his mind on something, he does it and doesn't stop until he's satisfied that it is done right. So he entertained himself by walking up and down the camp stairs for what seemed like hours on end. By the end of the week, he could do it without falling or sitting down.

It seems silly to talk about now since he has added so many new words, but the vacation up north seemed to be Quin's verbal coming out party. Probably because I don't see him all day, but it seemed to me that Quin learned and used more words on vacation than he's ever used before. Now, looking back, I think that may have been true, but his latest achievements have far eclipsed those of that week. Let's see, he was still using "all done" with great success, he had "go-go-go" down pat, and was also starting to attempt to pronounce some more difficult things. For example, one day he got stuck in a lawn chair. He looked at Jenny and said, "guck." On another day, he picked up a rock and proudly said "cock."

As I said, many of our activities involved things away from camp, and away from the wind. On a particularly cold day, we found our way to the go-kart track. Ethan was very excited to drive his own go-kart. Unfortunately, when we got there we realized that you had to be 53" tall to drive one yourself - he only measuredin at 52" (thank God!). So Ethan abided and rode tandem with me - I let him drive, and let me tell you, it's a good thing he didn't drive himself!!! After the go-karts, he discussed at length the possibility that he might grow an inch in the next 24 hours so he could drive a go-kart tomorrow!!!

In the end, it was a very nice week, despite the weather. We got to see some of the tamest ducks I've ever seen, we saw a dog destroy a muskrat Discovery Channel style, and Ethan and I even fished a little bit. In fact, once I found Ethan fishing off the end of the dock by himself with no prodding or bargaining from me at all!!! Now that the kid's trip is out of the way for the year, it's time for Jenny and I to start planning the adult's-only vacation that we so desperately need!!!

Quin Quickie

I couldn't resist blogging this before my "big vacation update" later this week...

Quin has been talking A LOT MORE lately. I sat down to try to figure out the words he knew now and lost track. He's become much more interesting in the last month or so. Anyway, a game that I always play with him is to push his nose and say "beep beep." Ethan might do it to him, too. So now he goes around and pushes people's noses and says "bee bee" just like we do...

Apparently he doesn't just stop at noses, though. This morning when I was changing his pants, he grabbed his penis and said "bee bee..." Once I figured out what he was doing, I had to concentrate very hard not to laugh so hard that he fell off the changing table...

Kissing Cousins

Kissing Cousins

These pictures are from awhile ago, but I thought they were cute enough to post anyway!!! This is a picture of Quinton kissing his cousin. Man, he's really going for it! OK, they are second cousins once removed, or third cousins or something (you'd have to ask Blaine for the exact designation), so that's probably OK in most You can tell they are from awhile ago as they were for Jodi's baby shower - and they've already had the baby!!! Man, I just don't 'blog enough...

Swimming at the Lake

Jenny and I participated in a triathlon two weekends ago. My parents came down to watch the boys while we were out punishing our bodies (thanks mom and dad). The festivities took place in a state park, so we purchased a state park sticker. Since we purchased the sticker, we've decided we should try to get our money's worth from it - so to make a long introduction a bit longer, we've been going to the state parks in the area all week this week. On Tuesday, Jenny has her tennis league, so it's just me and the boys for the evening. Last night was warmer and sunny, so we decided to go to the state park and hit the beach. Quin just loved the water. I couldn't keep him out of it. He first found some puddles towards the top of the beach where he played for quite awhile. Until, that is, he realized there was a BIG puddle not too far away (the lake). Once he got there I couldn't get him out of there! He just loves the water. He makes me kind of nervous, though, since he has absolutely no fear of, and also no coordination in the water. Eventually he found a way to get around without falling in the water and swallowing a stomach full...

The funniest part of this story is the contrast between the boys taking a trip to the lake alone and taking a trip with mom in tow. When we went to the lake last night, we all put our swimming suits on at home, went to the lake, swam, then remembered that we needed a towel - luckily there was one in the van. We all used the same towel, dried off, went home, and went to bed. Tonight we did the same trip, this time with mom. When Ethan and I got home from work and camp, there was a picnic supper packed, extra clothes, four towels, garbage bags for our refuse, I could go on. Let's just say there are differences between trips that dad plans and those that mom does...

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Quinton has been serenading us with his lovely singing voice lately. We've been shocked lately to hear a very recognizable rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," or it could be the alphabet song... The words aren't that clear, but the tune is spot on. He is already a better singer than Jenny!

Remote Control Car

A week or two ago, I got Ethan's remote control out and we played with it in the driveway. Ethan and I were having a blast, but Quinton didn't like it so much... He spent the entire 30 minutes we played with it on my lap clinging for dear life. Strange what kids will be afraid of.

Marley and Me

A week ago, Ethan and I watched the movie "Marley and Me" while Jenny was gone for a night out with the girls. It is a basic movie about life, family, and the family pet, Marley. If you just looked at the title and watched casually, you would think that the movie is actually about a dog and its owner. If you are an attentive and perceptive viewer, however, like Ethan, you might just take away a different message from the movie. The message Ethan took away from it was quite intuitive. Towards the end of the movie, Ethan says to me, "Dad, do you want grandchildren?" I said, "of course." He replied, "Well, you better hope Quin has some then, because I'm never going to." When I asked him why, he told me, "because kids ruin your life." Apparently the message he took away from the movie was that being young and married with a dog is a blast and you get to "make out" all the time. Once you have kids, though, your life is over and you don't even get to "make out" anymore... Very perceptive, indeed.