Summer Vacation, Part 1

We've only been home a few hours and it's very clear that our vacation is over. The washing machine is working overtime, agitating a week's worth of dirty, stinky, sweaty clothes while the Gardener is out mowing the surprisingly not so long grass and the children are begging to turn on the TV after almost 10 days of very limited TV watching and absolutely no Qubo. I haven't yet had the courage (or energy) to go out and assess the garden and harvest the crazy amounts of produce that I'm sure are hanging on the plants. The rain gauge indicates that about a half inch of rain fell while we were gone, but I'm guessing it was hot too with the sort of crispy look that has overtaken the farm fields and my hanging baskets of once lush looking petunias. Time for the planters to go back in the garden shed for the year, I guess.

So yeah, vacation. First of all, I would like to know what exactly defines a vacation. Is it living out of a suitcase for a week? Driving 12 hours in the car to go to one of the most boring parts of the country? Staying with family in little 2 bedroom homes? Going to the Mall Of America and accidentally getting on the most terrifying roller coaster ride ever invented? Turns out for us, it's all of those things and more. Actually before we started our trek across Wisconsin and all way to western side of Minnesota and a day trip to my home state of North Dakota, we went up to the family cottage up in the north woods for one last family weekend (with part of my family) before the summer slips away from us.

And here come the photos!

We stared off Saturday with the Gardener's favorite, mini golf...
After mini golfing and a race around the go kart track (Binny and I passed Mae and the Gardener on one of the last turns. Yay for winning! Perhaps we're a bit competitive.) we stopped in at the annual garden tractor pull. We have always wanted to go but it has never been on a weekend when we're up there. What a (redneck) treat!
This girl (I think she was 16 or so) was all pro and wasn't afraid to lean all the way back to get as much traction on her back wheels as possible.
Some of the tractors were really loud...
Like this one with the giant pipes...
It wasn't too long and Binny had enough loud noises and exhaust fumes, so we went back to the cottage for a walk in the woods...With bear protection, of course...Then dinner...Rocko really liked dinner...
The next day, Uncle T took us out in his big boat!
Hey Uncle T, 1974 called, they want their boat back!

While it may be old, it sure does move!

Mae couldn't get enough of being towed around behind the boat...Binny tolerated it, but didn't like going too fast...
Up next, Part 2 including some crazy-ass chickens. Stay tuned!