Camping (followed by bonus Duluth day)

Our first camping trip of the year was....well, a challenge. The forecast one week out was perfection. But that soon changed to cold and wet. Still some good memories, just not ideal!

We decided to try separating the naughties with the cooler, but they outsmarted us. One, they could still see each other which lends itself to many dirty looks and yelling. Two, the would shove the cooler back and forth so it was ramming into the other one. We need bigger and taller.

Little stop to picnic on the way. Obviously, we were on the Iron Range, headed toward Bear Head Lake State Park, Ely.

What to do when your food takes forever to arrive at the local dive? Count and stack jam containers, of course.

We toured Soudan Underground Mine. This is where they control the elevator shafts going up and down.

As you can see, Sophie was thrilled.

This about sums it up :-) 

I'm not a super fan of the entire elevator way below the earth's surface, either, but I found it calmed me to have to keep her calm. Refocused my anxieties quite well!

Luckily, the park had a brand new trail center which is where we ended up spending a ton of time!

Our soggy setup. This was our first year with new tents so that added a dynamic to the trip; it takes getting used to a new tent!

Somehow all of this.....

 

Is going to fit into this....

The deal is always, I'll get the bags packed, he gets it all into the car. Seems to work for us! Once it's out the door of the house or out of the tent, I turn my head and hope for the best. 

We did end up going home a day early which worked out well. We got unpacked and settled back in and the next day was warm and sunny. Bonus day in Duluth!

Helping dad was the car from all that mud and gravel.

Started with a trip to our favorite local park.

Onto Hermantown days for face painting and a BBQ lunch, courtesy of the bank. Typically Jon works this event, but we'd planned to be gone!

Then to Downtown Duluth for sidewalk days. This was a magician Kylie helped with.

Bubbles!

Giant Connect 4.

Of course a bouncy house that she must have done 50 times. Sophie of course wanted nothing to do with it.

Mini me's in a Corvette.

A busy but fun summer day!