THE BARBERS: Minnesota - Here We Come!

I honestly can't believe how FAST the summer is slipping by...so good thing Josh and I got a trip in before it was over! With Keatin off to Storm Lake and her grandparents for 5 nights, Josh took the week off work and we headed to Ortonville, MN/Big Stone Lake. 6 hours later, we were at a wonderful home on the lake with our good friends Aaron and Trish...and Cedar (Carlson's dog) and Crimson. (Side note - when I told my mom we were going on vacation and we wanted them to watch Keatin, but we were taking Crimson...she about died laughing and said there should be a t-shirt for that...something to the effect of: MY PARENTS TOOK MY DOG ON VACATION BUT LEFT ME AT HOME.) :)

The trip started a bit rough... About 10 minutes before we were ready to leave for Fort Dodge last Saturday night to meet my parents/drop off Keatin, Josh was having one last play session with Keatin...swung her around the living room (which she typically loves)...but this time in ended in cries...and Keatin refusing to move her right arm. Long story short, her right elbow had come out of socket. SO - for all you people who have heard this can happen, but don't really believe it...it does happen. Don't swing your small children by their arms! We got Keatin to my parents in Fort Dodge, and they took her to the home of one of Paul's co-workers in Storm Lake (as Paul/Dee were out of town) and that doctor fixed her up in about 3 seconds. I am happy it was an easy fix...but it was so sad to see her lug that right arm around against her body. :(

Our time in Minnesota was WONDERFUL. We rented a lake house from this website: www.vrbo.com. Check it out if you haven't before - SO COOL! The weather was gorgeous both full days we had in Minnesota...one day we were out on a boat all day...the next, just playing in the lake/water all afternoon. All 4 of us come home with LOTS of sun...and a few sunburns. Cedar LOVED the water - he was quite the fish by the time we left (he didn't quite know how to swim when we first got there and Aaron even had to make a mid-lake rescue, with the help of a floating mat, when Cedar decided to jump off our moving boat). :) Crimson just laid in the shade. :) Speaking of fish - Josh and Aaron each caught 1 fish...2 itty-bitty fish in total. So sad. :) It was exactly what Josh and I had in mind...and so perfect...so relaxing. We missed Keatin dearly, but our time apart was just right. And we couldn't have asked for 2 better friends to spend 4 days with. :)

Enjoy the pics below. Of course there aren't very many of the girls...guess we are the ones "behind the cameras." :)

Sunday afternoon when we arrived...the boys checking out the water...and Cedar's 1st attempt at swimming.