Camping

I consider this to be our first real camping trip with no service, no close bathrooms, no running water, and all gas or fire cooking! What a great start to the week we were able to have with good friends and apparently other campers that were too close for real privacy. We drove up Sunday afternoon to Bloomington Lake and honestly almost got lost on the way, but made it to set up camp with no one else around. Another couple and their dog showed up before bedtime but that first night was quite as we had a dinner and s'mores around the fire. Claire wasn't happy about being stuck in the car seat but had a furry friend borrowed from her cousin to keep her happy. I think she just keeps getting cuter and cuter the more I look at her, and she handled the rest of the trip really well besides wanting to stay up with us each night.

Monday morning, we visited the lake after breakfast and it was so beautiful, even if we didn't catch any fish. Check out the pictures of the clear Bloomington Lake, just don't confuse it with the ponds you run into before you get there. It was less than a mile from our camp to the lake and on the way there Claire enjoyed riding on mom's back and checking out the scenery. We had packed our lunch stuff and ate by the lake, then did a bit more swimming, but gave up on fishing. There was a rope swing that was full of people when we were there this time but we had our try of it another day. 

On the way back, Claire fell asleep and got a good long nap making everyone jealous, but she was so cute we all forgave her. The boys brought their 22s and we went up a hill to find a good make shift shooting range after dinner. I got to join them since Claire refused to go to sleep and  we shot clay pigeons and targets set up a ways away. Claire fell asleep to the sound of gun shots that night...and we stayed up and had more s'mores around the fire until I couldn't stay up any longer. I feel old around these guys who stay up till 2am with no problem, but I usually am awake before them too.

The next day we visited a place called Minnetonka Cave after lunch and saw some cool (literally) caverns with all the stalagmites and stalactites, and at the end they turn off all the lights which scared Claire. It was Chris's turn to carry Claire on his back and she had just as much fun once she is up and moving. I don't think she likes when we put her in it but she is happy when we start walking around with her and she is interested in things she sees. We went to these ice caves right after which was more of a free exploring place and smaller but just as fun in its own way. Back to camp for dinner and another relaxing evening shooting bows that our friend brought with targets, we even saw some deer who seemed to be not afraid of us at all.


The last day of camping was pretty relaxing, some of us visited the rope swing, and some finished shooting the rest of the clay pigeons. Claire learned to hate being contained in her Pack N' Play by this time so we tried to entertain her in other ways than letting her tare apart the tent. I know she won't remember much of this trip because she is so young, but I'm glad we got to go and have a great experience. I was relieved to finally get a real shower when we got home that night and sleep in my own bed though. There is always a relief about coming home from a trip successfully and being able to get back to normal life. Next will be a camping trip up in Montana! Unfortunately, Chris won't be here for that because he will be off to do some military training in Utah. Such a bad month to be separated because we will be separate for all 3 of our family's birthdays.