Gramp Rapids: Part 1

As seems to be the way we vacation lately, the day before we planned to head north for a lovely week of vacation over the Fourth, I got a text from day care. Quinn had a fever. Because of course she did. Lucky for me, Mike had the day off of work so was able to retrieve the gang. Q clearly didn't feel well, but after a nice nap, she perked up. Fortunately, the fever seemed to be her only ailment.

Saturday morning, we got up, gave poor Q some ibuprofen, and somehow made it on the road by 9:00am. I know! We were as surprised as anyone! The gang was SO excited and Declan was cheering that we were finally on our way to "Gramp Rapids." We stopped about halfway up at a park to get some wiggles out and then again in Aitkin for lunch. We started vacation off the right way and even shared an ice cream dessert after lunch. 

We were so happy to get to GR and get out of the car! We had a pretty low key rest of the day, playing at Gma and Gpa's. Dec and I went on a walk with Gpa, Yogi, and Auntie, but decided to stay and play at the park while they kept walking. It was an early to bed kind of day. Which was good, because that was probably the only early to bed we managed all week!

Sunday was Day One of All The Days of Cousins! After church, we went over to Kyle and Tracey's house for a lovely afternoon outside. There was an epic water balloon fight, a nerf gun battle, barbies on the picnic blanket, free access to the chip bag, lemonade and margaritas ... life was good! Fiona had the best time getting in on the water balloon fight and showed off her wicked aim to her cousins. Quinn and Dec had a good time watching the water balloon fight from a safe zone. Mike, of course, was also in the thick of the battle.

After dinner Sunday night, we walked down the hill to the beach "that Mommy used to go to when she was a kid" to play in the sand. And had to test out the water. Consensus was that it was "freezing cold." And yet, they were all in! They had a great time splashing around and were so pleased that Auntie was there too. Auntie even let us borrow her kayak and Q and Dec enjoyed their rides with Dad.

We warmed up after swimming by playing at the park and then walked back up the hill to the bonfire that Grampy had waiting for us. We closed out the weekend with some s'mores and a very needed bath. 

So many days of beaches and cousins to come.
**Full disclosure: Tracey took the amazing water balloon action shots. I take no credit. Except for the people in them. They belong to me.