A Weekend to Remember!

This past weekend, we went with our friends, the Smiths, and Michelle's sister's family, down south a few hours to a state park to camp and ride the bikes. This trail system is the one we went to in May that is a horse trail park for most of the summer. Two weekends a year they open it up to dirtbikes and it's my favorite place to ride. The trails are crazy! They are tight and curvy with lots of different terrain (including a lot of mud!). All of our arms are sore today, and there were places that I thought that me & my sweet ATV would be stuck between 2 trees forever. We camped out on Saturday night and had a really good time. It was very cold during the night but Cary had us prepared. The stars were gorgeous and I think the Ryan family will have camping in our future :). We laughed til we couldn't breathe, had yummy food, and a great time with friends. The boys rode their motorcycles and bicycles all over the place and literally were off only to eat or sleep. They have a couple of kid-only trails, so when we were cooking or hanging out, they were still riding.

Minnesota is very pretty this time of year too, with all the crops getting ready to be harvested, they truly are fields of gold (this was on the way out to the park).

And the leaves are just starting to change color...

At the campsite, and here we are trying to put up our tent...

Ta-da!

The big line-up! We didn't lose anyone, no bikes broke down, and only one injury (to Nicole's knee).
Nicole & me
Casey & Taylor
Austin and Casey ("discussing" who was going to lead)

"Hey guys, we could use some firewood". They came back with a tree!

I don't know this guy, but it cracked me up (he did not go out on the trails with the baby for those who may be wondering...just around the campsite).

The girls playing a game with their mosquito head nets on. The bugs got busy around dusk and soon went away.

I found these humongous marshmallows and they were a hit!

Taylor, who stuck the whole thing in her mouth, and looked like she had rabies.

Only a sister would ask "should I spit in it" when Missy got something stuck in her eye...

Cary cooking breakfast Sunday morning. He made omelets in a bag for each of us and they were soooooo good!

Miss Nicole wrapped like a mummy...

Over the lookout spot...

Austin

Cary & Nicole

The mud is so slick and sucks you in. This picture represents these dads well. They are so patient with the kids and it's so much work to park and get off their motorcycles a hundred times a day, but they do it with patience and encouragement every time.

Getting a ride from Miss Casey :)

The trails are so fun - we don't have many pictures from the trail because every one is riding. There were places that were so dark in the forest in the middle of the day, it was spooky. And then there trails along a pretty river and winding through grassy hills. The kids are becoming such good riders and have learned to maneuver and problem solve on these trails. This is Cary going through a tree that has grown in a loop.

The campsite from high up on the hill.