Wisconsin Camping 2015

After returning from our epic road trip to Mount Rushmore, there was still one last must-do before school got in the way of all our fun: the annual family camping trip with the Seversons!  This family tradition is driven by Ben, who is determined that we will be a camping family.  So, of course, he happily does all of the work of getting ready for the camping trip, right?

Here is our intrepid explorer now, busily sleeping while his wife, 8 months pregnant, gathers tents, sleeping bags, camp stoves, etc.  This is what happens when you get hit with the worst head cold/sinus infection in the history of mankind the day before the trip. Ugh.

But we put on our brave faces and did it anyway.  We were rewarded with a nice drive through Wisconsin forests to our campsite.

This year, our campsite also included a cabin, complete with A/C.  Because, when you're 8 months pregnant, that's what camping is.  It was perfect, really.

One of the fun things about camping in the Midwest is that the critters are different from what you encounter in Utah mountains.  The boys went for a nice morning walk and came back with four frogs.

Here's Ellis with his favorite one, "Biggie."

This was probably the largest one we caught.

Meanwhile, Ben did a lot of sneezing/suffering/sleeping next to the A/C.  A major downside of Midwest camping is that there are no mountains, so you don't get up out of the heat at all.  You just bake in it in your tent.

Even though a more natural pairing would be Henry with Eli and Ellis with Charlie, it was actually Henry and Charlie who were inseparable the whole trip.  Charlie likes being friends with the oldest, and Henry loves imagining up worlds for Charlie to play "the game" in.

We camped near Devil's Lake State Park, WI.  Here we are ready to hike around the lake a bit.

Wasn't long before the heat cut the hike short, and we switched to swimming.

Can you beat pond swimming on a hot summer day?  I think not.

Lot's of muscles in this picture.  And one belly on Ellis.  :)

 Now, maybe you noticed that Sam is not in these swimming pictures.  That's because just before we got in the water he took a pretty good tumble and smacked his head on a rock.  In seconds it had swelled to the largest goose egg I've seen on someone's head maybe ever.  So Ben got the enviable task of scooping him up and carrying screaming him all the way back to the car to relax (but not sleep, since we were worried about a concussion).  You can see some remnants of the blow in this picture taken the next day:

Luckily after a couple of hours he perked up and seemed fine.  That kid is durable.

In this end, this is why it was worth camping, despite the bugs and Ben's sickness and Sam's head injury and the heat:

Sometimes you just have to be able to see the whole sky.

And let the boys play with the fire. :)

 And, you know, just be boys.

Latergrams: In which summery things happen

First day of summer vacation: tagging along with the Severson bunch and their Chicago donut taste test adventure! We hit five different donut shops and, um, only ate one or two. My favorites were Firecakes, Do-Rite, and Stan's, to name just a few. #mindblowingdonuts #chicagofoodrules #fivepoundslater... 

 My king and three princes. #happyfathersday #stickercrowns #lovemyboys

 Ellis could not be more proud that he is old enough to play soccer at camp this week, with real shinguards and cleats. It also helps to have your best friend on the team and your little brother cheering you on. #aysosoccercamp #proudboy #soccermom

 I am starting to understand why one little boy would choose not to have his dad be his soccer coach in the fall. He absolutely worships coach Stuart from Scotland. Sometimes it's more fun to have another grown up as your coach. #aysosoccercamp #benisworkingonhisaccent

 Words cannot describe this day with my dear friend. #bostonldstemple #stephanie #holiness #spiritualrush

 Boston, you have the truest pizza I have ever met. #aftertempleparty #stonehearth #thincrustwithdrawals #ricottabythedollop #bostongirl

Just a walk by myself through the most beautiful place in this country. Perfect for this very spiritually awakening trip. #solitude #angels #mountauburncemetery #theplaceimissmost #nothinglikeit

 There are way too many people not pictured here, but it was such a rich day for me, full of happy reunions, laughter, tears, meeting new babies, scheming, planning, reminiscing, and contemplating how lucky we are to have been able to share part of life's journey together. I also couldn't believe how many times I got confused, thinking I was in Utah...because this place feels so much like coming home. #bostonfriendsforever #tendermercies #lifeisbeautiful

 Also, this girl melted my heart when she said, "Jenn, it almost feels like we're more than just friends...it feels like we're family, and like Henry and Ellis and Sam are my cousins." I feel the same way, Tabi! #friendsthatfeellikefamily #ourexpandingfamily #loveisgood #lifeisbeautiful

 Haircuts by Ellis: the latest thing. I woke up to all three boys happily drawing together, each with a chunk of hair missing right smack-dab in the front of his head. #firsttimeever #cutyourown #timeforabuzz

 Of course they're all mine. Isn't that totally normal to take six boys (8 and under) across a parking lot, through revolving doors, and up an elevator? #mylife #thethingswedo #kidswap #OTsportsgroup #BFFs

 Just in case Ella and Ellis get married someday, and we can joke about how she used to beat him up. #threeblondegirls #meetthreeblondeboys #bostonfriendsforever

 So glad that Eliza was able to stop here on her huge road trip from Boston to Utah! Her visit was way too short! #bostonfriendsforever

 This is happening. #iversonsgocamping #willingly #wishmeluck

 It appears that these three could occupy themselves all day long at the lake, while Ellis is fishing with the dads and Sam is asking, "What can I do???" #dayatmirrorlake #bffs #happyboys #iversonsgocamping

Boys. Each attempting to win the "daredevil contest" while their parents have mild panic attacks. #iversonseversonboys #wouldbebrothers

 The boys, all six of them. #iversonseversonboys #iversonsgocamping

 Family time is good. #hiking #familyphoto #iversonsgocamping

 The best part of this trip for me has been discovering how beautiful Wisconsin is. We have loved driving through the gorgeous hilly farmland, and the hiking trails were lovely. Can you tell who was ready to go home at this point? #wisconsin #pryingopenmynewenglandheart #iversonsgocamping

 Kind of surprised when the GPS said, "Turn right, then board ferry." #firsttimeforeverything #merrimackferry #headedhome

 Working on our skillz. #swimcamp #bigblue #wecandohardthings

 Is everyone else's basement flooding? #hugerainstorm #waterwatereverywhere

 Finally had a good reason to buy the dehumidifier we've been needing for a year. #dryingout #mustybasementsmell

 Ellis is more patriotic than you'll ever be. #stillknowseverypresident #justsayin #happy4th

 I was kind of hoping our basement would flood again while @beniverson is out of town. I didn't get my fill of this stuff last week. #dreamscometrue #basementflood2 #dejavu #houstonwehaveaproblem

 Sam appointed himself to teach the family night lesson tonight...and then proceeded to spend the next hour "getting ready for my lesson." This is the pile of supplies he gathered. #shouldbeinteresting #allbymyself #samsfirstlesson #theboywholovesgettingready

 Preparations for "Newsie Group," the activity Ellis has been dreaming up all week. As you can see, he has printed scripts, assigned roles, and roped a few friends into playing along. When I asked why Sam's assignment got erased, he said, "Shhh! I don't want Sam to feel bad that he got released...but he wasn't singing very well." #released #onlymyellis #newsieboy #meetsconferenceboy #lovehim

Business is booming on Grant and McDaniel. Or at least we hope it will be! #lemonade #summerjob #henrysfavoritethingever 

2 hours + 45 cups + a big batch of cookies = just over $43 profit. I wonder if their success had anything to do with Sam stretching out his hands and saying, "Just give me your money." #lemonade #bigmoney #quittingmydayjob

Pretty proud of this boy who hated coloring and refused to do any art projects (up until a year ago, when he found his calling). #colorbynumber

 Four boys, eight well-rehearsed songs, one epic production. #newsiegroup #directedbyellis

Couldn't resist the 7/11 Free Slurpee day!