Versailles State Park, Indiana
June 11-14th, 2015

Big Rock Forest Preserve

Big Rock Forest Preserve
Season Opener 2015
May 23-24, 2015

When we arrived at the storage site we found some damage to the front of the camper that had clearly occurred over the winter.

The campground was close, but it was new.  There was very little tree cover and a lot of wind.  Big Rock, IL is about 30-40 minutes south of Batavia, near the Aurora airport.

As soon as we set up the campsite I got to work.

I spent some time browsing the latest news and important happenings on my phone when we arrived.  Just kidding I looked at cat photos on Facebook.

And made a nice fire

Because it was a bit boring, we got some new toys.

We also took a little walk down to the lake, but I think we decided not to take the camera because it was looking a little overcast and possibly rainy.

Pokagon State Park, IN

Pokagon State Park, IN
August 30-31, 2014

I think I drove down to meet you guys after the concert with Leanne...?



Ella must have been there.



Lots of pictures on a beach with Hamlet - where the heck was everyone else?


Twins were apparently messing with sand.


That itch wasn't going to scratch itself.



We ate at a little dockside restaurant where I drew a pink and white spotted cow for Ada.  Inspired by a campfire story?

Yellowstone National Park, there, and back

Yellowstone National Park Trip
July 4-13, 2014

Including:
Spam museum
Helmer Myre State Park, MN
Albert Lea firework celebration
Butterfly Museum, Sioux Falls, SD
Buffalo Gap National Grassland (photo op, only)
Bear Country USA, SD
Mystery Mountain Holiday Resort, SD
Sheridan, WY (lunch stop)
Yellowstone, obviously
Devil's Tower National Monument

Peninsula State Park, Wisconsin
Door County
May 29-31, 2014

Have never suffered from so many mosquito bites in my life.  I don't have a picture of it, but this was the place that Mike was swarmed the second he stepped out of the truck to fill the freshwater tank.  And jumped back in the truck screaming for mosquito repellent.

This is the face of a puffy person who has suffered far too many mosquito bites

Took pictures of every single campground map, but failed to notate which loop and site we actually stayed in.

Unless it's the one with my finger pointing to it... that is possible.

We had dinner and took family selfies.

We met up with the Bilottes at this campground, they were tenting, and I think only stayed one night.

We played at a playground...





Adults, too.



We walked down to the lake/boat launch ramp...

This looks beautiful, but remember we were getting eaten TO DEATH by mosquitoes.
Seriously, just enjoy the photo and the blood we donated to get it.

At this point we were dying from blood loss.  I seriously don't even remember taking this photo.

The following morning the Dads and Josephine and Oliver did some fishing.

I love fishing, I just absolutely love it and everything about it.

I went for a run on State Park Roads and realized I had no service and no songs on my phone.  This was a time in my running career that I was very dependent on music for motivation.  So I came back.

And the twins and I hung out in the relative comfort of the camper.







Then we headed out for some shopping and sight seeing.

How much for the one that I will be selling at a garage sale in 9 months?

We found some souvenirs.

We had "lunch."

Starved Rock State Park, Utica, IL
May 3-4, 2014

Normal people go to dinner and a movie on date night.  Mike and I went to... camp for one night at a state park.

Falling asleep on the way to our cousin's house.  Corie was ready for action with this glove on.

Setting up a campsite without kids around is one of the most silent and efficient things I have ever been a part of.  And I've assisted with vascular surgeries...

A helfie...  Just checkin' the braid since camping= no mirrors.

Staring at Mike across the fire.  We have already run out of things to talk about.  And that is good.

Bet you can't tell that's a selfie - Rats!  I just gave it away!

We're so...

...in love.

Really colorful eroded sandstone with all sorts of gorgeous pigments.  This looked to us like clay deposited by the creek bed.  But we aren't geologists.  Although I think Mike might have majored in Geology for a semester... or was that Geography?  Oh well, same difference.

Just enjoying the silence...

Thinking about Nutty Bars...

And Geography...

Another view of this little creek

Dam.

Anyone who is wondering if they will have cellular coverage at the "Eagle Cliff Overlook:" There is your answer.

Avoid site 27 LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!*  

*Unless you like thinking that you'll have power and then realizing that you won't.  If that's the way you roll - site 27 has your name all over it.  Oh, and a picnic table.  If you expect to have a picnic table, you may want to consider other sites.  But if you like sitting in a chair and eating food with your fingers as you drip all over your jeans - this site is the yin to your yang!