Grand DuNord | 2019

For the second year in a row, we traveled up to Grand Marais for the Grand DuNord bike race over Memorial Weekend.

The guys had a good ride while the kids played great at our rental house. 

After the race, we spent the weekend hiking, hanging out in the harbor, climbing on the rocks outside our house, drinking coffee on the deck, throwing rocks into the lake, grilling, and just enjoying the North Shore.

It’s funny how the kids seem to pair up in age groups - 3 and 4, 6 and 7, and the 9 year olds.

Keira’s new best friend...

One of the awesome decks at our rental house.

Brecken’s girlfriend...and I think his first kiss! 

Climbing the rocks outside our rental house...

Cascade River hike - 4 1/2 miles or so. 

On our last day, it was raining in Lutsen so we headed to Duluth where it was cold and windy but not raining. We played at the playground and ventured out to Park Point.

Aside from the trip to the hospital, it was a great race and a great weekend.

Day 9 | South Dakota

The highlight of our last day was stopping in the Badlands. Even though we were getting a little anxious to just get the drive home done with, we were going to be too close to this beautiful landscape to skip it.

And the kids actually really loved it. Logan wanted to keep hiking and repeatedly asked if we could stop and walk on the hills.

We made a few stops along the Badlands Loop Road and took some time to walk through the visitors center. 

After that, we hightailed it home, only stopping for gas and to change a blown tire (which turned out to be worse than we thought once we got home)....

Brecken was so eager to help :)

The kids actually did really great in the car - reading, drawing, playing cats cradle, and watching movies. The movies were a life saver - a major perk of being able to borrow the suburban for this trip. It allowed us to pull the trailer with heat, gave us space to spread out, and gave everyone movie screens and XM radio. We are so lucky to be so spoiled!

As with every trip, there are things you take away that you’ll never forget. But at the same time, it always feels good to go home.

When Brecken got home tonight (around 10:30pm), he hugged everything in his room - his jammies in an open jammie drawer, his rocking horse, his books in his book bin, his bike pillow on his chair....he was so happy to be home :)

Day 8 | South Dakota

We packed up camp at Jackson Lake and spent the day starting our drive home.

We decided with the quick overnight we’d have, the looming storm, and keeping the kids in mind that we should just do a hotel for the last night. 

We booked a room in Rapid City, SD, stopping at Mount Rushmore along the way.

We had dinner at the Firehouse Brewery (patio and a band...my favs) on a lively Main Street and then let the kids swim at the hotel until the pool closed at 10pm. 

They were loving that we stayed at a hotel and even more that it had a water slide. Shawn even snuck Brecken down it. He giggled so loudly the entire way down. 

Day 6 & 7 | Wyoming

When we had first arrived at our West Yellowstone campground and were in awe of it’s beauty, Craig had been telling Mikayla and I that he always liked Forest Service campgrounds but the lack of running water, lack of showers, and only having vault toilets had been an issue. That’s when she and I learned (after arrival) that there were no showers. It honestly ended up not being a big deal but it did get me excited for our transfer to The Colter Bay campground with showers.

Morning coffee for the road

Beautiful campsite all packed up

Hebgen Lake at Rainbow Point Campground

We left West Yellowstone after a quick breakfast and one last look at the lake, arriving in the Grand Teton National Park by lunch. 

We set up camp, showered (!!), and spent some time by the lake. Then headed to Jackson for an early dinner.

Everyone helped set up camp - Brecky on the jacks and Logan hanging the cord for our tarp

Much warmer just having gone a little south

Cozy in the pop up

Room to spare in the suburban! Autumn got to ride with us a few times.

Spent hours and hours with cats cradle on this trip, too (like other trips recently)

We had incredible views of the Tetons and wildlife along the way. 

Brecken has been loving looking out the window with his binoculars, saying ‘tell me when you see something!’ He is not afraid of the animals; he really wants to kiss and hug each of them.

We had dinner and hung out at Snake River Brewing before wandering the streets of Jackson.

Note the ski runs in the background :)

We sat on the patio, played bags, and had a bunch of handstand contests in Snake Rivers lawn :)

Downtown Jackson

Allowing him to do activities even though he got carsick twice...once even after taking Dramamine...

Sunset back at Jackson Lake

On our second day at Colter Bay, we started with a pancake breakfast for the kids and breakfast burritos for Shawn and I. I enjoy cooking and even don’t mind doing dishes while camping because it’s all outside. And the kids have been easily entertained with very few toys (bikes and baseball gloves) all trip. But this morning was especially enjoyable because it was the first morning that wasn’t freezing cold. All the other mornings had probably been in the 30’s, so just washing your hands and brushing your teeth was a little painful, let alone standing outside to wait for water to boil and eat.

I’m a so thankful that our parents let us use their truck and pop up tent with heat. The nights were all so cold (low 30’s) that I don’t think Brecken could have slept in a tent. I think the rest of us could have been ok with warm blankets, although it would not have been as enjoyable. As it was, we kept the heat at about 50 to conserve propane and battery power for the system’s fan. 

But this morning was warm, and the day almost hot. I think it was around 70, but felt like 80 in the sun. We spent most of the day hanging out at the lake. Shawn, Craig, and the kids (bribed with s’mores) even jumped in the icy lake...before the sun came out for the day. 

Morning swim after Shawn’s 7 mile run.

Take me back...to this crazy view, a book, and entertained kids...

For our last camp dinner, we grilled brats and dogs over the fire, made some s’mores, and had one more bonfire together before parting ways with my parents. The kids (ours plus Autumn) spent hours playing games and cards in the pop-up camper by lantern light. Just like I remember doing with my cousins in the kitchen of my grandpa’s cabin growing up.