2015 Family Vacation.

August...
All summer long we wait for August,
because we know that means Herdina Family Vacation.
We also know that it means that summer is coming to an end.
Regardless, we LOVE vacation!
We always leave early & go to Nisswa for the morning
until our cabin is ready for check-in.
The kids know the stores they want to go to,
we ride the horse,
we eat mini donuts,
& we eat lunch.
It's glorious!

Lake Edward was calling our name & we couldn't get to the water fast enough. 

Vance & grandma.

Uncle Joe & Viv.

Typical morning at the cabin.

Everyone playing until we figure out what is the agenda for the day.

The older boys loved fishing off the dock.

Every year we bike the Paul Bunyan Trail from Merrifield to Nisswa & back.

Our train of bikes is getting longer every year.

We took the pontoon out for a stroll & the kids got to be pulled on the tube.

By the looks of this pic, I remember that they wanted to go faster! haha

But we were enjoying ourselves, relaxing (or sleeping).

Chaos on the boat!

Shane took to the boat to Crosslake-Whitefish chain of lakes.

It was a lot of fun.  We docked the boat on a little island & played in the water.

The kids & adults do a lot of game playing on vacation.

Cards get a little crazy at night while the kids are sleeping!

This was our sleeping arrangement this year.

2 boys on the bed, 1 on the floor.

Viv will have one more year in the pack n play,

but after that we will probably have to pull out the hide-a-bed!

It's getting cozy in a hurry.

Vivie loved her 1st vacation.

Her brothers & cousins did a great job keeping her busy.

Dad's sidekick.

Vivienne just LOVED uncle Shane.

It was quite comical.

If she was fussing, we'd just give her to Shane, really!

Friday was a wonderfully HOT day.

We were in the water all day, drinking.

It was awesome!

Can't wait til next year!

August.

August started out with a bang...
the good 'ol Meeker County Fair.
We all went to watch cousin Gabe show his animals
& to have the kids go to the Demolition Derby!
Angela came with us to help wrangle the kids.

Gabe with the judge, showing Freckles.

Vance had to be right up there to see what was going on.

My dad had Angela drive the old buick to town...

...& we were just dying laughing watching that car from behind,

knowing poor Ang was behind the wheel!

The boys in the School House at the fair.

Sitting front row with grandpa at the demolition derby.

Vivie & Vance parked a little farther back to watch the action.

Vivienne loved it, of course!

We always have to go on the ranger when we're at grandma & grandpa's farm.

And this is what happened on the way home!

Everyone napping.

Our neighborhood always has a great block party.

The boys had to check out the ambulance.

The posse showed up too!

Some of the neighbor boys eating together.

The 2 little ones.

They are so sweet.

Vance has always been one to pick out his own clothes,

& change outfits several times a day.

I'm assuming this phase will pass, 

so I'm just enjoying it while it lasts.

His outfit is never complete without his sweater vest!

Vivienne was sitting on the floor with Vance sitting behind her

 she seemed to tip forward & then started crying.

She wouldn't stop crying, so I thought she might have swallowed something

since she's at the stage of putting anything & everything in her mouth.

Since she couldn't be consoled, 

we decided she needed to make a visit to the ER.

Poor girl.

She came home with a confirmed femur break & a splint.

The splint didn't even phase her & she only had to wear it for 2 weeks.

Thank the Lord.