How I Spent My Summer Vacation....

Our family, all six of us, spent the last week of July traveling to North Dakota to attend Mr M's family reunion.  We tossed the tent, the grill and sleeping bags into the back and off we went.  And while that in itself doesn't sound bad, just wait until you find how we got there.  We have fondly named this beast of burden "Moby". (Reference is intended)  The bonus prize was that during our travels temps were soaring and Moby has 2 by 70 AC.  Ya know roll down the windows and drive fast.  Let the FUN begin!

View from our campground

Our first day brought us to Medora, ND.  A place we have always wanted to stop and stay but time had never allowed.  So much history and entertainment in that lil town.  From the Chateau de Mores to Pitchfork Fondues and let us not forget the Historic Musical.  It is well worth the stop even if it is to rest more weary bums.  The town sports an awesome themed playground that is about the size of a city block.  Then Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Painted Canyon is just a five minute drive down the road.

We camped there for the night and headed on our way to Fargo the next morning.  We of course made our annual photo stop at Teddy's park.  Ever since my eldest was born we have stopped on our trips to and fro from ND/MN to capture a shot of how the kids have grown in the past year.

Pose....Smile......SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

Everybody squish back into Moby and we are on the road again!  Straight into nightly severe thunderstorms for the majority of trip.  Not the best combo when you are sleeping in a nylon tent!  So we trash canned the plan to camp in Lindenwood Park in Fargo where the reunion was being held, in favor of crashing at my Mother-in-laws' house.  Which gave the grandkids more time with Nana and is only about 1 hour from Fargo.  We arrived about 10 p.m. at her house wrangled the kids into bed and tried to get some sleep.  Well sleep could wait as a BIG storm rolled in around 3 in the morning.  Luckily the kids were so TIRED they slept right thru the house shaking from the winds and peels of thunder.  Needless to say were arrived a bit later the next morning at the Family reunion.


Marks Gran was celebrating her 89th birthday and we were so happy that we could make it.  There was SOOOO many of the family there.  And I will be the first to confess I do not know all of their names.  But in my defense my hubby comes from an immediate family of 7 and his mother from a family of 14.  You do the math.  It adds up real quick!  So many greats and great great grandkids!  My kiddos were in heaven!  Completely ditched me and Mr M. and played to their hearts content with all their cousins.  All of Mr M's family but 2 elder brothers (one would arrive the following day) were there and we had a great time to catching up.  Including a trip to the Red River Zoo.

Cattle Egret

Proud Peacock

It's nice little 8 acre zoo almost smack dab in the middle of Fargo, ND.  It has a very easy access right off the Interstate.  It hosts over 70 species and 300 animals. Including one of China's national treasure the Takin.  They have wonderful gardens and water features throughout the zoo.

Cosmos in the Garden

One of the many waterfalls

The Chinese Takin

 After a few days of visiting of the family we piled back into Moby and headed on back home to WY.  I am sure glad to be home and back in my own bed.  But the summer is not nearly over.  Before the end of it we will have Nana and my sister coming to visit us in the month of August.  So there you have it....How I spent my Summer Vacation.  How have you spent yours?

Teresa


Medora's Info:
http://www.medorand.com/

Theodore Roosevelt park Info:
http://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm

Jamestown info:
http://www.tourjamestown.com/Whatsee.php