Our last trip of the summer was over Labor Day Weekend. We went to Lake Mille Lacs, one of the largest lakes in Minnesota. Bryan joined us for this trip - so we upgraded our accommodations a bit. We stayed at Appeldoorn's Resort. It had the best beach I've been to in Minnesota, and amazing sunset views.
The weekend definitely ended up being all about enjoying the beach, but we visited the two state parks on the lake while we were there: Father Hennepin State Park and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
In July, we visited Bemidji State Park and stayed in a camper cabin. Because it is over four hours from home, we stayed three nights to make the trip worthwhile.
There was plenty to do - and it was nice to not have anything to do, too! Paul Bunyan State Trail starts at Bemidji. I loved the bike trail. Next time I want to do the trip all the way around the lake. There was also a beach, fishing dock, and hiking trails. My favorite part of camping is the fire, food, and just chillin' with the kids. On our way up, we played mini golf and drove go-carts. On our way out of town, we stopped for breakfast, took a walk by the lake and saw a loon, and bought real wild rice.
Lydia wanted to do the editing on this video. Make sure to stay tuned to the end of the video to see Reggie impersonate some of the umps he encountered during baseball season.
During the summer of 2022, we visited four new Minnesota state parks.
I've learned there are only three weekends it is safe to plan trips over the summer if I don't want to create a conflict with sports - Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July week, and Labor Day weekend.
Over Memorial Day, I was a little too late to make my camper cabin reservation (EXACTLY 120 days ahead if you want a weekend!) so we ended up going on Thursday. Even though the kids had Friday off from school, Reggie ended up having a baseball game that night. Since the state park was only a little over an hour from us, Bonnie agreed to bring Reggie down and stay with us after the game. We're glad she joined us!
The camper cabin had a little gas fireplace but no electricity. The gas stove kept us warm on a cool night. The park had a nice bike trail and was right on the lake, but no beach. It was a nice size, not overdeveloped, but had the convenience necessities, and the proximity to our home makes me want to return.
Reggie aged out of Little League so we had to try something new this year. We decided to do the Oakdale Athletic Association's traveling baseball club, because it was too late to sign up for something in Woodbury. Reggie made the 13U AA team.
It was...different. We quickly came to learn that the team, for the most part, had been playing together for years and years. Some of the boys had some skills and earned their spots on the team, and others were there because it had always been that way. The parents definitely enjoyed getting together for a few beers, and it was a bit of a social club. We've never been a part of a team where the kids were so...coddled. The kids would lose some games and a parent would show up to practice with new sunglasses, or hats, or baseball socks for everyone. One parent took the whole team out to Applebee's. Not because they won (they didn't) but because they had good attitudes (they didn't).
Baseball is my favorite sport to spectate, hands down. The season was good - as in not as bad as little league was last year - but there wasn't much winning. I drew the short straw and got to take Reggie to his out of town/overnight tournament on the hottest weekend of the summer. I bribed Brett to come with us, and it turned out that we had fun. Reggie's team did some winning and placed 2nd, earning a spot in a state tournament. They were quickly eliminated in the state tournament. They won their bracket of the end of season playoffs. But that's not so exciting when you know you are playing in the bottom bracket.
Reggie has been mostly playing at centerfield for a few years now and we are sure it is the position that plays to his strengths the best.
Woodbury is a bit of a culture shock...one example is that they already had try-outs and formed teams in September. Reggie made the 13U AAA team (insert eyeroll). So if anyone wants to find me in May, June, or July of '23, I'll be sitting in my camp chair along the 1st baseline snacking on dried mangos or pull-n-peel twizzlers.
