Lenninger Family Blog: Adventures Here We Come!

I'm on a mission this year to get to more state parks and hike and explore and see more of Wisconsin...all of it! We have so many amazing parks right around us here in central Wisconsin. But I want to go further eventually too! I vowed this same thing last year and failed miserably, so I'm started out this year much better!

I took the kids to Devils Lake State Park (Baraboo, WI) on Tuesday, March 29. It was warmish and sunny:) Kate was off of school, so this was our "spring break."

He loves him so much and overwhelms him with "love" every day:)

"Don't worry, Mom. I got him."

Kate and I both love tree pose:)

Getting ready to head out!

Right along the water, so fun!
Is sometimes super buggy, but it was so early!

He did good after we got going. I need to adjust this with Dave helping me!
I don't think it was fitting me correctly :(

Exploring up the hill a bit...

Being silly:)

Our fearless leader

So many tempting rocks on this trail!

We doubled back and then drove (good call!) to the playground on the other side of the lake.
Gotta burn off that remaining energy!

This guy thinks he can do everything!!

Then on Sunday April 3, Dave was in D.C. (Mid Year Convention - he is a Regional Director now for the Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists) and it had stopped SNOWING for a day and was warmer...so after church (staffed nursery!!) we went straight down to Mirror Lake State Park near Lake Delton to get those church clothes dirty! I didn't have a great plan and had not prepared enough. I didn't have proper shoes and I didn't have the backpack but oh well!

We played at the playground and did a little hike. Played at a really beautiful amphitheatre and then left right before it started raining!

Assessing the situation...

Bad picture. It was the only moment the bright sun came out.
He sat happily right there. Because he was eating dirt.

Swinging in church clothes!! :)

The kids really love to hike, had to take turns being the leader:) Ayden did well but is TROUBLE on the playground, climbs everything, eats dirt and runs away. So.....not too much relaxing when I'm the sole adult there! I had more pictures, but they don't want to upload - grr.

There are many local state parks, but we want to explore other state and national parks as well! To help in that endeavor and for the huge FUN aspect.....we bought a camper! We've been thinking about it for awhile. And by "thinking about it" I mean, Dave, Kylie, Andrew and other friends have been sending me links to campers for about a year:)

I have always wanted one but didn't think we would make that jump very quickly. Well, for whatever reason....I decided it would be amazing this year. Ha! Maybe it was the potty training 3 year old or the frequent night potty breaks for our 6 year old. The ability to bathe the kiddos and put them right into bed. The fact that Dave and I are getting older and desiring to sleep on the ground less:) So many things!

I decided I should probably get into some to see them. Well, it didn't take long then. Dave knows how to capitalize on timing:) So, we shopped them out pretty diligently. We went to see a used trailer at a big lot and ended up really not liking it. We asked if they had anything else and he showed us two slightly newer ones. The second I stepped into the Bullet (yep! that's her name!) I felt "home." She was ours.

It just felt right. :)

One slide out. Not too big. This baby is an Ultra Lite

Amazingly, that upcoming weekend we were free and had incredible weather. Done. We decided to surprise Mom and Dad and come down and camp in Decorah. Need to try it out. Near some people who can help us if we need it! And of course we needed it! :)

Dave's new (to us) truck!! Dodge Ram
Loaded up to pick up the camper!

Arriving at our site. It was hot. Like 80 degrees.

Set up! It's a long one!

Oops - out of order...this was pulling away with the camper for the first time

The boys playing at the camper place...in and out of a million pop-ups...

The perfect place for me to work!

We had some issue with unhitching it, needed Dad to come and help.
The men....doing what men like to do

Sunday night:)

We had a few hiccups and stressful moments, but we had a great inaugural trip. We CAN'T WAIT to go again. The kids loved it. I can't tell you much it warms my heart to see them have the excitement I had for camping as a child:) Though my kids are spoiled rotten - I'll have lots of stories about roughing it they can enjoy later!

Practicing fishing

The kids bunkroom - 4 bunks! And Ayden's pack and play actually fit in there too!

It's perfect for us. The boys relaxing to some PBS show

Kate took the first shower in the camper!
She had to get ready for Grand March - Kelsey's senior prom!

Bubbles! They are such a lifesaver. I need to pack these along at all times:)

Eggs and bacon for breakfast:)

I didn't get to enjoy the hammock, but the kids did!

More amazing weather....went for a walk with friends

Love this chair for picnics! I think he was getting too tired to eat.

Man - these kiddos were excited for their fire.
Come on, Uncle Andy! :)

Marshmellows!!! Life is complete.

And our kids LOVE their electronic devices....I like finding things that hopefully engage them in nature more and more. Yes - the camper has a TV and we will use it to our advantage when we need to. But running around, biking, fishing, exploring will take precedence.

And you know, we have new "guest quarters" at the house now....so come on up and visit!! :)

Here are a couple pics from Olbrich Botanical Gardens. We went down to Madison with some friends for a nice brunch and then went to one of our favorite places!! The weather was not awesome, so we didn't go through the gardens - but it was fun to explore the arboretum with the kiddos again!