Annual MEA Trip

Every year over MEA weekend we all go up to the hunting shack. The guys all work on projects such as deer stands, clearing brush or leaf clean up and the kids just have a great time being in the woods, going on four wheeler rids, campfires and pumpkin carving!

This year was a little different because we planned to stay out in the woods rather than go back into town every night.  The shack is not big enough for us all so before heading to the shack we needed to go to Detroit Lakes and help our friends haul up the pop-up camper, which we were going to share. We also needed to help haul up an extra trailer for the 'toys' we needed. We ended up to be a 3 truck and trailer caravan, I was pulling the pop-up with our truck, Jeremy was driving a big truck and hauling a huge trailer that was needed to haul back a tractor that was left up at the shack and then Bob had a truck and trailer that had the mule, and two more four wheelers in it!

After getting everything set up the fun could begin - kids started collecting fire wood for our campfire that night, but that quickly turned into a game of "let's break these sticks by hitting them on other trees!"  I have to say it worked. After dinner we sat by the fire and roasted marshmallows and looked at the stars.

By the time we finally climbed into bed, everyone went to sleep without any problem!  We ran a generator all night so that we could have heat in the camper.

Friday was filled with lots of projects - The guys put up a new deer stand, and made repairs to others. That afternoon we had a party for one of the boys,  Mason, he was turning 11. What a way to celebrate your birthday!

On Saturday the guys cleared a huge area of brush. They had a tractor that just mowed it down, it was kind of crazy! Another favorite tradition for the kids is pumpkin carving. This year our friends grew all the pumpkins that we carved! Even Sarah drew her face on the pumpkin and we cut it out together. We tried to get a picture of everyone and their finished pumpkins, but the only way that everyone would look at me at the same time, was if I asked for silly faces, so that is what I got:-)

Later that afternoon we all went on our Annual Trail ride. Sure there are lots of little four wheeler rides that go on the whole time we are there, but at least once EVERYONE goes together for a long ride. In order to do this we had 5 four wheelers and a mule, a large ATV with two rows of seats. On our ride we saw a few different deer, an eagle and eagles nest. It was just beautiful to be out in the woods.

We had planned to stay until Sunday, but rain was in the forecast for Saturday night, so we made the decision to pack up Saturday night and take our caravan back to Detroit Lakes and spend the night there and then drive the rest of the way home the next day. We left at about 8:00 pm and the kids were all sleeping within 5 minutes of leaving the shack - they slept the entire 1 1/2 hour drive to Detroit Lakes!

Sunday we made it home, with tired kids and LOTS of dirty clothes, but a priceless amount of family time and time with friends.

Enjoy our pictures, they are best viewed full screen. (second button from the right)