Yogi 2013

One of the single most fun and exciting weekends of the year is Yogi!

We talk about it year round.

Whenever I see Amanda's son Joe I always say something about Yogi.

All year long. 

This year was going to be different though.  Unfortunately, the New Kids on the Block chose that exact weekend to show up in MN.  I even looked at other locations to go to, to not miss a day of Yogi.

But, no dice.

We had to take the minivan because I wasn't going to drive the truck back home by myself.

We were going to pull a small trailer but at the last minute we realized I didn't have a trailer hitch so we drove separately.  Lots of space but a lot more gas.

On the way to Yogi we stopped at Moe's Almost Famous World Diner.

The deep fried pickle spears were amaze balls!

The kids were all in such a good mood.

Who wouldn't be, we're on the way to Yogi!!

The Burns' were just as excited!  Here's a picture of Yogi Rosie drew in the car.

Love her smile!

Laura texted me that first day and asked how Brecken was doing on his first day at the pool.

Here he is at the pool in his carseat in his bathing suit.

Asleep. And adorable.

We always go on the weekend of Christmas in July.

This year we really played it up.

We had a 14 foot santa in the yard and Christmas lights up on the trees and cabin.

Santa hats for all the kids.

Amanda hung up stockings.

She even brought Christmas books and read them to the kids each night.

So fun!

Tony throwing Christian through the air. 

The poor kid has water wings on this year.

Two year without them and now he wants them again.

Technically, he can swim.

However, after an episode at, ironically, swim lessons, he won't swim.

Sad.

But the kid will put down some serious peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

The lazy river.

I didn't get in the lazy river a single time this year.

In part because there's nothing lazy about having a baby at Yogi and I was there only two days anyway.

It's amazing how much bigger they are every year.

Baby Brecken and Mommy enjoying the water park.

I was obsessed with slathering that little baby with immense sunscreen and a hat and we sat in the shade.

Brecken by the turtle.

Next year I bet we won't be able to get him to stand still for a picture next to that turtle.

V on the left then Rosie and then Samantha.

Samantha is one year and a day older than V and Rosie a year and a half younger.

Joe and Christian.

He was sooooo good to Christian.

I'm sure it's not always fun being a fourth graders with a kindergartener connected to you.

But Christian loves him to pieces and Joey is like his big bro.

It warms my heart!

Santa brought a cotton candy machine so we saved it for Yogi.

Everyone was thrilled.

Especially when Mark decided to make more 20 minutes before dinner was served.

Jenna holding Brecken.

See, Brecken loves Yogi!

It rained the day I got back and Mark dressed the kids in construction trash bags and they LOVED it!

With some Box of Rags for their head dress.

My girl Laura and Brecken.

Since I learned I was pregnant last summer I wondered and worried about how sharing a cabin at 

Yogi was going to change.

I was thrilled to see everyone just loved on him each moment.

The kids.

The moms.

It was amazing.

He really had three mommies that weekend.

Joe really loved on him.

He asked to watch him. (While I was 5 ft away)

He brought him his 'favorite' toy when he would fuss.

Amanda was his second Mommy.

She held him and loved him every second she could.

Seriously, not much is better in life than your friends loving your children.

Let's have some more cotton candy!

Joe playing with Brecken!

In all four years at Yogi I have never gone mini golfing.

I've always left that as a 'dad' thing and relaxed while they were gone.

For some God forsaken reason we stopped. 

Big mistake.

They were tired.

I was exhausted.

Pretty sure every kid cried (except Joe who ditched us for the other family - maybe he knew what was going to happen!)

We were a mess of hot messes.

But we got some cute pictures at least. 

Peek A Boo

Then the dads took them to the arcade WAY passed their bedtime and won some amazing prizes.

(That I threw away a couple days later and no one even noticed. Amazing!)

Then the Beges all gathered on the Gertens golf cart at midnight and headed home.

I'm pretty sure that picture will be right next to the World's Largest Sundae in the 2014 Guiness Book

My sweet baby on our last morning.

See, I even wore my Christmas pj's.

(Ok. I'll admit.  I just grabbed them after the NKOTB concert and headed back to Yogi!)

Joe was actually happy here.

Last day. 

Beautiful morning with 'Auntie' Laura:-)

Showing off some more awesome arcade prizes!

Big enough for two!

There you have it!

What you didn't see was Mark driving him and Christian in the truck 154 miles.

Me driving Victoria and Brecken 154 miles on Friday.

Me driving Brecken back  home on Saturday afternoon 154 miles for my parents to watch him while I went to NKOTB.

Then I woke up after sleeping about 5 hours to drive 154 miles back to Yogi in the rain.

The turn around on Monday and pack everyone and every thing back up and come back in the afternoon.

The big kids did get picked up by my parents from Yogi (with wet hair) to go straight  WI Dells with their cousins.

I cuddled and snuggled (and slept a lot) with Brecky.

What a weekend! 

We're already looking forward to Yogi next year!

And I promise to stay the whole time.

Unless.....