Tradition

I get a little overly involved in crafting family tradition for the girls. It usually ends up with me forcing them to do things they don't like in an attempt to create some family traditions that will mark their youth and follow them through their years. And we usually end up mad.

But sometimes, tradition just happens. You're packing your car for a camping trip and you realize you've taken almost the exact same trip for the last 4 years counting... which may not sound like much of a tradition, 4 years, but when your oldest is only 6, four years is a hefty number.

In 2008 we drove north through Wisconsin on a cold rainy October night and met up with friends in the Kettle Moraine area near Sheboygan. Mae was 1. Bela was 3. I had the flu. It was my birthday, and we were also celebrating the birthday of my close friend, Karen. In spite of the rain and cold on the first night, in spite of the fever and chills, it was a beautiful weekend.

Kettle Moraine

Mae had just started walking!

I almost can't remember a camping trip that didn't involve knitting and sling shots.

Bela 

In 2009, Karen and company away on a two year adventure in NYC, we decided to take Mae (2) and Bela (4) to the south end of Kettle Moraine, closer to where we got married at Wandawega. We reserved three nights and stayed for 2. I don't know. 2 year olds aren't that fun at a camp ground.

Wool long underwear and boots. I wish I could pull off this look. 

Marshmallows for breakfast

Fairy houses

In 2010, we revisited our 2008 stomping ground near Sheboygan and had a jolly old time.

Beautiful colors - Kettle Moraine

Mae gathers

Bela explores

Silly hats required

Chilling in the woods

But this year takes the cake so far. Beautiful (albeit chilly) weather. Wonderful kids. Lots of target practice. Plenty of campfire action. Good friends. Good food. And that comforting, gut-warming sense of family tradition.

Kettle Moraine hiking trails

Una and Mae

Mae - barefoot in a tree. Her "hideout". 

Bela makes art out of Milkweed, wax, and matches.

The guys found this giant puffball mushroom in the woods We cut half of it and Eric cooked it up for us over the fire. The other half became target practice.

Yep. Target practice. Sling shots. Bela and Dave.

A rare family photo, extra buddy included. Bela brought a friend.

We have our site picked out for next year. It's a little more isolated, and maybe we'll go a few weeks earlier in the year for slightly warmer weather. We will, after all, be toting our newest family member by then, who will be precisely 10 months young.