Kettle Falls Vacation

We went on a 5 day vacation to Kettle Falls Hotel which is on Rainy Lake and Lake Kabetogema.  It is so peaceful and the walleye fishing is GREAT!

On the 5 hour drive up to Voyageur National Park, we made a stop at Cold Springs Deer Farm/Bait Shop/Gas Station.  E was excited to see the deer.  He fed them food out of his hand, he was very brave.  After the visit at the deer farm, we were on our way to launch the boat.

There was a total of 16 adults, 1 child, and 1 puppy and 8 boats in our group.  The first evening, Saturday, we traditionally have a steak dinner together.  It is a great time to reconnect, as some of us haven't seen each other for a year.


Grilling the steaks



Enjoying an AMAZING dinner together!



E showing off his great smile.

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we went out on the boat for a day of fishing.  It didn't take E long, to make himself at home on the boat.  The weather was perfect for a day on the lake.

Going for a ride.

The fish were biting quickly, but not many fit within the slot limit.



Helping dad reel in a Big One!



E was such a happy guy on the boat

When we weren't on the boat, eating or napping, E was playing in the water.  At first he was pretty hesitant of the water, but he quickly became the brave boy that I know so well.

Trying to touch the water without falling in.  Don't worry, I had a hold of his leg.

E enjoyed throwing big sticks in the water.

He thought that he was a puppy and went in to get the "treats"

He also pretended that he was a BIG fish and needed to be pulled out of the water.

Joe caught a nice sized small mouth bass

E even got in on the fishing action.  He actually caught two fish on his Ugly Stick Junior.  He caught an 11 inch walleye and reeled it in all on his own.  He called out the orders to "Get the net" and knew that it needed to be measured to find out if it was a "keeper" or not.  It wasn't a keeper, but we got a picture with E and his first fish.  

This wasn't my best photographic composition-with Joe's leg in the background, but at least we captured the moment.

One afternoon, while we were going in for the day, E asked if he could drive the boat.  We were in the middle of a large body of water, so Joe let E take the wheel.  He even had his bandana on like Jake the Pirate.  These are some of my FAVORITE pictures of E.  I can still hear his giggle and laughter while looking at these pictures.

Family vacations like this are what memories are made of.  I am so glad that we have the opportunity to bring E on these vacations.  I am not sure how much of this trip that he will remember, but I know that Joe and I will hold these memories in our hearts forever.

The only picture of Joe and I on the trip

The entire group minus one couple

We took these two pictures of E and MiMi two years apart.  It so much fun to see how he has grown and how my mom is wearing a pink shirt in both the pictures.



2009

2011

We can't wait to make more family memories.