Up North With the Gabrielses!

Two weeks ago we spent a week up in Wautoma (near Oshkosh) with Brad's family.  We hadn't gone up north with them in a few years, but with Ben being at an age where we thought he might enjoy it, we were all excited to go again.  This was the first time we stayed in a cabin right on a lake and it was awesome!  We were able to hang out by the water and get some sun while Bennett took his two naps - we used a baby monitor to keep tabs on him.

It took both Bennett and Cooper a few days to get used to the idea of the water, but then they both LOVED it!

Bennett and grandpa exploring the water.  

Bennett loved the "Ball" that marked the shallow area for jet skis.

The pier had this plastic owl thingy I assume to keep birds off of it, but Bennett LOVED it!  

His room at home is decorated with owls, so he could not get enough of this one.  He constantly wanted to walk up to it and say, "Hoo Hoo!"

Playing in the sand with Grandma!  

Ben has SUPER fair skin like both Brad and I.  So we kept him in the shade as much as possible, applied and reapplied SPF50 constantly, made him wear a hat and rashguard, and the poor little guy still got pink arms!

Ben and "Papa" as he calls him 

I'm pretty sure Cooper could have retrieved the ball from the water 24/7.  

By the end, Robert had him jumping off of the pier to get it!  Cooper also LOVED going along on the boat for rides and fishing.  He enjoyed looking over the edge of the boat scouting for fish.  We were lucky that the neighbors weren't up during the week, so we could keep him off leash and he did great!

Bennett's favorite thing to do - get pushed around in the shallow water on this raft.

On the pier watching Daddy wakeboard.

Bennett, Grandma, and Uncle "Nay" (Nate)

Bennett with Uncle "Rah-rah" (Robert).  

Grandpa and Uncle Robert let Bennett pretend drive the boat while it was parked at the pier.  He loved pushing the horn!  We went on a few short boat rides, but Bennett didn't love it because he hated the baby lifejacket we made him wear.

Brad's family was SO helpful in taking turns entertaining Bennett.  Bennett wanted to walk on the pier 24/7, and it was tiring because you had to hold his hand or stay RIGHT with him.  Uncle Robert took him out there a lot!

The first day we tried this floaty, Ben cried and wanted to be taken out right away, but by the end of the week, he LOVED it.  He would kick his feet and splash a little bit, too.

Our family!  (Minus Cooper :) )

Bennett getting lots of attention from the boys!

Uncle Robert gave Cooper lots of attention, too.

During naps, the boys were able to get some water time in on the boat.  Brad wakeboarded and knee boarded, Robert skiied, Nate kneeboarded, and they all tubed. :)

One day was a little cloudy and cool, so we took a short hike.  Bennett did okay in the Ergo, but at this age, he's all about trying to walk on his own.

We thought Robert's t-shirt was funny so we had to get this pic. :)

We had a really fun week!  We can't wait to do it again next year hopefully once Bennett is even a little older.