A hiking we will go....

Today we had the day off and since the weather was going to be ok we decided to head to Devils Lake for some hiking. After borrowing our neighbors backpack for Kate and loading the car with everything but the kitchen sink we were off.

When we got there and told the kids we were hiking to the top of this bluff they were a bit worried...and so was I!

We started with some lunch and fishing.

Then it was time to strap on the tennis shoes and the baby and we were off.

We decided (thankfully) to take the shorter of the routes. Balancing Rock to Devils Doorway to Potholes. It was still all the way to the top. I made it about 3/4 the way up the bluff with Kate on my back before Jared took her and he had the rest of the way. The kids used every photo opportunity they could find so they could sit and rest.

I was wondering if we would make it back down before the rain hit. Along the trail we saw some rock climbers and this guy...

Grace looked at him and said "He looks like Aunt Deb!" We of course wanted to know how she figured that and she said "He has the same hair style in the front". Sorry Aunt Deb...you either get 'franked' or compared to a dog with my kids..

The view from the top is fantastic!

Well worth the hike...and not as bad I thought it would be. Then you get a nice break as you walk across the top for a little bit and then you start climbing down. For the kids they were worried they were going to fall or Daddy was going to fall with Kate. Luckily no one fell and we made it back to the car in about an hour and a half.

Kate didn't fall asleep in the pack until we got to the bottom and then she crashed. She slept on a blanket for another couple hours after that! When she woke up she wanted some chips..it was hard work for her to ride up and down the bluffs and take a 2 hour nap!

Then Jack and Grace got their suits on and swam in the lake for a while until I noticed Grace sitting there shivering uncontrollably...goofy kid just sat there freezing until I asked if she wanted to get out.

I got Grace out and dryed off/changed and she played frisbee with Jared while Jack fished.

We headed out shortly after a guy (that had many open sores and blood on his legs) asked to use my cell phone. I told him it didn't work up there and he smiled and said "really?"...I packed up the girls and got them to the car. Jared was fishing down along the shore so he wasn't even around when it happened. It was creepy!

It all worked out fine because as we pulled out of the parking lot it started raining..good time to go. All in all it was a great day and the kids are all sleeping before 11pm! Maybe we will have to go back again tomorrow!