Part II: do you know how long it takes?

Part two of our weekend with Rick's brother's family began after a huge breakfast at the logging camp.  Our little man Ethan fell asleep on the way home in the car. So rather than wake him, we decided to go on a spur of the moment road trip up to Itasca State Park. Our boys have never been to it, and I haven't been back since the 6th grade.

While there are several historical sights in the park, one of the most famous ones is the Mississippi Headwaters.  Here is how the monument reads:

Here 1475 FT
Above
The Ocean
The Mighty
Mississippi
Begins
To Flow
On Its
Winding Way
2,552 Miles
To The
Gulf Of
Mexico

It was a humid and hot day, and the water was clean, clear and inviting. Do you know how long it takes for a drop of water to travel from the Mississippi headwaters to the gulf of Mexico?

About 90 days, or as long as it takes to cross these rocks without falling into the water.  Ha.
As inviting as it looks to simply walk across the rocks... they are extremely slippery.  Most of them are covered in a bit of a mossy, slippery substance that makes them nearly impossible not to slide right off.

Much easier to use the newer log bridge to cross the Mississippi, and pose the kids for a quick photo too.

Ethan, refreshed from his nap.  How killer are those big baby blues?

A few miles from the headwaters, through the trees and around the bend you come to...



the swimming beach.  You all know how I feel about the beach and water, its nirvana to me.




All of the kids hopped right into the lake while most of the adults rested under the shade of the tree.





Mackenzie, was so busy exploring the water she did not want to look up at me for a picture, which is why I had to sneak under her for this one.  She was looking down into the water, away from me, or so she thought.






The night before they all flew home to South Carolina, Aunt Missy came to spend some more time with all of us.  We all had to giggle this time because we knew what was coming as Mackenzie looked away...

But we waited a bit and as Miss sweet talked her... gotcha.  Sweet girl, your aunties from up north (who have only boys) have waited so long to love on you, looking at the camera or not, having you here was just good for the girly soul.