Breezy Point

 Breezy Point has been a wonderful family break from the every day...

The balcony off our bedroom drew the boys on the very first morning.  We were staying at the Eagle's Nest condos in Breezy Point. 

The nice thing about travelling thru RCI is that they often have things planned that we can take part in wherever we go.  There were crafts, rootbeer floats, bingo, and a tour of the original log house with a tunnel leading under the lake a mile out to an island where the owner could boat in booze during prohibition and have it carted under the lake into his basement.  There were 11 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms in the old cabin - built in the 20's with the latest electricity and plumbing...

 

We picked up a GPS at Cabella's in Grand Forks and tried our hand at geo-caching.  What a fun thing to do with the family - even better than just going for a hike, since we are on a treasure hunt.  As we hunted, we came across a tree pecked full of holes by a woodpecker, and a small nest built low to the ground.

Within the massive resort there are 2 indoor pools and a couple playgrounds.  There are also fantastic golf courses - or so we're told.  We don't golf, but since the season doesn't open for a couple more days, and our condo backed onto one of the courses, the boys found playing out on the empty greens a lot of fun.  Each afternoon they became ninjas of some sort and claimed portions of land for their personal victories.



The legend of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox is alive and well here.  We found his fishing bobber atop the water tower in Pequot Lakes nearby.  There's a Paul Bunyan paved trail for bikers and the like through the lake area.  We also found his foot prints, and the old fire tower that he left behind.  Dean and the boys thought it would be fun to climb it - I couldn't even watch. 

On our last day we spent a bit more time in the pool, and drove out to Pine River to do some riding.  I was so proud of our kids - Kaden and Carson had never been on a trail ride.  Kaden rode his horse by himself for the whole hour.  He mumbled about the horse's pokey pace, and clapped his boots against the horses sides repeatedly, but old Appache just plodded along -almost took Kaden out by cutting too close to a tree. Kaden just yelled, "Hey!  What do you think you're doing?  Get over where you belong!"  I so enjoyed his confidence on the big beast.

Kaden's confidence on the horse may have been helped along by a "coincidence".  On the ranch yard there were several really large dogs.  A black rottweiler had Kaden quite afraid.  As he slowly approached Appache to mount up, the rottie ran over to see Kaden.  "Get me up there!"  Kaden yelled at me and I boosted him up onto the horse.  He felt quite safe on top.

Carson's pony had a lead attached to the front horse, and he just bounced along quite happily.  When we all broke out into a trot he told the lead lady quite firmly that that shouldn't happen again.  Of course Madison and Adrian had major giggles from behind as they watched poor Carson bop all over the back of poor Lecter.

Adrian rode Tritan, and Madison had Shy.  They felt confident to exercise some of their training.  They really did do well - until I was told I could lead them at a faster pace.  My Domingo was very obedient, but the other two and Dean's horse took off at a run.  The kids bravado took a backseat after that.

Tomorrow it's back to schedules and responsibilities.  We've eaten 14 meals in a row together this week - as well as everything else.  There's been a lot of laughter - and that's as it should be, since that's the glue that holds us together.

And if the drive home is anything like the drive down, I sure hope it isn't raining again - our Carson has a real need to pee on the side of the road every couple hours.  Since I'm on the "safe" passenger  / ditch side of the vehicle, that little duty always falls to me.