**Catching Up** - Lake Vermilion Trip

This year was the Dunn's second trip to Lake Vermillion with the Warren Clan, June 8-15th! We left Des Moines at midnight on Saturday to ensure we would have an entire extra afternoon of fishing. 

Lucas sleeping in the car on the way to the lake

When we got to the lake we ran into a few snags.. my dads boat prop was broken and my second cousin's trailer wheel was flat. But with all of that fixed and behind us we put our toes in the COLD water and then headed out on the boat to fish! Lucas enjoyed going for a boat ride despite being forced into wearing his life jacket.

I caught the first fish of the trip! A decent sized Northern Pike - released due to size requirements

Lucas had some down time to play with toys and in the sand box of the resort! He enjoyed being a boy and digging in the dirt!  It was colder there by about 8-10 degrees most of the time we were there and jackets were definitely a necessity. 

 We took a trip to the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary (http://www.americanbear.org/). Lucas loved getting to see the bears walk around and eat plus the little cubs run around, but he didn't understand why they wouldn't come to him when he motioned for them! I think it's because he was wearing camo and they couldn't see him, but what do I know? HA!

 It was really cute to see him try to interact with the bears - not knowing they were only there for food. 

Momma Bear and her three cubs eating

 Lucas LOVED being on the boat! Practicing reeling his pole, driving the boat and touching the fish that Grandpa Rod and Mommy caught kept him entertained on this particular afternoon!

 (For anyone concerned, he doesn't have his life jacket on because the motor wasn't on and it was too hot for him to be in it the whole time while fishing). 

 More pictures of him enjoying the boat! He fell asleep a couple of times when we "went fast" to get to our fishing destinations. 

To say he is a natural on the water is an understatement. It will be REALLY fun next year trying to keep him from being in the water, staying out of the pole casting areas and to keep hooks from entering his body at any point. Can you sense my sarcasm? 

Oh boy! :)

After a couple of great days of fishing we had enough to be able to enjoy a shore lunch! Lucas is shown below completely enjoying the fish! YUMMM - This is making me hungry looking back!

Well, even though we didn't take many pictures this year, we still had a complete blast and made a lot of great memories as a family! We are saving our pennies to go again next year and hoping that the ice cooperates and melts off the lake quicker than this year so the fish are biting better to yield more limits. Hopefully you all have had a great summer and spent quality time with your loved ones!

With love, 

Matthew, Heather and Lucas