This past weekend, Fiance Thom and I met up with family at Lewis &  Clark Lake near Yankton.  My brother, his wife and their daughter were home with their new camper.  My parents, some aunts, uncles and cousins were there as well.  We had a great time, despite some humid weather.  We were just grateful the humidity didn't turn to pure rain.  The weather held out.  I was kidding my brother that his daughter's memories of camping would be a lot different that ours, as kids.  Craig and I camped often with Mom and Dad.  We "roughed it" at first, in a tent.  But later, the folks got a camper.  We would spend the days at the beach, and then enjoy air conditioning in the RV at night.  You could say we weren't "roughing it" as much in those later years, but we still used the public showers, etc.  In my brother's camper there's virtually no need to leave it.  It's well-equipped and very cute.  As my mom said, "That's progress." We're all very happy that my brother can share the fun of camping with this young family.

It was fun to see my niece enjoying the great outdoors as only a 21-month old could.  My brother said at one point, "Don't you just wonder what's going through her head?" I had to admit I do.  Alexis sees the simplest things as children always do, with curiosity and delight.  It's fun to watch her enjoy her surroundings.

My uncle took us out on his pontoon boat for a late-night boat ride and we all talked about how lucky we are to have such a neat area like Lewis and Clark Lake, right in our own neck-of-the-woods. We wrapped up the night sitting around the campfire, telling stories and laughing.  It was a fun weekend that went too fast, but one that makes summers in South Dakota so great.